RESIDENCE PERMITS FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

RESIDENCE PERMITS FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

RESIDENCE PERMITS fOR VICTIMS Of TRAffICKING IN PERSONS OR THE SUBJECTS Of AN ACTION TO fACILITATE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

ARE THE VICTIMS Of TRAffICKING IN PERSONS OR THE SUBJECTS Of AN ACTION TO fACILITATE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ENTITLED TO A RESIDENCE PERMIT?

Yes, residence permits are issued to foreign nationals who are or have been victims of criminal offences related to trafficking in persons or actions to facilitate illegal immigration, even if they have entered the country illegally or if they do not meet the conditions for a residence permit.

UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES Is A RESIDENCE PERMIT GRANTED TO A PERSON WHO IS, OR HAS BEEN A VICTIM Of CRIMINAL OffENCES RELATED TO TRAffICKING IN PERSONS OR ACTIONS TO fACILITATE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?

A residence permit may be granted under the following circumstances:

1 – It is necessary to extend the stay of the applicant in Portugal for reasons related to the con- duct of investigations and legal proceedings;

2 – The applicant is clearly willing to cooperate with the authorities in their investigation and suppression of this type of criminal offence;

3 – The applicant has severed any relationship he may have had with the alleged offenders.

A residence permit may be issued notwithstanding the absence of the first two circumstances if justified by the personal circumstances of the victim.

HOW DOES THE PROCESS BEGIN?

If any public authority or organization working in the area of protection of the victims of crime considers that a foreign national may benefit from this type of residence permit, they shall notify the national of this entitlement and pass the information on to SEF.

Where there reasonable grounds for suspecting that the person is a victim of the offences being investigated, SEF shall grant the applicant some time for reflection to allow him to recover and escape the influence of the offenders.

During this period of reflection, the authority in charge of the investigation shall issue an opinion regarding the satisfaction of the abovementioned conditions, so as to enable SEF to initiate the procedure for grant of a residence permit or for an extension of the reflection period.

Please note: The reflection period does not give rise to the right to reside.

WHAT Is THE PERIOD Of VALIDITY Of THIS TYPE Of RESIDENCE PERMIT?

The period of validity of this type of residence permit is 1 year, renewable for further periods of one year provided that the conditions that justified the grant remain.