Extension of validity of temporary protection permits granted to displaced persons from Ukraine

In the early hours of February 24, 2022, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, ordered a large-scale military invasion towards Ukraine, which led to many Ukrainian citizens leaving their country, as they were at risk.

The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has contributed to a large-scale humanitarian crisis, driving Ukrainian citizens to seek refuge in other countries.

The Portuguese State was not indifferent to the war scenario that has been taking place in Western Europe and promptly provided various services and means of support for Ukrainian citizens who were already in Portugal, just as it provided these same services and support to Ukrainian citizens who intended to move to our country.

On March 1, 2022, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers n. º 29-A/2022 was published in the Official Gazette n.º 42/2022, Supplement 2, Series I, in which we can find the specific criteria for granting temporary protection for people displaced from Ukraine as a result of the imminent armed conflicts in that country, a situation that does not allow them to return ‘home’ in a safe and lasting way.

In an initial phase, subsidiary protection was then granted to Ukrainian citizens, namely through the automatic attribution of a residence permit with a minimum duration of 1 (one) year.

Given that, after a year, the cessation of the armed conflict has not yet been seen, European Directive No. 2001/55/CE, of the Council of July 20, was created with the purpose of extending the residence titles granted to displaced citizens from Ukraine.

After the transposition of the Directive into the Portuguese Legal System, through Resolution of the Council of Ministers n. º 22-D/2023, it was defined that the aforementioned residence permits will thus be extended for another 6 (six) months.

It should also be noted that the European Commission aims to extend the period of temporary protection until March 2024.

The aforementioned Ministerial Resolution entered into force on March 1, 2023, so it is already producing effects since that date.

Dra Daniela Costa

Lawyer