Yesterday, a representative from British in Portugal (Tig James) had a long discussion with the British Embassy who have asked her to inform UK nationals of the current situation in Portugal and for her to make several requests. She writes:

At the end of 2020, approximately 46,000 UK nationals were registered as legally resident in Portugal. By the end of the same year only around 36,000 had registered on the Brexit portal so as to receive the Withdrawal Agreement biometric card (WABC). In total, there are around 37,000 UK nationals now registered on the portal which would include those who arrived towards the end of 2020, prior to Brexit being implemented.

We are aware that a number of UK nationals have left Portugal and, indeed, quite a few did prior to Brexit taking place. However, 10,000 UK nationals not having registered on the Brexit portal is a large number of people and we believe far exceeds the amount that have actually left.

We are aware of five main reasons why people have not registered:

1. We are hearing that people believe if they have been resident in Portugal for a long time they do not need to register on the Brexit portal. I have heard this a few times and it is very much not the case.

ANYONE, if they were resident in Portugal prior to 2021, regardless of length of residency in Portugal (even if you have been a resident for 50 years), mustregister on the Brexit portal to obtain the QR code. The QR code then initiates the process whereby SEF send an email in order for you to book an appointment to obtain the WABC.

2. People believe, because they already have an ‘in date’ EU residency document or card they do not need to obtain a WABC. The original residency documentation people are in possession of, is for EU citizens only. We are no longer EU citizens, we are now called third country nationals and this form of identification very shortly will no longer be valid for UK nationals.

Many, many institutions in Portugal will not accept the EU residency documentation in UK nationals possession, nor will many Schengen Area border guards. It is essential people register on the Brexit portal and obtain their WABC.

3. The majority of the advertising, information given regarding the WABC’s, has been on social media. There are many people who either are not comfortable/don’t have the knowledge/ are unable to use social media or do not have access to the internet who will be unaware of the importance of being in possession of a WABC.  4. Some UK nationals do not think getting a WABC applies to them or they can’t be bothered to do it. If a UK national arrived in Portugal prior to 2021, then it doesapply to them and they must register on the Brexit portal and get a WABC. As far as the latter group is concerned, those that can’t be bothered, there is little I can say other than it matters very much that they do.

5. Some UK nationals are disabled and are unable to attend the locations they have been offered on the SEF website. If this is the case, if you are, obtain a doctor’s letter stating the situation and email it to the email address below, explaining in the email the circumstances then, as per the FAQ’s on the SEF website, you will be contacted and this issue will be addressed with you:  Email address:  Brexit@sef.pt

FAMILY REUNIFICATION:

Those waiting for the family reunification process to take place will be pleased to learn it is commencing this week. All members of a family who are waiting for their UK national relative to obtain their WABC, and those family members, regardless of nationality, ALREADY hold some form of residency documentation for Portugal (whether expired or not), the following action may now take place.

The UK national holding the WABC may now go to the SEF website and, on their SEF account, register their family members requiring family reunification.

Those family members that have never had residency documentation, in whatever form, representations are being made in the strongest terms that this process is started as soon as possible too.

APPOINTMENTS:

At the moment, there are approximately 500 SEF appointments for WABC’s that have not been taken up. I have been informed that SEF appointments for this process are not infinite and in the not so distant future will cease.

If you have been offered an appointment it is getting increasingly more important that you take one up as soon as possible before they are withdrawn.

Additionally, it has been requested of SEF that appointments are made available for 2023. Appointments are released in batches and, again, need to be taken up prior to them being withdrawn. SEF’s resources are stretched to the limit and the facility for UK nationals to obtain an appointment for a WABC is something that SEF are unable to sustain indefinitely.

FINALLY:

Could everyone please, please, please talk to their UK friends, relatives, acquaintances, work colleagues, Joe down the bar, every man and his dog about this situation. If necessary please print off this post and hand it to people together with my previous posts outlining how to apply for the QR code on the Brexit portal which can be done by placing my name in the search facility.  For those UK nationals that struggle with social media, please help them.

This is a serious situation where thousands of UK nationals will not be legal in Portugal if they don’t register on the Brexit portal.