Consulate-General of Portugal in Toronto

Superiority
I have gone to the Consulate a few times. The ppl there were never rude to me, however, I must say that the 'way' of superiority with which they look at you can be intimidating. And I truly believe they do it on purpose! I am Portuguese and extremely proud to say that I am 'nothing' like that! I know my place in society! What a shame, indeed!

P.S. Please remember that years of University DOES not teach anyone to be KIND-HEARTED. There's no school for that, you either are or you aren't!!!

Help with documentation translation
Good morning. I arrived from Portugal last Friday and have desperately been trying to contact your consulate to obtain information on having some paperwork officially translated for documentation proofing such as driver's license and birth certificates. Is there a booking time necessary for this or may I just arrive at the consulate and have it done right away? I do not want to have family driving me to Toronto if I will not be able to have the translations done right away. Could you please inform me if I need to have a previous appointment booked for this and what is the fastest way to do this if it is necessary. I have tried the phone numbers and am never able to get through. Thank you, I anxiously await for a response as soon as possible, without this I am unable to move forward with my paperwork. Thank-you

citizenship + passport
Hey everyone I'm going to apply for my citizenship card and passport I have a great opportunity in winter to play in Portugal for soccer. My great grand parents are the ones I'm applying through would I still be able too?
I think I'll head down to the toronto consulet and see what I can find out but be great to grab some feed back fr others that have done it already.

Thanks

Follow up to my Previous Post
I went to the Portuguese Consulate in Toronto today to apply for a passport. The waiting room was filled with people with varying needs. I took a number and sat down. The staff was very busy and I noticed that they were all doing their best to be as courteous and helpful as they could be. I was impressed by their desire to be efficient and of service to as many people as possible. No matter how much I try, there is not a bad word that I can find to describe their attitude and professionalism. They were what every government should strive to be like.

I don't know how others were able to find fault with the staff and service. Maybe it was an anomaly of a particular day. I don't know. I can only tell you that I am not easily pleased yet I was duly impressed with everyone at the Consulate.

So that's Vancouver and Toronto that I've visited for a citizenship card and a passport and I haven't a single complaint about either. I'm sorry that some people have experienced problems in Toronto. I certainly had a very different experience and felt very inclined to express such.

Oh, yes, it did take 3 hours from the time I walked in to the time I walked out, but like I said, they were very busy and I felt fortunate that they were able to process me at all before closing time. Although, I somehow felt that even if they closed their doors, they would still remain available to process all the people that were there prior to closing. Just an excellent staff! Thank you.

Not All Consulates are Created Equal
I got my Portuguese citizenship card from the consulate in Vancouver. I visited it twice and am happy with the service and attitude I received from them. However, I will now be visiting the one in Toronto to apply for a passport and am hoping they treat me with an acceptable standard of decency or I will insist that they visit this web site!

Not a true respresentation of the Portuguese Peeps
visiting the consulate and being treated like less than a human being has nothing to do with your nationality. they are rude and condescending to most people. My family is from Portugal and we needed some documents. We went into the waiting room and not a single person was in the waiting room. So we walked up to the receptionist. If Looks Could kill we would be dead lol.. She looked at us as we were the smallest and most insignificant beings on the face of this earth and said in this rude voice " you will need to take a number" Okkkkk Big Time sorry that we spoke to you without being spoken too. I found the whole experience disgusting and they should be ashamed of themselves. They feel they are superior because they work in an office and they let there job define who they are. Although Im not sure how working there makes them so special. Beats me.. In my opinion most people think they a disgrace so not sure how they pull off being better than anybody.

my point in writing this is for people not to be discourage to get your documents if you want to travel to Portugal. these people are not what Portugal is about and don't let them ruin the beauty of travel, food, and culture because of there uneducated minds. Let it be part of the learning experience .. there is good and bad to everything. no one is better than anybody regardless of what you do for a living or of where you come from. My parents were born in Portugal and we were still treated like scum bags. lol

Never let anyone ever make you feels small especially small mind uneducated people. What I mean about uneducated I mean ..Educated in Life.. how sad of a person do you have to be to think your better than most because you work in an office,,Really now ... come on Take it down a notch peeps... that's all lol good day

Service is Bad. Arrogant pepole...should have a full time job like any one else....THERE ia a COMPLAINT BOOK...and VIsitors Should WRITE COMPLAINS.

people that work at consulate
All I have to say is treat people the same wya you want to be treated....

Not Surprised
I am a Canadian citizen but I thought I would apply for a Portuguese passport since I was born in Goa during the Portuguese rule. However, after reading all the NEGATIVE comments about the RUDE staff @ the embassy, I'm thinking; should I really apply for one? If they don't treat people well at the embassy/consulate, then how will they treat them in Portugal? Frankly, I'm not at all surprised at the Portuguese behavior for they are only portraying the ruthlessness of their ancestors who carried out their INQUISITION established by the wicked FRANCIS XAVIER against the innocent Goan people including Jews, Arabs Traders & anyone who got caught in that fiasco. No Thanks, I'll rather stick with CANADA.

Service at the Consulate
Telephone service at the consulate is horrible, worse than calling the government office. No one ever answers the telephone, no even the receptonist. I have tried all the extensions mentioned on the greeting and still no answer. Website not helpful to those who do not read fully portuguese, should consider have the website available in english as well