PS reports failures in the Digital Mobile Key in USA and Canada since June

O coordinator of the PS for the circle Outside Europe, Vítor Silva, denounced failures in the Digital Mobile Key (CDM) since June in the United States and Canada and demanded an urgent solution from the government.

In statements to Lusa, the leader, resident in Canada, associated difficulties with the receipt of authentication codes on mobile phones with the +1 indicator used in both countries.

“ This situation began in June 2026, almost half a year ago, and the problem is that it is a total blackout of the Digital Mobile Key, it is completely compromised, it does not work,” he said.

According to Vítor Silva, the failure affects the entire consular network in North America, impairing renewals of the Citizen's Card and driving license, as well as scheduling.

“There is none that was not affected. Everyone is affected and the consequences are very simple. Everything that can be done in the Digital Mobile Key is completely compromised”, he said.

The Socialist warned of three to five hours' travel to the consulates, classifying the situation as “a complete setback in what should be the administrative modernization of the processes, even above those who are so far from Portugal”.

Vítor Silva reported 1.5 million Portuguese and Portuguese descents in the United States and 500,000 in Canada, without presenting data on affected IDC users.

The leader accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) of lack of information and response to Portuguese communities.

“There is a complete void here, there is a lack of importance that is attributed to the Portuguese communities”, he criticized, adding: “It’s a technical failure, because I’m sure, but I don’t see the political will to resolve it and lessen it”.

Contacted by Lusa, the office of the Secretary of State of the Portuguese Communities has confirmed knowledge of problems with the Digital Mobile Key in some countries, attributing the situation to changes made by the communications regulators in the countries where complaints were registered.

The office clarified that it is carrying out “the due diligence for solving the problem”, without indicating a deadline for standardisation of the service.

Faced with the responsibility of previous socialist governments, Vítor Silva defended the modernization carried out by the PS and accused the current executive of not ensuring continuity of services.

The system was established by Law No 37/2014 of June 26, during the PSD/CDS-PP government led by Pedro Passos Coelho, and was subsequently developed, notably during socialist governments.

“ The technological modernization of consulates is not a matter of mere convenience, it is a condition of sovereignty and respect for our diaspora ", defended.

Vítor Silva proposed to solve the flaws, expand the Virtual Consulate and reinforce the digital signature, remote care and teaching of Portuguese at a distance.

“ Today, immigration has changed, it is much younger, people want to use faster means, computer media, means that bring us closer to things and not further.”.

“ We demand that the government give us an immediate answer as to when it will resolve this situation, because yesterday was late, we are almost half a year away and it is a tremendous lack of respect for Portuguese communities living abroad”, he concluded.

According to the official Authentication portal. gov, CMD allows you to receive codes by SMS, e-mail or gov.pt.