Visa Delays Lead to Protests Across Brazil in Front of Portuguese Consulates

Brazilian nationals are holding protests today, January 22, at the Portuguese consulates in Belo Horizonte, Rio, Salvador, and São Paulo.

They have argued that they are subject to long visa waiting times, which in some cases reach eight months, calling for a faster and more transparent procedure, Schengen.News reports. 

One of the organisers of this protest, Filmmaker Evelyn Santos, 27, from São Paulo, told O Globo that she has been waiting for her application for a work-seeking visa to be completed since July 31, 2024. 

Santos said that long waiting times caused her to lose opportunities and money.

Long Waiting Times to Obtain a Visa in Portugal 
Citizens of Brazil are eligible to enter Portugal visa-free for short-term stays of up to 90 days. 

However, they are required to apply for a long-term visa if they want to stay in Portugal for a longer period or for specific purposes such as work or study.

But, in order to obtain such a visa, they are subject to long waiting times, which, according to some of them, in some cases, surpass 200 days. 

Earlier this month, the non-profit immigrant association in Portugal, Casa do Brasil de Lisboa (CBL), said it would urge the Brazilian Embassy in Portugal as well as the Migration Council to push Portugal’s government to resolve the issue. 

Calls for Faster Processing of Long-Term Visas for Brazilians 
Recently, Brazil’s Ambassador to Portugal, Raimundo Carreiro, urged the government of Portugal to swiftly regularise Brazilians in Portugal. 

Concerning the three Brazilian consulates general in Lisbon, Faro and Porto, he said he has been monitoring cases of discrimination, racism, and other forms of intolerance reported by Brazilians in Portugal.

A recent survey revealed that five out of every ten Portuguese people want to reduce the number of Brazilians in Portugal. However, Brazil’s Ambassador to Portugal said that both countries have strong bilateral relations. 

Out of about 450,000 backlogged cases at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) AIMA, more than 200,000 are from Brazilian nationals.

Source: https://schengen.news/visa-delays-lead-to-protests-across-brazil-in-front-of-portuguese-consulates/