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Extension of the Validity of Temporary Protection Titles granted to people displaced from Ukraine

February 24, 2024 marked two years of war between Ukraine and Russia. Since the armed conflict began, there has been a large-scale migratory movement, from Ukraine to several countries, including Portugal.

 

The Portuguese Government, aware of the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict, defined specific criteria for granting temporary protection to people displaced from Ukraine, through a Resolution of the Council of Ministers.

 

Not only because of the war, but also due to the restructuring of the Portuguese border control system, the Government, also through a Resolution of the Council of Ministers in force since March 1, 2024, extends the validity of temporary protection titles again, granted to people displaced from Ukraine, namely until December 31, 2024.

 

As a consequence, and for the purposes of granting and extending these titles, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, I.P. (AIMA, I.P.) does not require the presentation of a criminal record certificate, checking it through the Schengen Information System and through relevant databases, with the competent authorities.

 

Also, within the scope of the request for the granting of these Temporary Protection titles, AIMA, I.P. will communicate the declaration supporting the respective request, with the aim of automatically assigning social security, tax identification and National Health Service identification numbers to the applicant.

 

Dra Daniela Costa, Lawyer

Dra Marta Santos, Trainee Lawyer

 

We understand communication as the expression of closeness, in a consistent way. For this reason, we provide information on a wide range of topics. For any clarification, please contact us through the usual channels and forward your matter to the Communication Department.

News PT

It’s Fado…. Portugal, the world’s favourite tourist destination

Portugal continues to be recognised internationally in terms of tourism, having been honoured this month in Berlin at the 31st edition of the World Travel Awards in 31 categories.

Considered the “Oscars” of tourism, the World Travel Awards have been presented by professionals in the sector on a global scale since 1993.

In fact, these awards distinguished 2023 as the best year ever for the national tourism sector, with several demand indicators breaking records.

But what were the biggest Portuguese highlights at this gala?

Madeira, Porto Santo, Lisbon and Oporto were voted the best destinations in Europe in the Best Island Destination, Best Beach Destination, Best Urban Destination and Best Metropolitan Seaside Destination categories, respectively.

Braga won the Emerging Destination award, and the Azores were considered the Best Adventure Destination. The Paiva Walkways were honoured once again with the award for Best Tourist Attraction in the World in the Adventure segment.

But a number of other distinctions were won by hotels, companies and national projects.

We would like to highlight three of these distinctions from hotels located in different parts of the country:

Best Lifestyle Hotel in Europe and Portugal: W Algarve – Located in Albufeira close to Evaristo beach and the Castle, this modern five-star hotel is not yet two years old and is already winning awards for the modernity and modularity of its facilities.

Best Tourist Attraction: Dark Sky Alqueva – In the middle of the Alentejo area, the marvellous Alqueva sky looks like dark velvet covered in an immense blanket of stars, where you can observe a large number of celestial objects with the naked eye. However, there is one moment when you want to close your eyes: during the blind wine tasting under the stars. There’s also a mini-museum where you can learn more about the world of space and touch a real meteorite.

Best Luxury Hotel: Savoy Palace – Located in Funchal, on the island of Madeira, this five-star hotel has been receiving this award since 2021, described as “A place to stay. A palace to dream in”.

And as it is believed that tourism will grow more in Portugal in 2024, this unit, located on the island that many call the “Atlantic jewel”, will host the prestigious World Golf Awards event for the first time in November, bringing together the leading names in international golf, which promises to be a unique and exclusive experience.

 

Joel David Caprichoso

Communication Department

 

We understand communication as the expression of closeness, consistently. For this reason, we provide information on a wide range of topics. If you have any questions, please contact us through the usual channels and direct your enquiry to the Communications Department.

 

News PT

New changes to the Portuguese Nationality Law enacted in 2024

New amendments to the Portuguese Nationality Law were approved in the Parliament. Subsequently, the President of the Republic, Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, submitted these changes to preventive inspection by the Constitutional Court, which, last month, determined that the rule was not unconstitutional. Conclusively, the President of the Republic promulgated the law, which has now been published and will come into force on the first day of next month.

Thus, on March 5, 2024, the Tenth amendment to Law No. 37/81, of October 3, was published, which approves the Nationality Law, through Organic Law No. 1/2024, of 5 of March. By Organic Law No. 1/2024, of March 5th, changes were introduced to Law No. 37/81, of October 3rd (Nationality Law), which substantially modified the regimes for the attribution and acquisition of Portuguese nationality.

The main changes to note are:

 

1) Counting of the legally required period of residence

From the entry into force of the new amendments to the Nationality Law, the waiting time will be considered, that is, the residence time for nationality purposes will be counted from the submission of the process, instead of effective starting of the process. counting the time from the date of issuance of the first residence card, as long as it is granted.

Article 15 of the Nationality Law, for the purposes of acquiring nationality, stated: “it is understood that individuals who are here legally residing in Portuguese territory, with their situation regularized before the Portuguese authorities, under any of the titles, visas or authorizations provided for in the regime of entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners and in the regime of the right to asylum”.

The law now provides: “For the purposes of counting legal residence periods provided for in this law, the time elapsed since the moment the temporary residence permit was requested is also considered, provided that it is granted.”

The question that remains is whether the entry of the submission (payment of the initial fee) or its acceptance will be considered.

Nevertheless, this change constitutes a notable improvement in relation to what was foreseen in the previous legislation, as due to the delays and slowness of the processes that have been observed in recent years, considering the significant number of processes pending decision, there are applicants who wait more than 2/3 years to obtain the first cards.

 

2) Descendants of Sephardic Jews

As of the entry into force of the new changes to the Nationality Law, descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews will now have to prove their connections to Portugal and, especially, to prove their legal residence in Portugal for a period of at least 3 years.

The law now provides: “(…) to descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews who cumulatively meet the following requirements:

a) Demonstrate the tradition of belonging to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin, based on proven objective requirements for connection to Portugal, namely surnames, family language, direct or collateral descent;

b) Have legally resided in Portuguese territory for a period of at least three years, consecutive or interpolated.”.

For processes submitted until the new law came into force, a transitional regime was approved, upon proof of effective and lasting connections to Portugal.

 

3) Recognition of adult children

Following the entry into force of the new amendments to the Nationality Law, it will be permitted to recognize the nationality of older children, as is already the case with the recognition of children under the age of 18, as long as the establishment of filiation results from a judicial procedure and that the submission of the nationality process does not exceed 3 years since such date.

The law now provides: “(…) When filiation is established at the age of majority, original nationality can only be attributed in cases where the establishment of filiation occurs following a judicial process or when it is the subject of recognition in a judicial action, after the sentence becomes final, without prejudice to what is established in matters of review of a foreign decision.”

And “(…) the attribution must be requested within three years following the final decision.”

For cases in which affiliation is established until the new law comes into force, a transitional regime was also approved, and the 3-year period starts from the entry into force of the law now approved and not from the final judgment of the decision. In these cases, they must, during the next 3 years, request the attribution of their original nationality.

The law now provides:” (…) The three-year period provided for in paragraph 3 of article 14 of Law no. 37/81, of October 3, is counted from the entry into force of this law, in relation to cases of establishment of affiliation that occurred before its entry into force.”

 

What is missing?

The entry into force of this tenth amendment to Law No. 37/81, of October 3, which approves the Nationality Law, through Organic Law No. 1/2024, of March 5, on the first day of the following month at the time of its publication, that is, on April 1, 2024.

Furthermore, the Government has, within 90 days, counting from the publication of the aforementioned law, that is, March 5th, to make the necessary changes to the Portuguese Nationality Regulation, approved by Decree-Law No. 237-A /2006, December 14th.

 

Dra Mariana Antunes Silva

Lawyer

 

We understand communication as the expression of closeness, in a consistent way. For this reason, we provide information on a wide range of topics. For any details, please contact us through the usual channels and direct your matter to the Communication Department.

 

 

 

 

News PT

Portugal is (also) flavour

Come for one reason, stay for all the reasons…. Among them, gastronomy undoubtedly occupies a prominent place.

The first Michelin Guide gala in Portugal took place on February 27, 2024 in Albufeira, with only Portuguese restaurants. This was the first time that Portugal presented its own selection of stars, separated from Spain.

In 2023, five Portuguese restaurants were awarded new Michelin stars: Encanto (José Avilez) — the first vegetarian restaurant on the Iberian Peninsula included in the Guide —, Kabuki Lisboa (Paulo Alves) and Kanazawa (Paulo Morais), also in Lisbon; Euskalduna Studio (Vasco Coelho Santos) and Le Monument (Julien Montbabut) in Porto. There was also a new restaurant with a green star, Mesa de Lemos, in Passos de Silgueiros, Viseu.

The 2024 selection included a total of 167 restaurants, of which 39 are MICHELIN Stars (8 two-star and 31 one-star), 32 are Bib Gourmand and 96 are Recommended Restaurants. Among them, there are also 5 that have the Green Star distinction.

Large cities continue to be the sector’s reference points, however, “it is increasingly common to see a growing variety of establishments offering suggestions that go beyond traditional cuisine, often taking it as a base and enriching it with new proposals of an international nature, which facilitates access to flavours from Asia and Latin America”, we can read on the Guide’s website.

During the gala, a new restaurant with two Michelin stars in Portugal was announced, Antiqvvm, in Porto (Chef Vítor Matos). Also, with the intervention of this Chef and in partnership with Chef Francisco Quinta, 2 Monkeys in Lisbon, received the first star, and Chef Rita Magro, who is part of his team at the Blind restaurant, in Porto, received the young award Chef of the year.

Henrique Sá Pessoa is another Chef with a two-star Michelin restaurant. In the 2024 edition of the red guide, its Alma maintained the same category. The other restaurants awarded a Michelin Star are: Desarma (Funchal), Ó Balcão (Santarém) and SÁLA de João Sá (Lisbon). Find out all the details and references at the link – https://guide.michelin.com/pt/pt_PT/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/todas-as-estars-do-guia-michelin-portugal-2024.

In Portugal, gastronomy and wine constitute a “product” considered strategic for tourism. Lisbon is an example of unprecedented renovation, which translates into a multitude of changes in terms of spaces and restaurant concepts. Part of this renewal is the emergence of Portuguese haute cuisine, led by a generation of young and innovative Chefs, coexisting with traditional cuisine and cuisines brought from other parts of the world by the immigrant communities that today inhabit the city. The achievement of more and more Michelin stars reflects this commitment to gastronomy.

Food, in addition to its vital importance for the body, is known for bringing people together and promoting unique and special experiences. Therefore, gastronomic tourism invites tourists to discover the local cuisine of the destination, forming part of their travel experience. Portugal has developed a lot at this level and gastronomy is a tourist tool that is here to stay, we are rated as one of the best cuisines in the world, I think for us Portuguese actually the best. According to the TasteAtlas platform, our cuisine ranks fourth worldwide out of a total of 100 countries mentioned. Being overtaken by Italy, Japan and Greece.

Come and try! Another of the many reasons to visit and experience Portugal!

 

Paula Oliveira

Communication Department

 

We understand communication as the expression of closeness, in a consistent way. For this reason, we provide information on a wide range of topics. For any details, please contact us through the usual channels and direct your matter to the Communication Department.

 

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