Luís Montenegro, the Prime Minister of Portugal, presented a programme of 15 basic policies that aim to standardise and simplify procedures regarding digital bureaucracy in public services, including an important update for expats communities.
Portuguese Digital Bureaucracy to Decrease in 2024
The first Council of Ministers dedicated to Portugal's Digital Transition and Modernization, which took place in Almada on the 16th of July, has the goal of promoting the standardisation, simplification and digitalisation of public services. The main reason for that, warned the Prime Minister, is the fact the country runs some risks in terms of the functioning of the State machinery, due to all the digital bureaucracy that is now in place. Many different bureaucratic systems were created in the hopes of simplifying procedures, however ultimately making things more difficult.
Now, the relatively new Prime Minister is taking action to achieve a better interconnection between the different departments of public administration, making things easier for users, including foreigners, who will be able to visit Lojas do Cidadão (Citizen Shops) to obtain their Finance, Social Security and Health User numbers, all at once. This follows the trend of Portugal being increasingly sensitive and attentive to the well-being of the foreign population, making the process of relocating to Portugal a lot easier. Another example of this was given early this month, with the Portuguese Government indicating that the tax incentives for non-habitual residents may be reintroduced.
Some of the presented policies will be put into effect by the last quarter of 2024. The full list can be seen (in Portuguese) on the official document provided by the Portuguese Government.
Image source: Creative Commons
New Lojas do Cidadão: One-Stop-Shops for Foreigners in Need of Public ID Numbers
After PM Montenegro introduced the new policies towards simplifying the digital public services in Portugal, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the Minister of Youth and Modernisation, highlighted the subject of the distribution of IDs to foreign-born residents. The official stated that the government is aware that "we have thousands of foreign citizens living in Portugal who cannot access something as basic as a Tax Identification Number [NIF], the Social Security Number or the Health User Number".
To address that, Balseiro Lopes introduced a project that is being implemented by AMA [Agency for Administrative Modernisation] and AIMA [Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum] and that will allow expats to get all three IDs, at once, in any Loja do Cidadão, a service point that brings together resources from different entities into a single counter. To make sure the system is available to all, without overflowing workers, the infrastructure will be improved, with 23 new service points being added to the 72 currently existing, up until the second half of 2026.
Minister Margarida Balseiro Lopes pointed out how this measure will further benefit expats living in Portugal, since it also takes pressure off from AIMA, the agency that provides many other services for foreign-born residents. That will certainly be welcome, as AIMA even had to automatically extend the validity of immigrants' documents by one year, in an effort to decrease some of the long queues faced by those waiting on the update of their residency status. That action was launched shortly after the announcement of a New Immigration Plan, with policies dedicated to making the immigration situation in Portugal better in many different fronts.
The new Lojas do Cidadão will also assure “greater levels of inclusion, ensuring that all citizens can benefit from digital processes and that this makes their lives easier...”, as put by Mr. Luís Montenegro, that made clear that the these new shops will be implemented not only “to make life easier for citizens who use digital tools, but also to help those who may need assistance so they don't miss out."
Unification Seems to Be the Keyword
The Simplex programme, as it is called by the Government, is divided into 4 main axes and is set to be:
- More articulate
- More flexible
- Simpler
- Assured for everyone
The second pillar, referring to flexibility, is heavily relying on the new Gov.pt website, to be launched in September 2024, with an application to be available later on, which will act as a digital gateway to various public services. This digital space will keep track of all submitted documents, discarding the need for a new submission every time the user asks for assistance, even if it is related to a different institution than the previous one.
Also in September, the public services phone line will be available in English, another important update for the expat community. Something to add up to the Telephone Translation Service (STT), an initiative created by the High Commission for Migration (ACM) that offers free translation through a simple phone call.
Therefore, the Gov.pt will not only be a new digital service offered by the Portuguese government, but a brand that will gather the whole relationship between public administration and citizens, companies as well as other institutions.
Live Bureaucracy Free With The Help Of Portugal Homes
Portugal is a place of many wonders. However, its bureaucracy can pose some difficulties, not only to newcomers but even also to the most experienced expat. Luckily, Portugal Homes has an entire team exclusively dedicated to make your relationship with Portugal as hassle free as possible. That includes taking care of all bureaucracy involved in getting crucial identification numbers, in opening bank accounts and everything else necessary at any moment of your residency process. Contact us now to find out how you can enjoy a carefree relocation to Portugal.
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