What does UNHCR do in Portugal?
UNHCR in Portugal is involved in the following activities:
- Assisting national institutions and civil society in building capacity on issues related to child protection, asylum, resettlement, complementary pathways, statelessness;
- Advocating for swift access to fair and efficient international protection procedures, access to rights, and access to information;
- Promoting meaningful participation of refugees and other persons of concern;
- Raising awareness on refugee and statelessness topics and working together with a broad range of partners including the government, local authorities, NGOs, academia.
What does UNHCR not do in Portugal?
UNHCR in Portugal is not involved in:
- Processing asylum claims and deciding whether somebody can be granted protection in Portugal;
- Registration of refugees;
- Examining asylum applications;
- Issuing refugee documents;
- Individual support (accommodation, social support).
The Portuguese government is responsible for these activities and procedures.
Furthermore, UNHCR in Portugal does not offer any individual counselling.
If you need help and counselling, please refer to the section “Where to find help” for a list of government agencies and non-profit organisations which offer free-of-charge legal counselling and other services for asylum seekers and refugees.
How does UNHCR/ACNUR work with Portugal com ACNUR?
Portugal com ACNUR foundation is a national, non-governmental partner of UNHCR, established in 2021. It supports UNHCR’s programmes and activities globally by fundraising as well as raising awareness about what it means to be displaced by war, conflict and persecution. Click here to find more about national fundraising partners.
Portugal com ACNUR does not offer individual support to asylum seekers and refugees in Portugal. To know more about the work of Portugal com ACNUR, click here to visit their website.
