Facial Recognition Becomes Mandatory for Portuguese Visa Applicants in Angola

Facial Recognition Becomes Mandatory for Portuguese Visa Applicants in Angola

Key Highlights

  • The Portuguese consulate in Luanda, Angola, has implemented facial recognition for visa applicants at its VFS Global center.
  • This measure aims to prevent slot hoarding, where individuals book visa appointment slots and sell them for profit.
  • Portugal remains the top destination for Angolan visa applicants, issuing over 40,000 visas annually.
  • Any applicant attempting to bypass facial recognition by providing a false date of birth will face visa rejection.

Facial Recognition Now Required for Portuguese Visa Applicants in Angola

To address ongoing issues of visa appointment slot hoarding, the Portuguese consulate general in Luanda has mandated facial recognition for all Schengen visa applicants. This requirement applies to all adult applicants scheduling appointments through the VFS Global platform.

According to Schengen.News, this security measure aims to prevent misuse of the system, ensuring that only genuine applicants can secure appointment slots.

Crackdown on Visa Appointment Hoarding

Recent reports highlighted that hoarders were exploiting the VFS Global system, booking large numbers of visa slots and selling them for profit. Complaints regarding this misuse had been circulating since 2024, prompting the Portuguese government to take action.

To combat this issue, the VFS Global center in Luanda now releases 300 visa appointment slots per day. Applicants must use a webcam or mobile camera while scheduling their appointments to complete the facial recognition process.

Portugal: The Most Popular Destination for Angolan Travelers

Statistics from SchengenVisaInfo reveal that in 2023, Angolan nationals submitted 72,549 Schengen visa applications, with a significant 75.6% (54,852 applications) directed to Portuguese consulates.

Portugal remains the top destination for Angolan travelers due to:

  • Strong historical and linguistic ties as both nations are part of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).
  • High visa approval rates—77.6% of Schengen visa applications from Angolans were approved by Portugal in 2023.

While Portugal leads in visa approvals, Spain and Germany are also notable destinations, receiving 5,498 and 3,818 visa applications, respectively.

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