ANGOLA CITIZENS FACING DELAY IN OBTAIN VISA FOR PORTUGAL DUE TO BIOMETRIC SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY INTRODUCED IN FEB THIS YEAR 26th September 2013 Biometric system blamed for delay in visa for Portugal The delay in the process of issue of visas for Portugal is owed to the scheduling biometric system, a mechanism adopted by the Portuguese Government in February this year, with a view to greater security. The information is contained in a press release from the Angolan Foreign Ministry that, upon consultation with the consulate of Portugal in Luanda, explains that the system adopted this year requires the gathering of data on the applicant. According to Schengen area norms, the applicants’ data obtained by the embassy’s services will remain valid for five years, which means that future applications shall not be subject to new data gathering. With a view to putting an end any constraints in the access to visa, Angola and Portugal signed a Visa Facilitation Protocol on 16 September 2011, in Lisbon. The said protocol is intended to create the facilitation mechanisms in the granting of visa on common/ordinary passports. In terms of the Protocol and of the Law in force in each of the two countries, the concerned authorities of the signatory parties will facilitate the access to short and long time visas. According to the source, short duration visas are valid for multiple entries within a 36 months period, thus enabling the holder a continuous stay for another maximum period of 90 days per semester. Visas for business, academic, sports , cultural, scientific and technological purposes, as well as for citizens seeking medical aid and their respective companions, will remain valid for multiple entries, both for short or long duration, and extendable, for the purposes behind their granting. Long duration work visas will be valid for multiple entries within a period of 36 months, enabling the holder a continuous stay of extendable 12 to 36 months, for the purpose behind their issue. The Visa Facilitation Protocol was signed by Angolan Foreign minister and the then minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Paulo Portas
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 01:26:24 +0000
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