Ukraine: Information and support available in Portugal

Who can travel directly to Portugal:

• Portuguese citizens and lusodescendants
• Ukrainian citizens and family members
• refugees residing in Ukraine and family members
• citizens legally residing in Ukraine who are holders of biometric passports.

If you have a valid Portuguese residence permit you can travel to Portugal, even if your passport does not have biometric data.

If you do not have a biometric passport you must apply for a Single Travel Document (TVU), at a Portuguese Embassy (only in justified emergency situations). See the embassies' contacts on the Portugal for Ukraine portal.

Temporary protection regime

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, social support, and enrollment in job offers, among others. To sign a labor contract and start working, you need to have a NIF assigned.

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

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.

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 the Immigration and Border Service's (SEF) 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 with services dedicated to Ukrainian citizens, which are operating during extended hours.

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.

Learn more about applying for temporary protection on the Portugal For Ukraine portal.

Registration and protection of unaccompanied children

A platform was created with a special monitoring group to register unaccompanied children arriving in Portugal. This group is composed of teams from the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, the Ministry of Justice, the Immigration and Border Service and the High Commissioner for Migrations.

Contact can be made via 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.

Travel inside the EU

Ukrainian nationals holding a biometric passport, as visa-free travelers, have the right to move freely within the EU after being admitted into the territory for 90 days. On this basis, you are able to choose the EU country in which you want to enjoy the rights attached to temporary protection and to join your family and friends in the EU country where they are present.

For more information on travelling in the EU, please consult the European Commission's portal.

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.

If you cannot afford a house in Portugal, you can ask for support from the High Commission for Migrations (ACM) via:

• e-mail to sosucrania@acm.gov.pt
• an online form on the portuguese Diplomatic Portal (available in Portuguese, English and Ukrainian)
• one of the three National Centers for Migrant Support (CNAIM) in Lisbon, Faro and Porto.

You can also have access to the special regime of the 'Porta de Entrada' program, in which financial support is granted to support the costs of accommodation in tourist resorts or the rent of a house. The support lasts up to 18 months, and can be extended up to a maximum of 30 months. More information on the Portugal For Ukraine portal.

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.

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 (with Telephone Translation Service, in Ukrainian), on +351 218 106 191 (mobile and foreign network) or 808 257 257 (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.