Portugal has been making strong efforts to welcome and support Ukrainians fleeing from their home and helping them feel safe and integrated in our lovely country.
Savvy Cat Realty wants to do it's part and collaborate any way we can, for that reason today, we leave you with the latest information on the humanitarian response plus information and useful contacts provided for Ukrainian citizens and their families who intend to live in Portugal, as well as for Ukrainian citizens who are already in national territory, and for all members of society who want to support their hosting and integration.
LEAVING UKRAINE AND MOVING TO PORTUGAL
Platform Portugal for Ukraine Portuguese State actions regarding the conflict in Ukraine, in terms of international action, sending humanitarian aid and the integration and hosting of displaced persons in Portugal.
Portal of the Portuguese Communities (Updated information, including alerts)
Consular Emergency Office +351 217 929 714 | + 351 961 706 472 | gec@mne.pt
Transportation to Portugal
If there is a need for transportation of displaced persons from Ukraine to Portugal, the situation should be communicated to the High Commission for Migrations via e-mail sosucrania@acm.gov.pt or by filling out an online form on the portuguese Diplomatic Portal (available in Portuguese, English and Ukrainian).
In terms of transport, both TAP airline and CP - Trains of Portugal are also offering free trips and other actions. TAP is offering seats on flights to and from Warsaw (Poland) to humanitarian aid organizations with programs to help refugees from Ukraine (this support is not available to individuals). Organizations must fill out the online form to apply.
CP is offering train travel, anywhere in the country, to citizens from Ukraine entering Portugal. Simply present at the ticket office or to the train conductor your passport or Ukrainian identity card and the ticket used for your journey into Portugal.
RECEPTION OF DISPLACED PERSONS FROM UKRAINE
Refugee status - Portugal
The Portuguese State has granted the temporary protection regime to people displaced from Ukraine, due to the conflict situation in the country. The temporary protection regime covers:
. Ukrainian citizens and their relatives who cannot return to their country due to the war situation; . Citizens of other nationalities who are relatives, relations, spouses or unmarried partners of citizens of Ukrainian nationality who are also unable to return to Ukraine for the same reason; | . Any third-country nationals or stateless persons and their family members enjoying international protection in Ukraine; . Any third country national or stateless person, residing in Ukraine, who is unable to return to his or her country of origin. |
Under this regime, a Temporary Protection Title is granted, which automatically includes:
A Temporary Residence Permit
A Tax Identification Number (NIF)
A Social Security Identification Number (NISS)
A National Health Service (SNS) user number.
These identification numbers give access to various services, such as health care in public facilities, and enrollment in job offers, among others. See also the Social Security guide on how to access the various social protection benefits.
For more information about the Temporary Protection Order, please visit the Portugal For Ukraine portal.
How to apply for temporary protection - Expression of interest form Applications for temporary protection can be made online through the SEFforUkraine.sef.pt portal (available in Portuguese, English and Ukrainian). This service is intended for all Ukrainian citizens and their families, as well as foreign citizens residing in Ukraine, whether you are already in Portugal or not.
!!! IMPORTANT !!! Online registration is only available for people over 18 years old, so the application for protection for minors must be made in person at one of SEF's 24 exclusive services to confirm the children's affiliation.
Requests for temporary protection can also be made in person at the National Centers for Support to Migrant Integration (CNAIM) in Lisbon, Porto and Faro and at some SEF delegations.
!!! IMPORTANT !!! The protection has an initial duration of one year, which can be extended for another year, as long as the conditions preventing people from returning to their country continue to prevail.
Registration and protection of unaccompanied children A platform was created with a special monitoring group to register unaccompanied children arriving in Portugal. Contact can be made via e-mail childcare.ukraine@seg-social.pt, the online form on the Portugal For Ukraine portal and the support telephone line 300 511 490, every day of the week from 8am to 8pm.
This platform also allows the survey of temporary foster care availability, as well as the identification of voluntary transportation actions to national territory.
Housing to accommodate displaced persons from Ukraine
The Portuguese Government created an exceptional regime to the Porta de Entrada program, to accommodate displaced people from Ukraine. The Porta de Entrada programme makes housing available to people temporarily or permanently homeless as a result of an unforeseeable and exceptional event such as the war in Ukraine.
This programme is open to all displaced citizens from Ukraine who have been granted temporary protection. More information at www.portugalforukraine.gov.pt
For identification of housing needs and availability, please fill in the contact form.
WORKING IN PORTUGAL
The Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) has created the "Portugal for Ukraine" platform, where companies can post job opportunities and the professional profiles they are looking for. IEFP has also created a working group dedicated to communicating these job offers to the Ukrainian community and international websites.
They will also monitor people in a personalized way to support their integration into the labor market and inform them about existing hiring and training programs (including Portuguese language courses).
Countryside employment: The IEFP also gives financial support to those who decide to work in Portugal, in the Interior territories, through the "Emprego Interior Mais" program. The applications are made on the iefponline portal.
Recognition of professional qualifications: In the context of the situation in Ukraine, a simplification of the recognition of professional qualifications has been adopted, with a waiver of the requirements provided by law. If you want to practice a regulated profession, you should contact the competent authority to clarify the conditions necessary for professional practice. You can find the list of competent authorities and their contact details on the Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações do Trabalho portal.
EDUCATION AND EQUIVALENCE OF ACADEMIC DEGREES
All foreign children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18 have access to the Portuguese public education system, whether they are legalized or not, and enjoy the same rights as nationals. You can ask for support at any Local Center of Support for the Integration of Migrants (CLAIM). Learn about the extraordinary measures being adopted for the reception of minors in Portuguese schools.
Higher Education: The status of student in emergency for humanitarian reasons has been applied to those who wish to complete their education in Portuguese higher education. There is also provision for the award of scholarships by the Portuguese State to cover tuition fees and means of subsistence. Applications should be submitted directly to higher education institutions or through platforms that aggregate supply and demand. See all the information on the Direção Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES) portal, available in Portuguese, English and Ukrainian.
Equivalence of academic degrees: The request for recognition of higher education degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions is made exclusively online, by filling in a form. In an emergency situation for humanitarian reasons, there is the possibility of waiving the delivery of diplomas, certificates and other academic documentation necessary for the recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas. More information is available on the DGES website.
LEARNING PORTUGUESE
If you want to learn the Portuguese language, search for search for available training in the Qualifica centres network, on the Training Offer website (Portal de Oferta Formativa) or refer to the list of schools that offer Portuguese as a host language. You can ask the Portuguese Language Learning Promotion Office for support through the following contacts:
Email - glpt@acm.gov.pt
Migrant Helpline - +351 218 106 191, weekdays, from 9am to 7pm.
You can also contact any Local Centre of Support for the Integration of Migrants (CLAIM), asking for help to search for course offers. The IEFP has also created classes for professional training courses in Portuguese as the host language. See the information about the 117 courses available at the 24 training centers throughout the country.
DRIVING LICENCES
People with temporary protection can exchange their driver's license for a Portuguese driver's license. In this case, they do not need to present proof of the authenticity of their license, or take theoretical and practical tests. They are also exempt from paying the associated fees. Those who have a driver's certificate may request automatic recognition of the professional certification from the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT). In case you can't prove the exercise of your profession, you can request the endorsement of code 95 on your driver's license, as long as you attend a 35-hour continuous training course and pass the respective exam. The fees are waived.
PET ADMISSION
The Directorate General of Food and Veterinary (Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária - DGAV) has established a special procedure for entry into Portugal of pets (available in Portuguese, English and Ukrainian) that do not meet the applicable health conditions. All people arriving from Ukraine with pets, can identify the animals and indicate their vaccination, as well as request support to DGAV through the following contacts:
Specific contact: acsccdim@dgav.pt
Direct contact of Official Veterinarians: tcastro@dgav.pt and pdomingos@dgav.pt.
OTHER ISSUES (ASSOCIATIONS, VOLUNTEERING, OFFERING HELP, ETC.)
Find more information about associations representing Ukrainian people, willingness to offer help and volunteer, among other issues, on the "Portugal for Ukraine" portal, which centralizes all ongoing actions related to the conflict in Ukraine. If you are available to help in any way, please fill out the contact form on the "Portugal for Ukraine" portal or send an email to sosucrania@acm.gov.pt.
TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN CITIZENS
For issues related to documents and registrations, contact the Registration Line, which has a special support line for Ukrainian citizens. Just dial 2 when you call 211 950 500 (workdays, from 9am to 5pm). For other matters, the High Commission for Migration (ACM) has the following channels available:
E-mail sosucrania@acm.gov.pt - created to provide information to people who want to come to Portugal, to Ukrainian citizens living in Portugal who want to bring their family to the country, and to anyone who wants to help
The Migrant Helpline and Telephone Translation Service, in Ukrainian, on +351 218 106 191 or 808 257 257 (from the fixed-line network in Portugal), workdays, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 8pm, and Saturdays, from 9am to 5pm.
For more information, check the ACM portal.
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