Are we the right consular representation for you?
The jurisdiction area of the Consulate General of Portugal in Vancouver includes the Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon and provides consular service to more than 66.000 Portuguese and Canadian Portuguese living in that area, as well as to the general public.
In some cases, the Consulate General can also provide service to users out of its geographical area, namely other Canadian provinces and territories or neighboring US States. Contact us in advance to find out if you can use our office for the consular service you need.
Given the size of its jurisdiction area, the Consulate General offers many remote services. To avoid unnecessary trips, check below if the service you need requires you to come in person to our premises.
Other Portuguese diplomatic and consular representations in Canada:
Embassy of Portugal in Ottawa
Consulate General of Portugal in Montreal
Consulate General of Portugal in Toronto
The Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Edmonton is under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Portugal in Vancouver.
It's allocation of responsibilities DO NOT include legal competences for the practice of consular services.
In some cases, the Consulate General can also provide service to users out of its geographical area, namely other Canadian provinces and territories or neighboring US States. Contact us in advance to find out if you can use our office for the consular service you need.
Given the size of its jurisdiction area, the Consulate General offers many remote services. To avoid unnecessary trips, check below if the service you need requires you to come in person to our premises.
Other Portuguese diplomatic and consular representations in Canada:
Embassy of Portugal in Ottawa
Consulate General of Portugal in Montreal
Consulate General of Portugal in Toronto
The Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Edmonton is under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Portugal in Vancouver.
It's allocation of responsibilities DO NOT include legal competences for the practice of consular services.
Our services - In person or not?
CONSULAR REGISTRATION / INSCRIÇÃO CONSULAR
Consular registration is highly recommended for all Portuguese citizens residing in the area. It is essential for consular protection in case of local emergencies and is a precondition to any consular service. It is free and can be done from home.
Paragraph. Clique aqui para editar.
YES, you must come in person to our office
- Portuguese citizens
- Schengen visas applicants
Citizen Card/Cartão de Cidadão
The Citizen Card is your primary identification for any interaction with Portuguese Public Administration. It is mandatory for all citizens residing in Portugal and abroad. How to apply? Make an appointment. |
Passport/Passaporte
For international travel, you will need a Passport. The current model contains enhanced security features and a contactless microchip.
How to apply? Make an appointment. |
Visas/Vistos
Canadian passport holders DO NOT need a visa for stays up to 90 days. If you are a permanent or temporary resident in Canada but hold a passport from these countries. You have to apply for a visa
How to apply? Make an appointment. |
MAYBE? Check if you need to come to our office
If you need to draft a power of attorney, legalize documents, certify your signature, fill in a proof of life, authorize the travel of a minor, and so on, you can always avail yourself of our office. However, in specific circumstances, some of those services can also be provided by notaries listed with the Consulate General or by provincial and federal entities in your area of residence. It usually lengthens significantly any administrative procedure but for users that reside far away from Vancouver it has the advantage of reducing or even eliminating long and expensive journeys.
We do our utmost effort to work with local partners and entities but we cannot guarantee that all situations can be resolved in such a way. A case by case assessment will be done. Contact us beforehand to discuss your specific issue.
NO, you don't need to come to our office
For Portuguese citizens, as long as you are registered with the Consulate General of Portugal in Vancouver, there are many services that can be provided by e-mail or by post. Certificates of residency or for military purposes, registrations of birth, marriage or death, voters registration, application for pension benefits are just some examples of administrative procedures that do not require your presence at the Consulate General.
There are also services for non-Portuguese citizens, that can be provided at distance (certificate of baggage for people moving to Portugal, some categories of national visas, exchange of drivers licence, citizenship application, ...).
Contact us to discuss your specific issue.
There are also services for non-Portuguese citizens, that can be provided at distance (certificate of baggage for people moving to Portugal, some categories of national visas, exchange of drivers licence, citizenship application, ...).
Contact us to discuss your specific issue.
Contact us in a timely manner
Due to a high volume of service and limited resources, we highly recommend that you contact us in a in a timely manner. This is particularly true when applying for Citizen Cards and Passports. Be aware that all documents are issued in Portugal. The Consulate General cannot be held responsible neither for issuance or delivery delays, nor for altered travel plans.
What the Consulate General can and cannot do for you
The Government of Portugal is committed to provide consular services to Portuguese around the world and the Consulate General of Portugal in Vancouver carries out that mission in Western Canada.
There is a vast array of services available to our users but one must be aware that our ability in solving consular cases is conditioned by the Portuguese legislation and, in many instances, by the laws and regulations of our host country Canada. For Portuguese, the Consulate General can issue identification and travel documents, legalize documents and certify information. It acts as a notary and is a branch of the Portuguese Civil Registry Office. It can provide consular assistance to Portuguese in emergency situations while traveling in Canada and to detainees, etc. For Canadians and Permanent Residents in Canada, it delivers visas and can provide information on trade, tourism, education, investment opportunities, immigration to Portugal, etc.
BUT
The Consulate General CANNOT:
- free you from prison, be part of judicial cases, post bail or pay legal fees;
- pay for a lawyer or medical expenses;
- pay for funeral expenses in case of death in Canada or transfer of remains to Portugal;
- pay for personal expenses such as lodging, transportation, issuance of emergency travel documents or repatriation to Portugal;
- act on your behalf for travel arrangements, banking operations, insurance or pension collection, assist in lodging or job research, etc.;
- provide legal advice or intervene in private legal matters, including in cases of children in custody disputes;
- accept mail, parcels or commercial samples on your behalf;
- perform investigations in Canada or obtain information on investigations in Portugal. This is the responsibility of local authorities.
- provide information on immigration to Canada or on work permits, visas or any question related to Canadian administrative procedures. Contact the relevant Canadian diplomatic representation if you are in Portugal or the local federal and/or provincial office of your area of residence if you are in Canada.
As a last note, be reminded that in accordance to a general principle governing consular protection for dual nationals, “a State may not afford diplomatic protection to one of its nationals against a State whose nationality such person also possesses.” In practical terms, for citizens with Portuguese and Canadian citizenship in Canada, it means that local authorities may refuse to grant you access to a Portuguese Consular Officer and are not under the obligation to notify the Consulate General of any detention.
There is a vast array of services available to our users but one must be aware that our ability in solving consular cases is conditioned by the Portuguese legislation and, in many instances, by the laws and regulations of our host country Canada. For Portuguese, the Consulate General can issue identification and travel documents, legalize documents and certify information. It acts as a notary and is a branch of the Portuguese Civil Registry Office. It can provide consular assistance to Portuguese in emergency situations while traveling in Canada and to detainees, etc. For Canadians and Permanent Residents in Canada, it delivers visas and can provide information on trade, tourism, education, investment opportunities, immigration to Portugal, etc.
BUT
The Consulate General CANNOT:
- free you from prison, be part of judicial cases, post bail or pay legal fees;
- pay for a lawyer or medical expenses;
- pay for funeral expenses in case of death in Canada or transfer of remains to Portugal;
- pay for personal expenses such as lodging, transportation, issuance of emergency travel documents or repatriation to Portugal;
- act on your behalf for travel arrangements, banking operations, insurance or pension collection, assist in lodging or job research, etc.;
- provide legal advice or intervene in private legal matters, including in cases of children in custody disputes;
- accept mail, parcels or commercial samples on your behalf;
- perform investigations in Canada or obtain information on investigations in Portugal. This is the responsibility of local authorities.
- provide information on immigration to Canada or on work permits, visas or any question related to Canadian administrative procedures. Contact the relevant Canadian diplomatic representation if you are in Portugal or the local federal and/or provincial office of your area of residence if you are in Canada.
As a last note, be reminded that in accordance to a general principle governing consular protection for dual nationals, “a State may not afford diplomatic protection to one of its nationals against a State whose nationality such person also possesses.” In practical terms, for citizens with Portuguese and Canadian citizenship in Canada, it means that local authorities may refuse to grant you access to a Portuguese Consular Officer and are not under the obligation to notify the Consulate General of any detention.
Travelling abroad?
Make sure you have a valid passport and make informed decisions to travel safely. See updated travel advice (in Portuguese only)
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