PH Embassy in Lisbon Thanks Portuguese Immigration for Assistance to OFWs

From left: Servicio de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) Deputy National  Director José Luis Barato, Philippine Embassy in Lisbon First Secretary Reginald S. Bernabe, SEF Deputy National Director Isabel Baltazar, Philippine Embassy Third Secretary Maria Flordeliza A. Tuiza. (Lisbon PE photo)

LISBON 23 September 2020 — The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon, represented by First Secretary Reginald S. Bernabe and Third Secretary Maria Flordeliza Tuiza, visited the headquarters of the Portuguese Borders and Immigration Agency or the Servicio de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) and called on SEF Deputy National Directors Isabel Baltazar and José Luis Barão on 15 September 2020.

During their visit, the Embassy officers extended, on behalf of the Ambassador, the appreciation of the Embassy to SEF in helping facilitate the entry/exit from Portugal of a total of 304 Filipino seafarers and workers through various repatriations conducted since March 2020.

At the call, the SEF officials provided updates to the Embassy officers on the latest policies, procedures that SEF is currently implementing such as the online acceptance of applications for various documentations under its mandate.

The Embassy took the opportunity to convey the various queries and concerns of the Filipino community in Portugal on SEF’s current online application procedures and requests for in-person appointments of their applications for visas and residence permits.

Understanding the challenges of a learning curve in online procedures -- a “new normal” reality under the current health situation -- the SEF officials gave assurances of their cooperation and assistance in responding to the queries and resolving the concerns of the community which may be further raised by the Embassy. END 

For more information, visit https://www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPortugal/.