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Updated August 2024

Key takeaways

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens need a job offer in Portugal to apply for a work visa.

Three types of Portugal visas are available for work: job seeker, temporary stay – seasonal workers, and long stay – national residency.

Applicants require a signed visa form, criminal record check, proof of financial means, and specific documents based on the visa type.

Table of Contents

What is a Portugal work visa?

For citizens who are not from the EU/EEA or Switzerland are required to acquire either of the visas of following types to work in Portugal:

Job seeker visa
Temporary stay visa – seasonal worker visa
Long stay visa – residency national visa

The first step in applying for a work visa is to find a job in Portugal. Once you have secured employment, you can apply for a Portuguese work visa.

Please note that there is no official term for a visa that permits working in Portugal. This article will, however, use the term “Portugal work visa” for consistency and clarity.

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Documents checklist

The following general documents are required for a Portugal work visa:

National Visa application form filled and duly signed by the applicant
Passport or other travel document—valid for 3 months after the estimated date of return.
Photocopy of passport (biographical data)
2 passport sized recent photographs
National identity card as proof of status — required especially if you are applying from a country you are not a citizen of. It must be valid beyond the visa’s expiry date.
Criminal record certificate — issued by the competent authority of the country of the applicant’s nationality or of the country where the applicant has resided for over a year (except for applicants under sixteen), with the Hague Apostille (If applicable) or legalized
Valid travel insurance — covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent medical assistance and possible repatriation;
Copy of return transport title
Proof of financial resources equivalent to at least the sum of three guaranteed monthly minimum salaries.

Proof of financial resources may be waived upon presentation of a term of responsibility with a recognized signature made by a Portuguese citizen or a foreign citizen with a legal residence authorization in Portugal. This term guarantees food and accommodation for the visa applicant and repatriation costs in case of an irregular stay.

The signatory of the responsibility term must also prove to have financial capacity at least three times the value of the guaranteed minimum monthly salary.

Please note that additional documents might be required for each Portugal visa type. More on this below.

What are the Portugal work visa types?

The following are the types of Portugal work visas:

Job seeker visa

The job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal to look for a job and authorizes him/her to carry out a subordinated work activity until the visa expires or until the residence permit is granted.

The visa is granted for 120 days, renewable for another 60 days, and allows only one entry into Portugal. Visa extension requests must include proof of registration with the IEFP, I.P., and a declaration confirming the maintenance of planned stay conditions, which will be evaluated based on the initial justification for the visa issuance.

With the Portugal job seeker visa, you can stay in Portugal for 120 days while you look for a job. If you successfully formalize your employment contract within this period, you can apply for a residence permit, provided that you meet the general criteria under the terms of Article 77 of the Law.

If you are not able to successfully establish an employment relationship or start the residency permit process within the specified timeframe, you will have to leave the country. In these situations, you can only re-apply for a new visa application for this purpose — one year after the expiry of the previous visa’s validity.

Requirements

The following documents are specifically required for a job seeker visa application:

Self-statement with an indication of the conditions for the estimated stay.
Proof of presentation of a declaration of expression of interest for enrolment in the IEFP.

Temporary stay — seasonal worker visa.

Having a temporary stay Schengen visa does not guarantee entry into the Schengen area; it only allows application for entry at a border post. It can be issued for various purposes, including business and seasonal work.

Temporary stay visas allow entry and stay in Portugal for short stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. They are valid for the entire stay and allow for multiple entries. You must apply for a seasonal worker visa to work in Portugal for 90 days.

Seasonal work visas allow one to engage in temporary, seasonal work for 90 days or less in pre-approved fields of work. They should be applied for at the consular post of the country where the applicant wishes to engage in seasonal work.

Requirements

Other than the general documents, you need to submit the following specific documents for seasonal worker visa applications:

Return ticket
A work contract or valid work offer for seasonal work purposes, with a temporary work company or an employer established in Portuguese territory, identifies the location, time, and type of work, as well as duration, salary and paid vacation.
In the case of regulated professions, compliance with national legal requirements for that profession is mandatory.
Adequate medical protection, in similar terms to national citizens, or medical insurance for the periods that may not be covered by medical protection, as well as work accident insurance provided for the employer.
Proof of accommodation, through a rental lease or equivalent. Accommodation can also be provided by the employer—in compliance with existing legal requirements.

Eligibility

Please note that your work activity must be registered in the list of work sectors for which seasonal work is available, defined by competent authorities.

Current sectors for which seasonal worker visas are available as of 17 January, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website —

Agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry and fishing;
Hospitality, restaurants and similar;
Food industry, liquor and tobacco industries;
Gross and Retail commerce;
Construction;
Land transport.

Long stay — residency national visa

In compliance with Portugal’s existing domestic laws, long-stay visas are dependent on the duration of your stay—it can be either temporary or for residency authorization purposes. They grant the visa holder authorization to stay in the country for different purposes, like work, study, internship, etc.

Residency visas allow two entries and are valid for 4 months. During that time, the holder of a residency visa is required to request a residency permit with the Immigration and Border Services (SEF).

Requirements

Other than the general documents, you need to submit the following specific documents for residency national visa applications:

For subordinate work activate:

Work contract, work promise or demonstration of interest;
Professional certificate, when such a profession is regulated in Portugal, if applicable.
For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence, the funds arising from a contract or promise of an employment contract must be considered.
- Proof of means of subsistence can be provided through a term of responsibility with a recognized signature issued by the entity hosting workers.

Independent work activity or migrant entrepreneur:

Independent professional activity:
- Contract or written service provider proposal for liberal professions
- If applicable, a declaration by competent authorities certifying professional competence for the referred activity.
Entrepreneurs:
- Investment operations executed.
- Proof of financial means available in Portugal, including those obtained through a financial institution in Portugal, and proof, by any means, of intention to invest in Portuguese territory.
Startup visa program:
- Declaration issued by the Agency for Competition and Innovation (IAPMEI), certifying the signing of an incubation contract with a certified incubator, in accordance with Article 6o of Normative Order n.º 4/2018 of the Minister of Economy of 2 February that regulates the «Startup Visa» Program.
For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence: Funds from a job contract, work contract, or service provider contract should be considered. Proof of means of subsistence can be shown through a letter of responsibility signed by the hosting entity.

Teaching purposes, highly qualified or cultural activity, or highly qualified subordinate activity

Professional activity, highly qualified activity and cultural activity (art. 61.º):
- Work contract, work promise or service provider contract.
- An invitation letter issued by a higher education institution or professional training institution.
- Statement of responsibility provided by a certified company as stipulated by law.
- An invitation letter issued by a company or institute developing a relevant cultural activity in Portuguese territory, recognized by the government agency responsible for cultural activities or as stipulated by law.
- An invitation letter issued by a research center.
Subordinate highly qualified activity (art. 61.º-a):
- A valid contract or a work promise, for a minimum period of one year, and for a salary of 1,5 times de annual gross salary, or three times de-indexed value for social welfare support (IAS);
- For work-related activities in the 1st and 2nd international category types (CITP) groups, as stipulated by the Council of Ministers, and following the opinion of the Permanent Commission for Social Harmonization (CPCS).
  - For professional activities considered particularly in need of professionals from third countries, the minimum salary should (Article 1, a)) correspond to 1,2 times de annual gross salary or two times the indexed value for social welfare support (IAS). or,
- Regulated highly qualified profession: proof that is enabled to exercise that profession in Portugal.
- Unregulated profession: proof that holds high professional qualifications, adequate for the referred field of work or sector stipulated in the work contract or the work promise.
For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence must be considered the funds arising from a contract or promise of an employment contract; or, a work contract or service provider contract.
- Proof of means of subsistence can be provided through a term of responsibility with a recognized signature issued by the hosting entity.

Research, internships and volunteer work:

Research purposes:
- Work contract or host agreement with the research center or university, or
- A Letter of acceptance from the research center or university and proof of scholarship or research grant.
- Or a statement of responsibility signed by the research center or university to cover admission and living costs.
Researchers admitted to a recognized research center or higher education institution are exempt from presenting health insurance, employment contracts, travel insurance, and means of subsistence.
If the applicant is a grant beneficiary, they are exempt from providing proof of admission and means of subsistence, if they inform the Consular Post.
- For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence, the funds arising from a contract or promise of an employment contract, grants or scholarships must be considered.
Internship:
- Proof of internship acceptance by the certified host institution, proof of practical and theoretical training in the field of studies obtained or ongoing, including:
  - Description of the training program, including objectives and learning components;
  - Duration and schedule for training;
  - Location and supervising conditions;
  - The legal status of the intern within the host institution;
  - A statement that the internship does not constitute a replacement for a professional post and acknowledgment of the host institution’s responsibility for paying living costs and removal in case of illegal stay.
  - Proof of means of subsistence can be provided by the host entity presenting a term of responsibility for interns.
Volunteer work purposes:
- Contract with the host entity responsible for the volunteer program, with the duration, schedule, supervision conditions and guarantee of covering food and accommodation expenses, including a minimum amount of subsistence allowance or pocket money; and,
- Subscription of civil liability insurance by the host entity, except in the case of volunteers participating in the European Voluntary Service.
- A statement of responsibility from the organization responsible for volunteer programs to prove means of subsistence.

For the exercise of a professional activity done remotely: digital nomads

In case of subordinate work, one of the following documents:
- Work contract; or,
- Declaration by employer confirming the labour link.
In case of independent professional activity, one of the following documents:
- Society contract; or,
- Contract of services provision; or,
- Document attesting the services provided to one or more entities.

Proof of average monthly income for the last three months with a minimum value equivalent to four monthly minimum guaranteed remuneration.
Document attesting their fiscal residence.
Funds arising from a contract, partnership, or service provider agreement must be considered to prove means of subsistence.

For specific requirements for other purposes, such as study and higher education, please visit the official website of Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How to apply for a Portugal work visa?

There is no virtual application process for a Portugal work visa. You have to visit your local Portuguese Embassy or Consulate to lodge a visa application.

The application process involves the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Apply for your Portugal work permit

After accepting the terms of your new job, your employer will be responsible for applying for a work permit on your behalf through the Portuguese Labor Authorities or SEF.

To ensure a smooth application process, provide all necessary documents requested by your employer.

The application process will require various documents, including but not limited to the following:

Proof of accommodation in Portugal
A valid passport or government-issued travel document
2 recent passport photos. These must be colored passport photos
Clear criminal record
A work contract between the employer and the employee
Proof of registration with Portugal Social Security
Company tax statements
Proof that the position could not be filled by an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen

Please make sure to communicate with your employer to obtain accurate information regarding the necessary documents for your work permit application. They will then submit the required paperwork and inform you once your work permit has been approved.

Step 2: Apply for your Portugal work visa

Once you have obtained your work permit, you can proceed with your Portuguese work visa application by following these steps:

Complete the application form accurately: Fill out the application form with correct and matching information to your passport or travel document. Any omissions or inaccuracies may lead to visa rejection.
Gather necessary documents: Collect all original and copy documents required for the visa application process. Documents should be in English or Portuguese, and if they are in another language, you can have them translated by a certified translator. Some documents may require legalization through an Apostille Stamp or the Portuguese Embassy in your home country.
Schedule and attend an appointment at the Embassy/Consulate: Book an appointment at the nearest Portuguese Embassy/Consulate and bring all the required documents.
During the appointment, you will submit your documents and answer any necessary questions. If the process goes smoothly, you will be issued a Portuguese work visa.

Step 3: Apply for your Portugal residence permit

Your work visa will grant you entry to Portugal, but it is only valid for four months. You must travel to Portugal within four months to start the application process for your residence permit.

Register for Social Security and obtain a tax number: The first step is to register for Social Security in Portugal, which can be done at the Portuguese Social Security Office.
You can acquire your tax number (NIF) before traveling to Portugal. It is advisable to have a Portuguese bank account before applying for your NIF. If you don’t have these in place, you can easily apply for them in Portugal. Platforms like Bordr can help you obtain your NIF and Portuguese bank account quickly and conveniently.
Book an appointment at SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras): Once in Portugal, you will need to schedule an appointment at SEF. At the appointment, you will undergo another interview. Upon successful completion, your biometric data will be collected, and you will be issued a residence permit.

Step 4: Get a visa sticker

A visa sticker is essentially a label attached to your passport when you are granted a Schengen visa. It contains your personal information, permitted countries of entry, duration of stay, number of entries etc.

Make sure your passport has a blank page for the sticker. You will receive the sticker when you collect your passport from the embassy, consulate, or VAC where you applied.

The visa sticker must be presented at the Schengen port of entry in the first Member State you enter.

Processing time

The processing time for a Portugal work permit can vary based on the specific details of each application. If the information and documents provided are accurate and complete, it may expedite the processing time.

Generally, it takes approximately 30-60 days for SEF to process the work permit application. Afterwards, it can take an additional 2-3 months for the Embassy to issue the entry visa.

This results in an estimated total processing time of 60 days to a few months to obtain your Portugal work visa.

What is the price of a Portugal work visa?

When applying for a Portugal work visa, it is important to anticipate several fees associated with various aspects of the application process.

In addition to the visa application fees, there may be additional costs such as making copies, travel expenses, mailing or courier services, and others.

Here are some of the fees related to a Portugal work visa:

Temporary visa for entry to Portugal: The fee for obtaining a temporary visa allowing entry to Portugal is approximately EUR 90.
Residence permit application at SEF: The cost of submitting your application form for a residence permit for work in Portugal at SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) is around EUR 83.
Residence permit issuance by SEF: An additional fee of approximately EUR 72 is charged to receive a residence permit for work purposes from SEF.