Hundreds of Angolan students seeking to pursue higher education in Portugal are facing severe delays in securing study visas, with many waiting more than 100 days for approvals from the Portuguese Consulate in Luanda — well beyond the legal processing period of 15 to 60 working days.
Entrance exams for Portuguese universities began on 30 June, and several affected students risk missing this crucial opportunity, despite having already paid their registration fees.
According to accounts from parents and guardians, the visa application process has been marred by serious irregularities, including demands for unofficial payments and bypassing of official channels.
Multiple families claim they have been pressured to pay between 500,000 and 1 million kwanzas to expedite the issuance of visas, often handing over passports through unofficial intermediaries rather than the designated service provider, VFS Global.
“It’s becoming unsustainable.
Getting passports is a mess, getting a visa on time and buying a travel ticket at the last minute is a huge financial sacrifice,” said one parent, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation.
The delays have sparked mounting frustration among families, who say the lack of communication and transparency from consular authorities is undermining trust in the system.
Many fear their children’s academic futures are at stake, with concerns that the barriers may reflect a broader attempt to restrict the mobility of young Angolans.
“This situation is compromising the dreams of our children,” another guardian told local reporters.
Despite the growing discontent, the Portuguese Consulate in Luanda has yet to issue an official statement addressing the delays or the reported allegations of corruption within the visa application process.
The silence from diplomatic authorities has only intensified calls for accountability, with families urging immediate intervention to prevent a generation of students from missing out on international education opportunities.
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