In a statement, the Foreigners and Borders Service states that this automatic renewal functionality is carried out within “the compliance with safety rules and mitigation of the consequences that resulted from the health emergency situation”.
According to SEF, the 29,000 foreign citizens covered by this measure are those whose residence permits expire from January 1 to March 31.
SEF states that in July 2020, it launched a new feature in the "personal area" of the SEF portal, where citizens can access the "automatic renewal" of their residence permit, without the need to travel in person to an office.
According to SEF, more than 161,000 automatic renewals have been carried out to date.
SEF recalls that it has been adopting exceptional measures, with a view to recovering pending issues and efficiency in document management for foreign citizens, namely the automatic renewals of residence permits.
Funny thing they don't mention is the site to renewals don't except the old residence card that is in paper form numbers are not accepted. Have been trying now for 8 months to renew.
By Pikkewyn from Algarve on 04 Jan 2022, 19:54
Automatic renewal on order not to have to do real work! 1 year after brexit and still haven't been called to complete the biometrics for a new carnet. I know no uk citizen resident in portugal who has been processed. And now with SEF mandate being extended this continued level of inefficiency will continue. A joke really but one which affects 10's of thousands or foreign residents in Portugal and which continues to receive support from government
By Matthew Dorman from Other on 05 Jan 2022, 17:45
How about issuing initial residency cards to those of us who have been waiting for over a year now??
By Dougal Gow from Algarve on 05 Jan 2022, 22:06
Much delay in regular renewal as papier form numbers of RNH are not accepted for automatic rerenewal on site. Trying since May 2021, got finally appointment in a SEF-office and ONLY received provisional 3months renewal. Whole term official document to follow ! Wait ans see...
By Marijke Willemse from Other on 06 Jan 2022, 06:02
My paper residencia expired last May and I have been trying to renew ever since. They acknowledge that I am trying but give no way of actually renewing. There aren't enough numbers on the old one.
By Glenis from Algarve on 06 Jan 2022, 06:22
We applied in the SEF portal exactly 12 months ago to update our temporary residency issued on Pico, unfortunately the SEF QR was not accepted at Correios trying to claim Azores residents fare refund, it is a long waiting game, I wrote to the British embassy but that was a waste of time
By David Skinner from UK on 06 Jan 2022, 17:05