On February 19, 2024, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced opening of a new Canada visa application centre (VAC) in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 26, 2024.

This expands the IRCC’s VAC network to 163 locations in 110 countries globally. VACs facilitate document submission, secure transmission to IRCC offices, and offer biometric services. The move aims to strengthen ties between Canada and Portugal, providing Portuguese citizens with increased accessibility to visit, study, or work in Canada.

The Lisbon VAC eliminates the need for applicants to travel outside Portugal, enhancing cost efficiency and client service. Non-Portuguese citizens in Portugal requiring a Canadian visa can also use the Lisbon VAC.

Appointments can be scheduled starting February 12, 2024. Canada and Portugal, celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2022, have a bilateral youth mobility arrangement, allowing youth aged 18 to 35 from both countries to work and travel for up to 24 months. The 2021 Census reports approximately 448,000 people of Portuguese origin living in Canada.

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