The government will bolster resources at the Central Registry Office in Lisbon with four technical assistants and the Central Archive in Porto with seven, starting today, to expedite nationality application processing.
“From July 1, in Lisbon, the IRN [Institute of Registries and Notary] will increase human resources at the Central Registry Office by adding support from four more technical assistants. In Porto, the Central Archive will strengthen its team with seven technical assistants to expedite the processing of mail-in applications and handle pending requests,” stated the authorities.
In a statement, the IRN and the Ministry of Justice noted that to “enhance the efficiency of process handling, the Porto Central Archive desk will temporarily cease in-person services to focus resources on mail and online requests.”
“To improve service efficiency in the Nationality area, the IRN has been implementing digitization measures supported by technological tools, aiming to boost process handling capacity and consequently reduce wait times,” the press release indicated, advising the use of non-face-to-face channels.
“Submitting nationality applications by mail, by the applicant, and online by legal representatives is more convenient and faster, eliminating unnecessary travel to service desks,” it noted.
With 18 service desks nationwide, operating from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the IRN reminds that spontaneous — meaning walk-in and unbooked — attendance at Nationality desks is subject to the availability of tickets issued daily, with the busiest locations being the Lisbon and Porto desks.
Alternative channels like postal mail and online submission of applications, as well as online process status consultation and support line access, are recommended.
“The IRN indicates there are alternatives to in-person attendance that save time and unnecessary travel, recommending the use of non-face-to-face channels,” it concluded.
On Monday, the Registry and Notary Workers Union warned about the potential closure of registry offices due to a lack of workers and the increase in nationality applications prompted by potential changes to the law.
Last week, the same union noted that announced changes to the nationality law are causing a “rush to the registry offices” to submit new requests, adding to the 700,000 already pending nationally.
According to union data, the rise in new applications is occurring both “in online submissions — conducted by lawyers and solicitors — and in person at various service points: the Central Registry Office, Porto Central Archive, and other Civil Registry Offices throughout the country.”
