SEF Launches New Online Appointment System: A Step Toward Transparency

On 15 April 2021, following publication of the relevant administrative order in the Diário da República, Portugal’s Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) introduced a unified online appointment booking platform. The initiative replaced fragmented phone-based and email-based appointment systems that had long been criticised for lack of transparency and the alleged involvement of intermediaries selling appointment slots.

The new system centralised appointments for residence cards, renewals, family reunification, and other immigration procedures. Slots were released at predetermined times, making the process more predictable for applicants. Although demand continued to exceed supply, the system represented a major structural improvement.

For foreign nationals—particularly those from the US, UK, Canada, Israel and Brazil—this reform reduced reliance on in-person visits and helped limit opportunities for fraud or abuse. Applicants could now monitor and secure appointments directly without intermediaries, creating a fairer and more accessible process.

The reform also laid the groundwork for the digitalisation of future immigration services. Even though SEF would later undergo restructuring and be replaced in part by AIMA, the 2021 platform demonstrated Portugal’s willingness to modernise administrative procedures.

Official source: Diário da República, administrative order published 15 April 2021 (https://dre.pt)