José Luís Carneiro told Lusa that consulates in Manchester and London were given the option to use translators and intermediaries that can speak the respective languages, adding that there are specific communities without much knowledge of Portuguese.

It is estimated that in the consular area of Manchester, which includes north England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are around 20,000 Portuguese citizens born outside Portugal.

In the case of East Timor for example, although Portuguese is the official language, the Tetum dialect is rooted in the community, with many people living in Northern Ireland having little knowledge of Portuguese or English.