News from afpop

I’m sure that many of you will have seen media coverage of queues at the airports across Portugal. You will read below that Portugal has begun the process of getting ready for the EES implantation in October and non-EU citizens might experience these queues more frequently throughout the summer. It’s yet to be confirmed what effect, if any, this will have on residents, as it specifically refers to people with short stay visas, although once you’re in the queue it’s difficult to get out of it. I am in contact with the airport police here in Faro and will keep asking for updates, which of course we’ll pass on to Members.  

That being said, I’ll see you next time and here is this week’s information:    

AIMA bookings 

You may have seen that AIMA (Agência para Integração Migrações e Asilo) has made a booking form available for appointments for change of details on the Residency cards or loss of the card: https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/contact-form.

The form can be used if you have a Residency with a 9-digit number and if you want to inform AIMA about changes (alteração de dados) like your address/name or if you lost your card and want to request a new one (2a via):

• Change of details – You must attach a proof of the reason for the change

• Lost card – You must attach a police report

Applications can only be made up to 90 days before the expiry date of the Cartão/Título de Residência.

You will also need to submit a copy of passport and Residency card in the field provided.

AIMA also announced that EU citizens can use this contact form to apply for appointments for renewal of their Certificate of Residency (CRUE) or their Residency card, however since the contact form only accepts Residency numbers with 9 digits, at present this does not work for EU citizens, as no CRUE has a 9-digit number and older versions of the Residency cards (which are up for renewal now) don't have 9-digit numbers either. 

We have written to AIMA about this problem and if we have more information, we will inform our Members in our next briefings.

Airport security

From the 19^th of May, a new airport security was implemented at air and sea border points in Portugal. The SSI (Sistema de Segurança Interna) will implement the first systems of the European project to modernise Schengen border management, coordinated by the European agency EU-LISA.

This means:

• More biometric controls

• Mandatory fingerprinting of all third-country nationals with a visa 

• Increased security and reliability of documents. 

• Greater processing efficiency

Nothing changes for EU-nationals, this is only for third-country nationals (non-EU/non-Schengen) travelling on short-stay visas.

More information can be found here: https://ssi.gov.pt/seguranca-nas-fronteiras

(It is in Portuguese, but you can use the translator of your browser). 

e-Gates for UK citizens

Since Brexit, UK nationals haven’t been able to use e-Gates (automated border control systems) when entering the Schengen Zone, which covers most EU countries. This has meant longer wait times at border checks.

Members might have heard that the UK and EU have now agreed that there won’t be any legal obstacles preventing UK citizens from using e-Gates, once the EU introduces its new Entry/Exit System. We will have more information on this in future Member Briefings.

Land clearance deadline extended

The Government has extended the deadline again for owners to clean forest and agricultural land around buildings and infrastructures until the 15^th of June, as requested by industry associations. After that time the local authorities can start clearing any land still not done and send the landowner the invoice for the work.

More information on the website: https://portugalchama.pt/en/cleaning (please note that the deadline on the website has not been changed yet).

Health care assistants strike

National Federation of Unions of Workers in Public and Social Functions (FNSTFPS) called for a health care assistants strike on the 6^th of June.

Workers will be on strike between 00h00 and 24h00 with minimum services guaranteed in services that operate uninterruptedly 24 hours a day. Chemotherapy and haemodialysis treatments that had already been initiated will be ensured.

Dia de Portugal

Portugal Day, officially ‘The Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities’ (Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas), is celebrated annually on 10th of June. It is one of the public holidays in Portugal and is celebrated by Portuguese people throughout the world. The afpop office will be closed on that day.

Summer events

With the summer around the corner, we remind you of the website of the Algarve Tourism Board with events being organised this summer: https://eventos.visitalgarve.pt/en/

You can find details of events in other areas of Portugal here: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/encontre/grandes-eventos/list 

Satellite Offices 

If you need advice or assistance, wish to introduce a new Member to the Association, need to renew your subscription or just have a general query, please pass by and see us. We ask you to make an appointment and to inform us about your enquiry, so staff can come prepared to assist you. Please contact the afpop office to make an appointment on 282 458 509 or info@afpop.com.   

The next dates of the Satellites are:

• Almancil - Tuesday 24^th of June between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MEDAL Seguros)

• Lagos – Wednesday 25^th of Junebetween 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MediLagos on R. José Ferreira Canelas, which is behind the Câmara building)