Visa application for UK Citizen in Malta

Hi Mark,

If you look at the following link, you will find that you cannot apply for a visa from Malta to Portugal:

https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html

The reason for this is that Malta and Portugal belong to the Schengen Zone, where visas are not required. Furthermore, there is no permanent Portuguese diplomatic representation in Malta. Matters relating to Malta are followed by the Portuguese Embassy in Rome. In La Valetta there is only one Honorary Consulate... this is written in the link you have given in your post:

"Não existe representação diplomática portuguesa permanente. Os assuntos relacionados com este país são acompanhados pela Embaixada de Portugal em Roma. Dispõe de Consulado Honorário."

As you can see in this link:
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=921282

as a UK citizen you can use vfsglobal to apply for a visa to Portugal, but you can only do it from the UK. I really don't know if you can do it from Italy, as Malta's portuguese affairs are handled in Rome...

I suggest you to contact:

Consular Section of the Portuguese Embassy in Rome:
https://portaldascomunidades.mne.gov.pt … opa/italia

and

British High Commission in Malta:
https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/ … sion-malta
They offer consular support to British nationals resident in Malta.


Best Regards

Thanks, will give this a go

Unfortunately both of them say they can't help in our situation. Every embassy we've spoken to doesn't seem to cover UK citizens resident in another European country wanting to move to Portugal. Any other advice would be more than welcome!

Although UK is not a member of the Schengen Area, British citizens can travel across Europe visa-free for a maximum of 90 days.
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/apply-from-uk/

As you are living in Malta, I think you can move to Portugal up to 3 months... But you should check this with the British Embassy in Portugal.

https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/ … ssy-lisbon

+351 21 392 40 00

____

You can also contact the Portugal Visa Application Centre via VFS Helpline, by email or in person.

https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/UK/contact-us.html
info.schengen@vfshelpline.com

____

https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/UK/faqs.html

"I don't live in the UK; can I apply for my Schengen visa from the Portugal Visa Application Centre?
No, the Portugal Visa Application Centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh are available only for residents living in the UK."

Thanks again. Apparently we have to go to the embassy in Rome which sounds a bit crazy. If anyone has a different experience let me know

Oh the joys of Brexit 

That's what I had thought in my previous post #2.... 

Hi UKMARK

The first question I have reading your post : what kind of "resident" are you in Malta?
And then : Have you lived there for a couple of years? Long enough to have acquired the European resident status past Brexit ?
If yes you can move around in Europe - thus live in Portugal
So for how long becomes the question 3 months or more?

Best is to apply ... so why not fly to Lisbon to do it - once you get an appointment .
VSA GLOBAL 1ST ?
Or contact a portuguese tax lawyer or professional accountant expat adviser...

Thanks for the reply.
Yes I have been in Malta for a few years and have the 10 year residency ID card given to UK citizens post-brexit.
However, my understanding is that this doesn't give me the same rights as I previously had for free movement around Europe.
I can go into Portugal as a visitor for 90 days but I believe to apply for residency you are not able to do this within Portugal, it has to be at the local consulate/embassy where you live. Unfortunately for me this is in Rome.
VSF Global can't process my application as they can only process British citizens who are resident in the UK.
I've spoken to a number of people and this seems to be the only route possible. But if you have some conflicting information please let me know as I need some good news 

I GOOGLED TO LOOK FOR THE LATEST SEF.PT ADVICE

It looks like you fall in the crack!!

https://www.aplaceinthesun.com/articles … key-points

This is the official site of Portugal immigration for UK nationals
https://brexit.sef.pt/en/faqs/
Lots of info...

I believe that you will be able to find a way since Portugal is very generous with expats especially if you have income from elsewhere
So do NOT despair!
IT MIGHT TAKE SOME EFFORTS THOUGH !

PS : it looks like you might have to do it before the end of June this year to benefit still from their generosity
https://brexit.sef.pt/en/guia/
UK nationals who come to live in Portugal after 1 January 2021 may need to require a residence visa and should follow the relevant application process.