In a written response sent to Lusa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) points out that 300 appointments for visa applications are made available per day by the consulate general in Luanda, on the VFS Global appointment platform, highlighting "Portugal's commitment to promoting mobility between the two countries".
The MNE also highlights "the qualitative and quantitative leap" with the opening of the dedicated Visa Application Center for Portugal in Luanda, pointing out the significant increase in numbers.
In 2024, the number of visas granted by Portugal to Angolan citizens was around 64 thousand (including Schengen or short-stay visas and long-stay national visas), an increase of 12.5 percent compared to 2023 and 61 percent compared to 2022.
According to the MNE, in 2023, the last year that can be compared in terms of visa issuance with other Schengen area partners, Portugal granted more short-stay visas than all the other eight Member States present in Angola, being responsible for around 84 percent of the total visas granted in Angola "with an unparalleled approval rate".
Regarding the CPLP mobility agreement, the Portuguese Government highlights that national visas more than tripled in 2024 compared to the previous year, reinforcing the growth trend already observed in 2023, when there was a doubling of the volume of national visas issued compared to 2022.
In the response sent to Lusa, through its press office, the MNE also notes that the functioning of the VFS scheduling platform (through which requests are submitted) "has not experienced any technical problems that have rendered it inactive, so any possible lack of scheduling spaces that users may encounter does not result from technical problems, but rather from the very high demand and possible hoarding of spaces by illicit actors".
Since last year, several visa applicants have reported difficulties in scheduling appointments due to the unavailability of spaces on the VFS Global platform.
When asked about the reasons for the partnership with this company, the MNE responded that external service providers, such as VFS, are "an added value for the Portuguese consular network", taking charge of scheduling, customer service, document pre-verification and collection of biometric data, as well as the service centers allowing for greater geographical coverage of consular posts and greater capacity to receive visa applications.
Visa applications processed by the Consulate General of Portugal in Angola are submitted at the VFS Global facilities and appointments must be made on this company's appointment platform, "available in both English and Portuguese, with permanent support from a call center to clarify doubts and support applicants", with vacancies made available according to the processing capacity of the consular posts, it adds.
VFS Global also responded in writing to Lusa, admitting that the growing demand for visa appointments has led to an increase in fraud, from scammers posing as employees to agents and intermediaries who promise an advance appointment at an additional cost to visa applicants.
VFS Global says it has implemented “strict measures” at its centers in Angola and urges and encourages reports of any promises to facilitate early commitments to rsocza@vfsglobal.com.
To put an end to these incidents, VFS Global confirms that it is cooperating with Portugal in implementing a facial recognition appointment system and emphasizes that it has no decision-making power over the number of places offered or subsequent visa processing.
“Our role is limited to administrative processing operations, which include scheduling interviews in accordance with the Consulate General’s guidelines, accepting applications, recording biometric data, collecting fees, subsequently submitting applications to the Consulate General for review and decision, and returning results to applicants,” says VFS.
The company emphasizes that it has a “zero tolerance policy against unethical and fraudulent practices” and that it is a partner of 68 governments, having implemented security technologies throughout its global network.
Neither VFS Global nor the MNE mentioned what the compensation is for the provision of these services nor the annual amount of revenue from fees and charges.
Since establishing its presence in Angola in 2012, VFS Global currently operates three centers in the country and employs 95 Angolan nationals.
