The new digital platform for processing Portuguese nationality applications was officially launched on 1st October 2024. We waited a day to gather our first impressions, and unfortunately, it appears that the initial implementation is facing some technical challenges.
In this article, we share our insights on this platform, how it could modernise processes, and highlight the issues we have already identified.
Initial Problems Identified
The new platform, which is currently operational at the Central Registry Office in Lisbon and the Central Archive in Porto, will be extended to the remaining 16 Nationality counters from 4th November. However, within the first 24 hours of use, we noticed that the system is not yet functioning optimally, presenting errors in updating the status of applications and frequent crashes.
When checking the status of applications on the previous platform, we found that all processes appear as completed, which does not reflect reality. This type of error has generated confusion and frustration among applicants.
Unfortunately, even with the new platform, the issue persists regarding the status check of applications, displaying incorrect information or technical failures. To date, only the status check function has been active, and both the submission of new applications and the management of processes are still not functioning correctly.
How to Access the New Platform
Due to these changes, the previously provided link for checking application statuses is outdated. It is now necessary to use the new link: Check Nationality Application Status, with the same password that was previously provided.
Please be aware that, due to high demand, the website may take longer than usual to respond, and at times, it may display inaccuracies regarding the status of the application.
New Features of the New Platform
Despite the initial problems, the platform offers several significant innovations that promise, in the long term, to facilitate Portuguese nationality processes:
- Digitalisation and Automation: Documents are digitised as soon as the application is submitted, with automatic extraction of identification data, minimising human errors.
- Automatic Classification of Applications: The platform automatically classifies requests, streamlining the triage process and easing the workload for staff, allowing simpler cases to be processed more quickly.
- Integration with the Civil Registry: Upon granting nationality, the birth registration is automatically recorded, expediting the process and ensuring that the data is properly registered.
- Use of Artificial Intelligence: The platform employs artificial intelligence to optimise the processing and tracking of applications, promising to significantly reduce the processing time of cases.
These features have the potential to enhance efficiency and transparency in tracking applications, although, as previously mentioned, the platform is still facing some technical difficulties.
We remain vigilant in supporting your Portuguese Nationality applications
While we recognise the potential of this new platform to accelerate and modernise the handling of nationality applications, it is important to emphasise that we are in the early stages, and the system still presents some flaws. We will continue to closely monitor these issues and provide updates to our clients as new information becomes available.
If you have any questions about the status of your application or other matters related to Portuguese nationality applications, please do not hesitate to contact us.
