D7 Visa

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2026 12:03pm

9 replies5 members subscribed

Posts: 7

Location: Silves

Joined: 24 Jan 2025

Hello all, my husband, our sweet malti-poo Archie & I love to visit Portugal. Have spent extensive time in Tavira and Braga which are our favorites.Hoping to retire there.Coming back next month for 3 weeks two questions: does anyone know of a Portugese language class near Tavira, and does anyone have any insight to offer on obtaining a D7 visa? specifically the cause of the backlog. We got everything together; lease of a house for a year, obtained a NIF, a portugal bank account, etc etc our lawyer cannot get an appt with the consulate for our region. Continues to say " No appointment slots available at this time " we have been waiting many months.

Reply
View 9 replies

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 7:41am

SusanD

Posts: 4

1 helpful points

Location: Albufeira

Joined: 9 Oct 2024

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 7:41am

If you are British passport holders you will need to get yourself an appointment at a VFS Global office. They check your paperwork and submit your application to the Portuguese consulate.

VFS GLOBAL

https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/UK/how-to-apply.html

Tel: 0161 272 6382 or 0871 376 2101

[email protected]

Reply

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:37pm

TaylorsandArchie

Original Poster

Posts: 7

Location: Silves

Joined: 24 Jan 2025

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:37pm

SusanD wrote on Sun Feb 22, 2026 7:41am:
If you are British passport holders you will need to get yourself an appointment at a VFS Global office. They check your paperwork and submit your application to the Portuguese consulate.
VFS GLOBAL

Read more...

https://www.vfsglobal.com/Portugal/UK/how-to-apply.html
Tel: 0161 272 6382 or 0871 376 2101
[email protected]

Bom Dia Susan. We are American not British, but am sure same process applies. We realize we need to get an appointment with VFS Global. But that is the snag; we have been trying to get an appt for many months, but keep getting same message that there are ' no appointments available at this time". Just wondering if anyone having similar issues and/or has any insight as to the long waits. Obrigada!

Reply

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 3:02pm

SusanD

Posts: 4

1 helpful points

Location: Albufeira

Joined: 9 Oct 2024

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 3:02pm

TaylorsandArchie wrote on Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:37pm:
Bom Dia Susan. We are American not British, but am sure same process applies. We realize we need to get an appointment with VFS Global. But that is the snag; we have been trying to get an appt for many months, but keep getting same message that there are ' no appointments available at this ...

Read more...

...time". Just wondering if anyone having similar issues and/or has any insight as to the long waits. Obrigada!

Which VSF Global office are you using ?

Reply

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2026 12:28am

TaylorsandArchie

Original Poster

Posts: 7

Location: Silves

Joined: 24 Jan 2025

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2026 12:28am

SusanD wrote on Sun Feb 22, 2026 3:02pm:
Which VSF Global office are you using ?

Using the one in Miami

Reply

Posted: Sat Mar 7, 2026 9:56am

Lea64

Posts: 1

Location: Vila Real de Santo António

Joined: 21 Aug 2025

Posted: Sat Mar 7, 2026 9:56am

I’m not sure if this is an option for you and makes sense financially, but you could travel to a VFS office somewhere else in America. I used the one in DC and I logged on every day several times throughout the day until finally a slot opened up that I could sign up for. I was told by the company that was helping me with all my documentation for my visa appointment that this is the way to get an appointment. You just have to keep logging on every day throughout the day and then eventually some openings will pop up for you.

Reply

Posted: Sat Mar 7, 2026 10:13am

TaylorsandArchie

Original Poster

Posts: 7

Location: Silves

Joined: 24 Jan 2025

Posted: Sat Mar 7, 2026 10:13am

Lea64 wrote on Sat Mar 7, 2026 9:56am:
I’m not sure if this is an option for you and makes sense financially, but you could travel to a VFS office somewhere else in America. I used the one in DC and I logged on every day several times throughout the day until finally a slot opened up that I could sign up for. I was told by the compa...

Read more...

...ny that was helping me with all my documentation for my visa appointment that this is the way to get an appointment. You just have to keep logging on every day throughout the day and then eventually some openings will pop up for you.

Thank you so much.I dont know if I can apply at other locations or if I am limited to our area. But think I will try orhers too. Appreciate your suggestion of trying daily. I will do this! I have been checking every Monday but will start doing this at least daily. Fingers crossed. Obrigada!

Reply

Posted: Sun Mar 8, 2026 2:09pm

TaylorsandArchie

Original Poster

Posts: 7

Location: Silves

Joined: 24 Jan 2025

Posted: Sun Mar 8, 2026 2:09pm

Lea64 wrote on Sat Mar 7, 2026 9:56am:
I’m not sure if this is an option for you and makes sense financially, but you could travel to a VFS office somewhere else in America. I used the one in DC and I logged on every day several times throughout the day until finally a slot opened up that I could sign up for. I was told by the compa...

Read more...

...ny that was helping me with all my documentation for my visa appointment that this is the way to get an appointment. You just have to keep logging on every day throughout the day and then eventually some openings will pop up for you.

Was DC in your area or were you trying several states?

Anah

Reply

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2026 6:58pm

cconrad1234

Posts: 28

6 helpful points

Location: Vila Real de Santo António

Joined: 10 Nov 2022

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2026 6:58pm

Hello. My wife and I are on the same journey as you. I would not advise you to rely on your lawyer to make an appointment to VFS. We were living in Tampa and got our appointment in Houston for our D7. I signed up for an online monitor that alerted us whenever there was an opening. Many appointments were scooped up in minutes.
another piece of advice would be studying the Facebook group Americans and FriendsPT for the best advice. Other people that we have talked to had lawyers that were not up to date, when rules can change daily! https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AXa3DyuDX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We have just had our residence AIMA appointment completed last week!