Temporary protection permits for over 46,000 fleeing from Ukraine

  • Lusa
  • 4 July 2022

Of the 46,181 temporary protection permits granted since the conflict began on February 24, 28,243 were granted to women and 17,938 to men, according to the latest update by the SEF.

Portugal has so far granted 46,181 temporary protection permits to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, 28% of which were granted to minors, according to the immigration and borders service, SEF, on Monday.

Of the 46,181 temporary protection permits granted since the conflict began on February 24, 28,243 were granted to women and 17,938 to men, according to the latest update by the SEF.

The highest number of temporary protection permits were granted in Lisbon (9,518), followed by Cascais (2,762), Porto (2,084), Sintra (1,589) and Albufeira (1,206).

SEF also indicates that it has issued 40,350 certificates granting a residence permit under the temporary protection regime.

This certificate, issued after the national health service, social security and tax authority have assigned their respective numbers, is necessary for refugees to start working and access support.

During the process of assigning these numbers, citizens can consult the numbers that have been assigned in the meantime, in their reserved area of the digital platform https://sefforukraine.sef.pt.

SEF also reports that requests for temporary protection were authorized for 13,006 minors, representing about 28% of the total, with 737 Ukrainian minors who arrived in Portugal without parents or legal representatives having been communicated to the public prosecutor (MP), cases in which there is considered to be no “present or imminent danger”.

In these situations, which in most cases children arrive in Portugal with a relative, the case is communicated to the MP for the appointment of a legal representative and possible initiation of protection proceedings for the minor.

SEF also communicated to the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People the situation of 15 minors who arrived in Portugal unaccompanied, with someone other than parents or a proven legal representative, these cases representing “current or imminent danger”.

The request for temporary protection to Portugal can be made through the ‘online’ platform created by SEF available in three languages, without the need for adults to go to the branches of SEF.

However, in the case of minors, it is compulsory to go to a branch of SEF to confirm their identity and parentage.