Computer scientists have created software to block appointment slots for visas. The situation is known to the Portuguese authorities, who are guaranteeing measures to stop the situation. Travel agents have scheduled a demonstration for Friday, the 14th.
Difficulties in scheduling and obtaining visas for Portugal, a long-standing problem, have led a group of IT professionals to create software to capture vacancies as soon as they become available on the website of VSF Angola, the body that manages the visa issuing process at the Portuguese Consulate General in Luanda. The situation, which has been the subject of several objections from users who wish to obtain a visa for the 'lands of Camões', is known to the Portuguese authorities.
To Polígrafo África, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) explains that the Consulate in Luanda provides 300 appointments per day, but that computer invaders have, through “malicious software such as bots”, almost automatically blocked a “large number of available vacancies”.
This is why, he adds, the process of launching, in Luanda, a platform for verifying the identity of visa applicants, through the use of facial recognition, a technology developed by VFS Global for Portugal, which “guarantees a safer scheduling process” is underway.
Regarding the sale of places by 'mixeiros' with prices ranging up to one million kwanzas, the MNE admits the existence of intermediaries in the processes involving appointments and visas, but stresses that the existence of these third parties is not the responsibility of the Portuguese consulate.
In recent years, Portugal has been a major destination for Angolans, especially young people, who flee the country in search of better social conditions. In 2023, the number of visas granted by Portugal to Angolan citizens increased by 43%, from 42 to 57. Angolans are now the second largest foreign community in Portugal, with more than 55 residents.
Due to the difficulty in obtaining vacancies, a group of travel agents intend to hold a demonstration on Friday, the 14th, in front of the VSF Angola facilities, with the aim of demanding the instability of the website. The agents accuse employees linked to the company of being involved in the scheme of selling vacancies for scheduling.
