Portuguese law deliberates that if a group of people because of their belonging to a particular race, color, sex, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender identity is subject to discrimination, it is punished for discriminatory behavior. These behaviors, due to their severity, together with what is contemplated by Portuguese law, are sanctioned as crimes or offenses.

In the context of crimes, there are hate crimes. They are those who address not only the victim, but their group of belonging. These are crimes that can be translated as a form of physical or verbal aggression and are committed against a person because they belong to a certain ethnicity, color, origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ideology or social, physical or mental condition.

Any complaints, as a victim of discrimination, that fall within the scope of Law No. 93/2017, of 23 August, can be filed with the Technical Support Office of the Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination (CICDR). When the complaint is done to an entity other than CICDR, it must be forward it to CICDR.

Regarding the labor market, the Commission for Equality in Work and Employment (CITE), in partnership with the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT), develops mechanisms that help to inspect situations of discriminatory labor practices. In this sense, the worker / candidate is entitled to equal opportunities and treatment in terms of:

• Access to a job, training and promotion or professional career and working conditions
• The exclusion or restriction of access of job seekers or workers to a specific activity or to professional training, due to gender, constitutes discrimination based on gender
• Job advertisement cannot have changes / restrictions based on gender
• Matters related to special protection of genetic heritage, pregnancy, parenting, adoption;
• Legal provisions related to the exercise of a professional activity by a foreign citizen or stateless person;
• Dismissing, sanctioning or harming in any other way a disabled worker due to the exercise of his right or legal action against discriminatory practice;
• Harassment, among others.

 

In disability discrimination, there is also legislation that protects against discriminatory behavior, namely:

• Prevention of enjoying goods or services
• Prohibition or limitation on participating in economic activities
• Hinder or refuse access to residence, housing or rental contracts
• Restriction on the use of sign language
• Hinder access to buildings or public places
• Restriction on the use of public transport
• Prohibition or limitation to educational establishments, as well as specific support that is requested
• Preventing or limiting access to new technologies, among others.

In short, it is illegal to practice any discriminatory behavior based on a person’s sex, age, disability, ethnic or racial origin, religion, beliefs or sexual orientation.

Denounces: discriminatory act related to your professional life should go to the Authority for Conditions at Work (ACT). If it is a crime: The crimes can be reported to the police or prosecutors.

Victim Discrimination Denounces http://www.cicdr.pt/queixa

• Complete identification (name, identification document number, expiration date, taxpayer number, address, telephone contact and email address);
• Detailed description of all the facts and circumstances in which the discriminatory practices occurred, written in an objective way, with specific data, such as the date and place, as well as the fullest possible identification of the alleged authors;
• Indication of witnesses if any (name, contact address, telephone, e-mail)

External Link

Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP)

Ministério Público

Comissão para a Igualdade no Trabalho e no Emprego (CITE)

Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho (ACT)

Comissão para a Igualdade e Contra a Discriminação Racial – http://www.cicdr.pt

School education extends over 4 levels:

• Pre-school: from 3 years old until entry into Basic Education
• Basic Education: from 6 to 15 years old
• Secondary Education: from 15 to 18 years old
• Higher education

These 4 levels of education can be part of Public or Private education, by decision and preference of parents and / or students.

Pre-school is the first contact with education for children from 3 years old up to the mandatory age to start Basic Education (6 years old). This is optional and depends on who is in charge of the child. In addition to this option, there are other means that integrate children under 3 years of age:

• Nursery
• Nanny
• Day Nurseries

Basic education is mandatory and comprises the following cycles:

• 1st Cycle: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Years
• 2nd Cycle: 5th and 6th Years
• 3rd Cycle: 7th, 8th and 9th Years

In Basic Education, classes consist of 24 to 26 students, however it may vary to a smaller number if justified. The student who enrolls in school must have a parent or guardian, that is, a person who is responsible for school affairs. Parents or those who have minors living with them or entrusted to their care may be in charge of education.

Secondary education is mandatory and comprises only 1 cycle with 3 school years, the 10th, 11th and 12th years. As soon as Secondary Education is integrated, and wishes to continue studying in regular education, the student will have to choose one of the Scientific-Humanistic Courses available:

• Sciences and technologies;
• Socioeconomic Science;
• Languages ​​and humanities;
• Visual arts.

The choice of courses will meet the students’ area of ​​interest, however, they always have a general training component (common to all courses) and a specific training component. Through these courses students can continue their studies in Higher Education.

As an option to regular Secondary Education, there are Vocational Courses at Secondary Level, which aim to give a bigger offer to students through courses that more easily meet their preferences. They are courses with a more professional component and in partnership with companies, so that the student can intern and acquire specific knowledge about the profession in question. These students to have access to Higher Education must follow the same requirements as a regular student.

Documents to be provided,

• Pre-school: Passport Number, Residence Permit; Tax identification number (TIN); Proof of Residence of the Guardian of Education – You must attach the Certificate of Domiciliary Tax (all documents refer to the Guardian of Education and Student)
• Basic Education: Updated Photography; Citizen Card, Taxpayer card;

(NIF), National Health Service (SNS) user number and Social Security identification number (NISS), Proof of tax address.

• Secondary Education: Updated photography; Registration Form / Data update form, duly completed and signed by the guardian (Available at the school office); Pre-registration form duly completed (Available at the school office); Authorization form (Available at the school office); Photocopy of Citizen Card or Identity Card + Photocopy of Health Card (User) + Declaration of Social Security (NISS) – student and guardian.

Registration fees:

It depends on whether you chose Public or Private Education.

Duration:

• Pre-school: from 3 years old until entry into Basic Education
• Basic Education: each academic year has a minimum duration of 180 days and runs from 1 September to 31 August of the following year. Number of weekly hours: 25/26 hours
• Secondary Education: each academic year has a minimum duration of 180 days and runs from 1 September to 31 August of the following year.

Appeal procedures:

• Basic Education: Students must be enrolled in school from the moment they are 6 years old or in their sixth year between the 1st of September and the 31st of December (subject to the wishes of the parents and availability of places at the school). The transition to the following years depends on the assessment obtained by the student throughout each year.
• Secondary Education: For students to be able to access the Secondary Education Scientific-Humanistic Courses, they must have successfully completed basic education or have an equivalent qualification. Students must apply for registration via the Internet through the School Portal or in person at educational establishments. Students who have acquired qualifications in foreign countries must register between April 15th and June 15th, if this is not the case, enrollment is done during normal season.External Link

Organização do Ensino Básico em PT

Organização do Ensino Secundário em PT

Cursos Vocacionais

Quais os níveis de educação escolar obrigatória em Portugal?

The recognition of foreign qualifications is a process that can be done at the academic or professional level.

At the academic level, it is intended that, through this process, a foreign citizen has all the rights inherent to the ownership of the corresponding Portuguese academic degree or diploma of higher education.

Equivalence / Recognition of qualifications, studies and diplomas from foreign educational systems for Basic or Secondary Education can be requested by any Portuguese or foreign citizen living in Portugal.

Recognition of Academic Degrees and Higher Education diplomas can be done in 3 different ways depending on the applicant’s need:

• Automatic Recognition: intended for people who want equivalence of a foreign higher education degree or diploma, which are identical to the Portuguese degree. It is requested in Public Higher Education Institutions or in the Directorate-General for Higher Education.
• Level Recognition: intended for those who want to recognize, by comparability, a foreign higher education degree or diploma as having a level corresponding to an academic degree or diploma of Portuguese higher education. Requested in Portuguese Public Universities and Portuguese Public Polytechnic Institutes
• Specific Recognition: intended for people who want equivalence of a foreign higher education degree or diploma, through a case by case analysis in a specific area of ​​training, field of knowledge or specialty. It is requested in Portuguese public universities and Portuguese public polytechnic institutes.

Regarding the recognition of professional qualifications, it is necessary that the profession to be practiced in another country be regulated. A regulated profession is defined as one that requires specific training and examinations to be exercised. In order to recognize your profession, you can access the EU database, to check if the profession is regulated and if you are not, you should go to a national contact point for professional qualifications.

Documents to be provided,

Equivalence / Recognition of qualifications, studies and diplomas of foreign educational systems for Basic or Secondary Education:

• Certificates of school qualifications successfully completed (in a foreign language)
• Application
• Photocopy of the Identity Card / Citizen Card (or other identification document);

Automatic Recognition, of Level or a  Specific case:

• Photocopy of the diploma issued by the foreign higher education institution, to prove the level of education you intend to recognize;
• Degree or diploma registration number delivered by the foreign higher education institution;
• Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, in original version, proof of ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is required.

(Other specific documents may be requested)

 

Registration fees:
Equivalence / Recognition of qualifications, studies and diplomas of foreign educational systems for Basic or Secondary Education: It is free.

Automatic Recognition: The amount to be charged by the Directorate-General for Higher Education is € 27.60

Level Recognition: Depends on the Higher Education Institution where you intend to apply for Recognition.

Specific Recognition: Depends on the Higher Education Institution where you intend to apply for Recognition.

Duration:

They can be requested at any time of the year, during the opening hours of the services.

Appeal procedures:

Request for equivalence, leveling or recognition of qualifications, studies and diplomas of foreign educational systems of basic and secondary education: The application is requested at the establishment of basic or secondary education corresponding to the area of ​​residence and returned again after due completion.

Eventual specimens of the necessary forms

Ministério da Educação Equivalências Estrangeiras Ensino Básico e Secundário Requerimento

Base de dados de profissões regulamentadas da Comissão Europeia

Contact points

External Link

DGE – Reconhecimento de Qualificações Estrangeiras

ACM – Como obter reconhecimento de qualificações estrangeiras

The right to Public Housing in Portugal happens when the citizen, for various reasons, is unable to have enough income to buy or rent a property. We call this type of housing Social Housing.

Through the “Portal da Habitação” we can find various information regarding the process of assigning Social Houses. This program aims to promote housing solutions to people who do not have financial resources or live in unworthy housing as a result of not being able to bear the cost of housing with the proper conditions.

Unworthy housing conditions include:

• Precariousness (eg, domestic violence, insolvency);
• Overcrowding;
• Unhealthy and insecure;
• Inadequacy between housing and the special needs of residents (eg, accessibility conditions).

This program is available to any citizen, the interested parties must complete, and submit, the form available on the “Portal da Habitação”. In this form, various information is collected for analysis. The application is valid for 1 year, after which the citizen must renew the application if he/she remains interested.

Despite being Social Housing, income values may be associated, but not as high as in the private sector.

If you are able to pay your own rent, you will need to enter into an urban housing lease. This can be concluded with a fixed term or for an indefinite duration, and in the contract with a fixed term the parties may agree that, after the first renewal, the lease has an indefinite duration.

Documents to be provided,

Social habitation:

• Citizen and household identification data (citizen’s card, identity card, passport or other, tax identification number);
• Value of gross monthly income;
• Scanned Social Report, if available.

Urban rental

• Valid identification document (Passport or document that replaces it, Identity Card, Citizen Card and Residence Permit, for example).
• tax identification number (TIN),

External Link

http://www.portaldahabitacao.pt/pt/portal/Arrendamento/index.html ou junto do GAH – Gabinete de Apoio à Habitação

http://www.ihru.pt/

https://eaa.portaldahabitacao.pt/web/eaa

Any citizen has the right to health and the duty to protect it. If you are an immigrant and are ill, or need any type of health care, you are entitled to be assisted at a Health Center or Hospital (in case of emergency). These services cannot refuse to assist you on the basis of any reasons linked to nationality, lack of economic means, lack of legalization or otherwise.

The Portuguese health system is based on the National Health Service (SNS). SNS beneficiaries are:

• Citizens of EU Member States in the European Economic Area and Switzerland, in accordance with applicable Community rules;
• Foreign citizens residing in Portugal, in conditions of reciprocity;
• Foreign citizens residing in Portugal, within the scope of existing bilateral agreements;
• Asylum-seekers with refugee status;
• Stateless citizens residing in Portugal.

If you do not have a residence permit or if you are in an irregular situation due to the immigration legislation process, you will still have access to the SNS, however the expenses incurred will be charged, except for some health care services, upon presentation of a document from the Parish Council in your area of residence that certifies that you have been residing in Portugal for more than 90 days.

When working in Portugal you also have access to health supplements if you become ill. In addition to the health insurance that may be associated with your contract, you may also be entitled to Sickness Allowance or Medical Leave, is an amount monetarily assigned by Social Security if you are unable to work due to illness.
Access to this benefit is available to all who complete 6 calendar months, consecutive or interpolated, with a record of remuneration, on the date of the onset of the disease, considering, if necessary, the month in which the disease occurs, if there was remunerations. While you are receiving the Sickness Allowance you are not allowed to leave your home, except for the purposes related to the assigned sick leave.

You can also benefit fromf: Child Care Allowance, Allowence for Grandson Assitence and Professional Illness.

Within the scope of the disability issue, there is the Social Benefit for Inclusion for nationals and foreigners, refugees and stateless persons who have a disability resulting in a degree of disability equal to or upper than 60%.

Documents to be provided,

• Identity Card / Citizen Card (or other identification document);
• Proof of address (for example: a certificate of residence obtained from the parish council, an invoice for water, electricity or telephone services, etc.);
• Residence authorization document, applicable for the registration of foreign citizens

Registration fees,

The SNS works, in some cases, by charging user fees – cost sharing in access to health care between users and the State

Appeal procedures

Foreign citizens legally resident in Portugal must register at the Health Center in their area of residence, more precisely at the Family Health Unit (USF) or the Personalized Health Care Unit (UCSP).

Eventual specimens of the necessary forms

Social Benefit for Inclusion: Form Mod.PSI1-DGSS (accompanied by the documents indicated therein).
External Link:

www.seg-social.pt

http://www2.acss.min-saude.pt/Default.aspx?TabId=1180&language=en-US

https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/manual-de-acolhimento-no-acesso-ao-sistema-de-saude-de-cidadaos-estrangeiros-pdf.aspx

http://www.seg-social.pt/subsidio-de-doenca

http://www.acss.min-saude.pt/circulares/Circular_Normativa/2016/Circular_Normativa_8_2016.pdf