New Citizen Spaces bring dozens of public services to all three VRSA parishes

Residents of all three parishes in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António can now access dozens of public services closer to home following the launch of a new network of Citizen Spaces (Espaços Cidadão).

The new service points opened this Wednesday (July 15) at the Municipal Market in Vila Real de Santo António, the Municipal Market in Monte Gordo and the Municipal Support Office in Vila Nova de Cacela, bringing a wide range of government services within easier reach of local residents.

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, the Citizen Spaces provide assisted digital access to services offered by several public bodies.

Among the services available are renewing or changing the address on a Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão), renewing a driving licence, obtaining criminal record certificates, and accessing services provided by Social Security, the Tax Authority, ADSE, the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) and the National Health Service (SNS).

For residents of Monte Gordo and Vila Nova de Cacela, the new facilities mean many administrative procedures can now be completed locally instead of requiring a trip to Vila Real de Santo António.

Mayor Álvaro Araújo said the project fulfils an important objective for the municipality.

“With this network of Citizen Spaces, we have achieved an important goal for the municipality by ensuring that all parishes now have access to a local public service. We are making it easier for residents to access dozens of essential services, reducing travel and bringing public administration closer to people,” the mayor said.

The Citizen Spaces form part of the national network coordinated by the Agency for State Technological Reform (ARTE) and were created through a partnership between the municipality and ARTE under Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

The municipality notes that, alongside the three new service points promoted by the council, a further Citizen Space already operates at the Vila Real de Santo António Parish Council, further expanding access to public services across the municipality.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.