proteção temporária
Published 8 November 2026, 19:36
proteção temporária — temporary protection
The status Portugal grants to people who fled the war in Ukraine. It is not the same as asylum: it is granted straight away, for a period that the European Union extends, and in itself gives the right to live, work and study in Portugal, to get a NIF and a Segurança Social number, and to be treated in state hospitals. It is issued and renewed through AIMA, while financial support is awarded separately by Segurança Social, depending on household composition and other income.
Where you come across it. Conversations about renewing the status, about payments and about how temporary protection differs from a residence permit and from asylum.
It is a temporary status, not a residence permit: years spent under it do not count towards the residence period for citizenship in the same way as years under an ordinary residence permit, and switching to a residence permit requires a separate application.