Centre will offer “new opportunities for social, economic and cultural exchange”
Canada is about to open a visa application centre in Lisbon, offering Portuguese nationals “greater flexibility and accessibility to visit, study and work in the country,” the country’s government has announced.
The centre in Campo Grande (opening its doors next Monday, February 26) will also handle applications from non-Portuguese residents of Portugal.
Says the Canadian government, it will essentially offer “new opportunities for social, economic and cultural exchange” benefiting both countries, though Portuguese nationals already benefit from “visa-free travel to Canada for up to six months”.
“The people-to-people ties between Canada and Portugal have become stronger over time,” immigration minister Marc Miller is quoted in the statement, referring to ties that are sustained today “by a vibrant Canadian community of Portuguese origin.“
The plan is for the new centre to make it even easier for Portuguese people to apply to remain in Canada “for a longer period of time” while contributing to the Canadian economy and “deepening ties” that already exist.
All Canada’s visa application centres are operated by private companies contracted by the Canadian government, says Lusa.
Their primary objective is to receive documents required for visa applications, to transmit this information securely to the offices of Immigration Canada and to provide biometric information collection services.
The centres’ services are available by phone, email or in person, to answer questions in local languages and help ensure processes are completed.
There are currently 163 similar centres in 110 countries.
In 2022, Canada and Portugal celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations.
According to the last Canadian census (2021), around 448,000 people of Portuguese origin are living in Canada.
Source: LUSA
