Israelis Escaping War Seek Shelter in Portugal on “Refugee Visas”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Israelis are leaving their country for Portugal as the latter is offering “refugee visas” to them.
• This visa permits Israelis to reside and work in Portugal legally.
• The “refugee visa” is valid for two months, with the possibility of renewing it.

Some citizens of Israel have decided to migrate to Portugal after the latter decided to permit them to obtain so-called “refugee visas” under facilitated procedures.

As revealed, all Israelis who have left their country due to the war are completing the procedures very fast, with the authorities granting them the “refugee visa” within 24 hours.

In order to be issued “refugee visas”, Israelis need to apply for asylum upon their arrival in Portugal and hold a valid passport.

Once the application process has been completed, Israelis are being issued the visa within 24 hours.

This type of visa allows Israelis to reside legally in Portugal as well as take up jobs. Moreover, Israelis holding this document are also entitled to financial assistance from the Portuguese government. As revealed, many Israelis in the country have already received financial support.

A refugee from Israel who applied for a “refugee visa” in Portugal said that as soon as he entered the country, he immediately went to the immigration office.

He further revealed that immediately after the Portuguese authorities knew that he was from Israel, they issued him the document within hours.

Under the current rules, all citizens of Israel arriving in Portugal are eligible for the document which permits them to reside as well as work in the country.

The “refugee visa” remains valid for two months, and once this period expires, all those eligible need to renew it.

Commenting on the number of Israelis deciding to leave the country and reach Portugal, a lawyer said that this reflects their discontent with the current situation.

Moreover, it has been noted that some are also using this opportunity to find a job in Portugal and then move to another EU Member State later on.

Portugal has been very open to offering easier rules for Israelis. Earlier in November, the authorities decided to grant nationality to two Israelis being held hostage by Hamas and speed up the process for some others in hopes that they would be released soon.

The Portuguese authorities said that the granting of nationality to this group of people is made in line with a law that was previously approved. The current law that Portugal has permits the granting of nationality to descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled during the Inquisition.

While the Portuguese government did not confirm anything, it is believed that if similar measures prove to be effective, they will further ease the process.