SEF appointment for family

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:

https://ec.europa.eu/immigration/countr … -member_en

Best Regards

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

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.

Those who persist, achieve everything...

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
https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/residir/art98-1/

@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

@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:

https://imigrante.sef.pt/solicitar/residir/art123/

@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.