Ask Afpop
In this new monthly column, afpop, Portugal’s largest foreign residents’ association, aims to answer some of the most frequently-asked questions by members.
Question: Is there any way to avoid the huge queues that are often filling the Finanças offices?
Finding a time in the day when it’s quiet is often very difficult.
afpop answers: Actually, it is now possible to schedule an appointment in advance via the Finanças website. The service is called ‘Atendimento Presencial por Marcação’, or APM, and it is now operational in all Finanças offices, however, it is not an easy site to use and is only available in Portuguese. Here are the steps you should take in order to make an appointment online.
Open the Finanças website – www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt – where you need to log in as usual by clicking on ‘Iniciar Sessão’ and typing in your NIF and password.
In the search box at the top of the page, type ‘Atendimento Presencial’ and press ‘enter’. You will then be presented with a page which says ‘Atendimento Presencial por Marcação’ and you will see a blue box with the words ‘Marcar Atendimento’, which you click on.
You will then be given the boxes to choose the type of enquiry (‘Assunto’) and a ‘Sub-Assunto’ if required and then a box for your comments.
If you need to attach any documents, you can do so (‘Anexar Ficheiro’), but this is not necessary if you have no documents to send. Then click on ‘Marcar Atendimento’ and you will be given a calendar and timetable to schedule your meeting.
You will then receive an email to confirm your appointment and you will get information about which documentation is necessary to resolve the matter to be dealt with, in order to expedite the process.
You can also make an appointment via the Call Centre on 217 206 707, working days from 9am to 7pm.
We advise you to print the document that you receive by email, so that on the day of your appointment you can show the confirmation appointment at the reception desk who will then advise the relevant person of your arrival.
Any afpop member who has difficulty with the process can contact the afpop office for assistance.
For more information about the benefits of membership of afpop, the largest association for foreign residents in Portugal, you can visit their website www.afpop.com; email them direct on info@afpop.com or call the afpop office on 282 458 509 or 938 252 100.
Please remember to quote the Algarve Resident when contacting them.
