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SEF appointment for family

HarleyP

Hello all!

From what I learnt, if I got my resident permit, I can apply family reunification visa for my family who will come to Portugal to stay with me. The process and document requirements seem easy at first but what puzzled me is how I can get a SEF appointment. Should I login to SEF and try to grab any available date using my account or should I register for an account for my family? If the latter, as my family does not require any visas to enter Portugal, is it possible to register?

I’m still waiting for my D7 approval result so I can’t try with the SEF system right now. But I really want to plan ahead. Apologies if my questions sound silly and thanks in advance for any advice. :)

B.R.
Harley

See also

Retiring in PortugalTraveling to Portugal"Comotado" agreement templateChanging appointments with AIMA- is it possible?British citizen application for permanent residency
JohnnyPT

Hi Harley, Welcome :)

You can only apply for family reunification after you have legally residence in Portugal. As you do not have any visa, you cannot do it yet. This link may clarify this issue:



Best Regards

HarleyP

Thank you Johnny!

Yes, I knew that I can only apply after I have my resident permit. The point is I’m curious how I can make appointment afterwards, given that SEF is famous for not answering phones XD So maybe it better to book online if possible.

I ask because I worry that my family would overstay before having the appointment booked and the appointment letter as proof.

Sorry if I am over worried and too advance- planned :)

Cristian Toma

They do answer the phone but you have to be persistent. We called daily for about one month, and each day it took anywhere from 15 to 60 calls to get through and be able to speak with someone there.
One the day when we succeeded in getting the appointments for family reunification for my wife and daughters I called about 300 times.

JohnnyPT

Those who persist, achieve everything... ;)

seasunhere

Thanks Johnny PT on the reunification link, a good one. Once I have been approved for long term retirement permit and I already bought a home ; then do I hear correctly, I can fly spouse over (no VFS Visa) file the SEF family renunciation directly. I do this in behalf of my wife with her supplying the documentation?

I am taking this route based on SEF

fburak1878

@JohnnyPT Johnny hi, I'm reading your answers on the family reunification, as I have taken my D7 but my wife got rejected. We are trying to speed up the process, and one of the intermediaries told us that she can arrange a SEF appointment for us on the same day without having to wait for my card. Is it possible? She says that there's a new law enabling it. I read the link that you shared and might the so-called "exceptional circumstances" be so interpreted? "If you hold a temporary stay visa you may - in some exceptional circumstances - apply for prorogation of permanence to relatives."

Thanks for your excellency

JohnnyPT

@Fburak1878,


I am not aware of these procedures. I found link related with a exceptional scheme for family reunification, I don't know if it can help you:


Nia Queiroz

@fburak1878 That's a scam. People who can "book appointments" corrupt the system and pay someone inside to do it or charge you and run away with your money. I don't advise you to do it at all.