To arrive in Portugal, you can use regular commercial flights across the EU (subject to a valid biometric passport), international rail and bus services or free ""humanitarian flights"" coordinated by the Portuguese government (details - in the Portuguese embassies), free bus transfers coordinated by the Ukrainian community (details in Ukrainian Refugees UAPT WhatsApp / Telegram / Viber +351969293235), as well as other types of land transport, including private cars. You can check on this website what travel options are available from your location to Portugal.

To get more information you can contact:

• 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.

Official government information is available here .

If you are traveling to Portugal from Poland - contact the Embassy of Portugal .

• Crossing the border without a biometric passport is allowed in case of arrival by land or humanitarian flights;
• For minors travelling with parents: international passport or, at least, birth certificate translated to English or Portuguese language;
• For minors travelling with one parent: foreign passport or, at least, birth certificate translated to English or Portuguese language and parent consent (notary form) translated to English or Portuguese language;
• For minors travelling alone: foreign passport or, at least, birth certificate translated to English or Portuguese language and parent consent (notary form) translated to English or Portuguese language (at least from one parent);

More information at the official government’s website .

The Portuguese authorities recommend that Ukrainians do not apply for refugee status, but for the status of a person in need of protection - pedido de proteção temporária (temporary EU protection). The procedure for processing documents in this case is simplified, does not involve the seizure of personal documents, does not impose restrictions on the person and creates mechanisms so that the person can open an account in any banking institution in Portugal; work as an employee or carry out business activities in Portugal; apply for social assistance; place your child in kindergarten / school; to continue studies in Portuguese universities; receive medical care in public medical institutions.

To do this, you just need to register with the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) online (a SEF office (see information here or here ) should only be contacted in person when applying for a child who is in Portugal without parents (eg with a grandmother, sister, aunt)), providing information about your identity, residence in Portugal and contact details. 

Based on your request, the Portuguese authorities will issue:

• residence permit (Título de Residência)
• taxpayer number (NIF)
• Social Security Identification Number (NISS)
• medical number of the National Health Service (SNS).

These identification numbers provide access to health care, education, employment, social protection, etc.

The waiting time for processing an application to the SEF is approximately 2 weeks, the information is sent to you by e-mail, which you specified when registering with the SEF.

Public transport in the country is very convenient and cheap. A metro ticket in Lisbon costs €1.50, and a bus ticket is also less than €2. Monthly pass – €40.

More information at the official government’s website .

• 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.
• Flixbus operates across Europe and offers cheap tickets.

More information here and at www.portugalforukraine.gov.pt .

You can stay in Portugal without a visa for 90 days in any 180 days period. If you are granted temporary protection you can stay for 1 year. The residence permit can be extended for two periods of 6 months.

The Portuguese government has created an online platform to register minors entering without a guardian, i.e. displaced Ukrainian children.

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.

Today, COVID-19 vaccine certificates are not mandatory to enter Portugal. You don't need to present proof of vaccination or present a valid recovery certificate.

But, if you are fully vaccinated as an EU Digital COVID Certificate holder, it's a good idea to carry it on a Eurotrip. Other European countries may still ask for a vaccination certificate.

The request for the Temporary Protection Title is made online . However, applications for temporary protection for minors can only be made in person at the National Support to Migrant Integration Centres (CNAIM) in Lisbon, Porto and Faro, and some Borders and Immigration Service (SEF) branches . The applicant must provide any documents they have that proves they can benefit from Temporary Protection, i.e. ID.

CNAIM opening hours and addresses:

• Lisbon: Rua Álvaro Coutinho, 14, 1150 – 025 Lisboa - From 8am to 5pm (working days);
• Faro: Loja do Cidadão, Mercado Municipal, 1.º Piso, Largo Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro, 8000-151 Faro - From 8.30am to 5pm (working days);
• Porto: Av. de França, 316, Edifício Capitólio, 4050-276 Porto - From 8am to 5pm (working days).

Temporary protection in Portugal can be obtained by:

• Ukrainian national citizens;
• Citizens who receive international protection in Ukraine;
• Relatives of Ukrainian national citizens or recipients of international protection in Ukraine (relatives, akin, spouses or common law partners) who cannot return to their country of origin);
• Foreign or stateless citizens with permanent residence in Ukraine, who hold a temporary residence permit or a long-stay visa and who cannot return to their country of origin.

Upon submitting their application, beneficiaries of temporary protection are granted access to:

• The National Health Service;
• Social Security;
• Tax Authority;
• The Institute of Employment and Professional Training, I.P., for automatic registration with job offers;
• The labour market;
• Adequate lodging;
• School and learning of the Portuguese language; and
• Social support for those without sufficient resources.

Once the request is made, the Borders and Immigration Service (SEF) checks the relevant databases and then shares the applicant’s data with the bodies charged with the automatic issue of a taxpayer, social security, and access to healthcare number.

After this, proof of acceptance is given, and the temporary protection request is validated; the residence permit is issued for one year.

Beneficiaries of international protection (asylum) cannot return to their country of origin while they are considered a refuge.
If you have received temporary protection, you can return to Ukraine for a short period of time without any negative consequences. Before leaving the country that has given you temporary protection, we recommend that you notify the state social security authorities.
For repatriation assistance, you should contact the embassy/consulate of your country of origin in the EU country where you are currently staying. The national authorities in this country can also help you to contact your embassy/consulate in case you encounter problems and may offer assistance for your repatriation.
If you want to return to Ukraine, then most likely you will have to buy a train or bus ticket with your own money.

Yes, you can move freely around the country and, also around the European Union for 90 days within a 180-day period. But you can benefit from the rights granted with the temporary protection only in the country that issued your residence permit. If you get to another Member State, you can contact the competent authorities there in order to benefit from these rights.

Yes, you can apply for asylum. The main differences from the temporary protection are the following:

Temporary protection:

• It is a new addition to the international protection (asylum).
• Fast access to the residency rights, housing, social welfare assistance, medical care, legal assistance and safe placement for unaccompanied children and teenagers, access to education for children and teenagers, access to the job market.

Asylum:

• Under EU law, you can apply for international protection (asylum) in the first safe country you enter.
• It is a complex procedure and it will take time until your case will be reviewed
• You can access the job market after 6 months if no final decision has yet been taken on the case.
• You are prohibited for 6 months to cross the border of the host state while your application is being considered

You can also apply for "family reunification" if a family member already resides legally in the EU.
Please refer to the official website of the government.

Once you request temporary protection, the Borders and Immigration Service (SEF) checks the relevant databases and then shares the applicant’s data with the bodies charged with the automatic issue of a taxpayer, social security, and access to healthcare number. After this, proof of acceptance is given, and the temporary protection request is validated; the residence permit is issued for one year. Once your biometric data are collected, you will be able to update your personal details (address, email, and telephone number) and pick the means in which the permit is to be delivered. It can be picked up at a Borders and Immigration Service counter (SEF) or delivered to an address indicated by you.

Temporary Protection Title automatically includes:

• A Temporary Residence Permit;
• A Tax Identification Number (NIF);
• A Social Security Identification Number (NISS);
• A National Health Service (SNS) user number.

Official information is at portugalforukraine.gov.pt .

It is difficult to pinpoint how long this takes, however, even if the issuance of the temporary protection card takes a few days, you will get a document proving the submission of the application.

Crossing the border without a biometric passport is allowed in case of arrival by land or humanitarian flights.

You can also request that a Single Trip Document to be issued (TVU in Portuguese), corresponding to a “safe conduct”. This document is issued by a Portuguese Embassy in when the urgency is justified.

To request this document, please get in touch with a Portuguese embassy in the country you’re at.

To get more information you can contact:

• 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.

There are many shops that offer such services. Look for printer shops and copy centers nearby your araes on Google Maps.

You can translate your documents in any translation agency, for example smartidiom.pt or alphatrad.pt . Type in Google Maps "translation agency" and see which one is closer to your location.

You can contact the High Commission for Migration (ACM) Telephone Translation Service. Working hours: Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 7 pm; Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Telephone: +(351) 218 106 191 or 808 257 257

More information here .

You can buy SIM-cards of local mobile operators: MEO , NOS , Vodafone , NOWO . Previously, companies announced a free distribution of cards, but the promotion lasted until July. It is possible that some mobile operators have extended the promotion until now.