Temporary protection for almost 27,000 from Ukraine
The SEF states that since the beginning of the Ukraine war on February 24, it has granted 26,950 requests for temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens and foreigners living in that country.
Almost 27,000 requests for temporary protection have been granted to date by Portugal to people who fled the war in Ukraine, according to the latest update made by the immigration and borders service, SEF.
The SEF states that since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, it has granted 26,950 requests for temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens and foreigners living in that country.
According to SEF, among the Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Portugal and beneficiaries of temporary protection, 9,558 are minors, representing about 35%.
During the process for temporary protection in Portugal, refugees have access to tax, social security and national health service (SNS) numbers, so they can benefit from these services and enter the labour market.
Of the almost 27,000 requests for temporary protection, SEF issued 8,400 certificates, according to SEF data provided to Lusa.
The certificates are issued after the SNS, social security and tax authorities have assigned respective numbers to the refugees.
SEF has an ‘online’ platform, in three languages, for requests for temporary protection by Ukrainian residents.
The ‘SEFforUkraine.sef.pt’ platform “enables all Ukrainian citizens and their relatives (households), as well as any foreign citizen residing in Ukraine, to make ‘online’ a request for temporary protection of one year, extendable for two periods of six months,” according to SEF.
The platform also contains information on other aspects of the reception and integration of displaced persons.
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine on February 24, with ground forces and bombing targets in several cities, an attack that was condemned by the international community in general.
