“We will work to soon create the Citizen Space here in the city of Rio de Janeiro,” said Margarida Balseiro Lopes, in the Brazilian city.
In this case, the Portuguese Government will provide training to the human resources already existing at this consulate so that they can help Portuguese citizens access services available online.
“A connection to our Portuguese citizens, to our expatriates, who even though they are not living in Portugal, are obviously Portuguese citizens and we have an obligation to improve the way we provide public services,” the minister summed up.
There are already 71 online services available, and the aim is to “adjust this catalogue of services, adding services that are recognised as valued by citizens living outside the country”, she stressed.
According to data made available to Lusa by the Ministry of Youth and Modernisation, Citizen Spaces already exist in São Paulo, London, Paris and Brussels.
In addition to Rio de Janeiro, the Government is working to open new spaces in Berlin, Luxembourg City, Zurich, Geneva, Madrid, Barcelona, Boston, Toronto and Luanda.
In July, the Government said that it plans to increase the current network of Citizen Spaces by 250 by the second half of 2026, reaching new locations where there are no public services yet, and reaching a total of 1,143.
This expansion will be carried out in the consular network, in national hospitals, in higher education institutions and in local authorities, indicated the Ministry of Youth and Modernisation.