UPDATE: SEF & Residency re-newal
Jun 9th 2016, 10:00 am
#46
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,313
Re: UPDATE: SEF & Residency re-newal
I'm no expert on officialdom in the Algarve but would this have anything to do with the fact that the initial 5 year registration certificate is issued by the Câmara Municipal of the municipality in which you live and after that has expired the registration as a permanent resident is issued by the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, whose offices are different and generally regional?
Well--yes I guess that seems to be the case! It's all Double Dutch to me however as 'Citizen G' I would have thought that the clerical officers themselves would have known where to send us ? Apparently not. It is not as if this is an unusual procedure. We had to go through the same process in NL. However in that case it took place under the same jurisdiction and in the same building.Makes a tad more sense imo
Jun 9th 2016, 6:35 pm
#47
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Joined: Jul 2014
Location: Arcos de Valdevez "Onde Portugal se fez"
Posts: 16,951
Re: UPDATE: SEF & Residency re-newal
I don't see why it should be double Dutch to anybody, Geni. I'm sure the matter of where you apply for which certificate has been discussed on quite a number of occasions on here - and if you look at this thread's title, you'll see it refers to SEF. It's also clearly stated on all the official websites. I'd have thought the difference between the SEF and the Câmara Municipal would be pretty obvious to somebody who's been resident 5 years.
The place of initial registration was changed from the SEF to the Câmara Municipal back in 2007, along with a change to some of the requirements, as part of a drive to reduce bureaucracy in dealings between citizens and government.
Perhaps you getting an appointment at the wrong place was something to do with you not making yourself clear, rather than the officer(s) concerned not knowing the process? Or maybe a misunderstanding due to language difficulties on one side or the other (or both)? Just a thought...
The place of initial registration was changed from the SEF to the Câmara Municipal back in 2007, along with a change to some of the requirements, as part of a drive to reduce bureaucracy in dealings between citizens and government.
Perhaps you getting an appointment at the wrong place was something to do with you not making yourself clear, rather than the officer(s) concerned not knowing the process? Or maybe a misunderstanding due to language difficulties on one side or the other (or both)? Just a thought...
Jun 10th 2016, 2:09 am
#48
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,313
Re: UPDATE: SEF & Residency re-newal
I don't see why it should be double Dutch to anybody, Geni. I'm sure the matter of where you apply for which certificate has been discussed on quite a number of occasions on here - and if you look at this thread's title, you'll see it refers to SEF. It's also clearly stated on all the official websites. I'd have thought the difference between the SEF and the Câmara Municipal would be pretty obvious to somebody who's been resident 5 years.
The place of initial registration was changed from the SEF to the Câmara Municipal back in 2007, along with a change to some of the requirements, as part of a drive to reduce bureaucracy in dealings between citizens and government.
Perhaps you getting an appointment at the wrong place was something to do with you not making yourself clear, rather than the officer(s) concerned not knowing the process? Or maybe a misunderstanding due to language difficulties on one side or the other (or both)? Just a thought...
The place of initial registration was changed from the SEF to the Câmara Municipal back in 2007, along with a change to some of the requirements, as part of a drive to reduce bureaucracy in dealings between citizens and government.
Perhaps you getting an appointment at the wrong place was something to do with you not making yourself clear, rather than the officer(s) concerned not knowing the process? Or maybe a misunderstanding due to language difficulties on one side or the other (or both)? Just a thought...
Last edited by GeniB; Jun 10th 2016 at 2:11 am.
Jun 10th 2016, 7:59 am
#49
Polished expat
Joined: Jul 2014
Location: Arcos de Valdevez "Onde Portugal se fez"
Posts: 16,951
Jun 12th 2016, 8:13 am
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,044
Re: UPDATE: SEF & Residency re-newal
I suspect the confusion arises because so few people need a renewal.
"What? 5 years and you're STILL here???"
"What? 5 years and you're STILL here???"
your right 
