SEF appointment

Renting during the first year is ideal if you don't know the country. This way you can rent in different parts of the country and know it better. There's also the possibility (not yet very usual) of renting with a buying option, where a part of the rent is deducted on the property price.

We’ll be coming to Lisbon next month for our SEF appointment.  Hoping to do a day trip to Setúbal.  Not been there before but understand that it is lovely.

Still struggling to get an appointment for my wife.  I called last week and was told that the agency is not doing family reunification appointments at this time but will do them again at some stage.  Hardly reassuring.  How can they just stop an entire class of appointment? I have a lawyer also trying to make the appointment.  The lawyer is now exploring legal action.  Apparently, you can go to administrative court and have family reunification rights granted by judicial decision.  I am waiting for the projected costs of that before plunging in.  If it is only a few thousand I would do the same thing with the driving licence exchange and Numero de utente.  The delays here are shocking.  With SEF, it cannot even be termed a delay, they have simply suspended family reunification appointments. 

@davidb Very frustrating, I know. Your post doesn't say where you currently live, but coming from someone who moved here in April from CA, I would strongly advise you to take a breath and understand that things move more slowly here. It is NOT a criticism, it is something that you will need to expect (in most situations). If your expectations are that things move quickly here, I would disavow that immediately. The slower pace is part of the immense beauty and charm of Portugal--if you can look at it this way, it will help to reduce your stress! Best of luck!