The war between Ukraine and Russia has been going on for 28 long days and the trail of destruction brings with it a crisis of refugees who leave everything behind with the hope of living another day.

With over 3,5 million refugees, this is the fastest and most impactful crisis since World War II.

With Poland as one of the main escape routes to the west, it is estimated that more than 2 million people have reached its borders.

Portugal, through the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) and under the latest measures launched by the Government, has already received more than 17,000 refugees from Ukraine, a number that is expected to continue to rise.

To deal with the high influx of migrants, the SEF launched an online platform to ensure rapid regularization and to facilitate the entire temporary protection process.

Both Ukrainian citizens and citizens of other nationalities residing in Ukraine will be able to request this temporary protection in Portugal, and this status will have an initial duration of 1 year, and can be extended for periods of 6 months, 2 times (making a total of 2 years).

Upon obtaining this temporary protection, the citizen is automatically assigned a Tax Identification Number (NIF), a Social Security Identification Number (NISS) and a National Health Service (SNS) user number, essential conditions to regularize their condition in the country, with the right to social support and provision of health care.

Several Portuguese companies have already registered job offers for Ukrainian citizens at the Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP), and the more than 20 thousand offers are associated with various sectors, from information technologies, catering and hospitality, civil construction. and transport.

Solidarity is an expression of human existence that goes far beyond any frontier limit.