afpop (Portugal Foreign Residents Association)

afpop, the Portugal Foreign Residents Association, was founded in 1987 and is the largest membership organisation for foreign residents living in Portugal. It is a non-profit association, declared an Entidade de Utilidade Pública (Entity of Public Usefulness) by the Portuguese government on 20 October 2010, in recognition of its work building relationships between the foreign community, Portuguese authorities and residents. Membership is open to anyone over 18, of any nationality. Members get access to more than 75 regularly updated Information Bulletins covering Portuguese legislation, a Members' Magazine published six times a year, and a network of volunteer Area Event Organisers who run seminars, exhibitions and social activities across the country, including in Lagos, Silves and Carvoeiro, Albufeira, Portimão and Monchique, and Loulé. Members also get discounts and preferred conditions from more than 300 partner companies and service providers, and access to professional advisory services in English, German and other European languages, as well as Portuguese. The association is run day to day by paid office staff working from the office in Portimão, supporting a voluntary Management Council elected annually by members at the AGM, and a separate three-member Fiscal Council that audits the association each year and advises on Portuguese law and the association's statutes. Residents can join afpop as members to access the information bulletins, discounts and events, volunteer as an Area Event Organiser in their own region, or contact the Portimão office by phone, email or in person for help with Portuguese bureaucracy and legislation.