To enter Portugal as a worker for a period of less than a year, you must have a valid Seasonal Work Visa or a Temporary stay visa for seasonal work for a duration of over 90 days (see seasonal worker profile).
For longer periods, you must obtain a residence visa. The residence visa does not automatically grant you a right of residence. Once in Portugal, you must apply for a residence permit.
Where and how to apply | Temporary stay visa A temporary stay visa allows you to work as an employee on a temporary basis (less than six months). The Institute for Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) will first evaluate all offers for temporary appointment submitted by employers. Offers must be published on specific websites. If you want to apply for a temporary job, you must send the application to the employer. |
Documents required | You must prove that you have or have been promised a work contract on a temporary basis or that you have a declaration issued by the IEFP to the effect that the actual or promised contract is for a job offer available to non-EU nationals. You must prove sufficient means of subsistence, travel insurance and a return ticket. You must not have been the subject of an order to leave Portugal or an entry ban, nor of an alert under the Schengen Information System or on the SEF's Integrated Information System for the purpose of refusing entry. |
Duration of validity of permits | The visa is valid for the period of the work contract. |
| Further information | |
Where and how to apply | Residence visa for exercising a professional activity as an employee For long-term employment, you must obtain a residence visa. A residence visa does not automatically grant you a right of residence but allows you to enter Portugal for the purpose of applying for a residence permit, if the requirements are met. If you entered legally and are already in Portugal, you may be exempted from the obligation to hold a valid residence visa. A labour market test is applied when it is verified that job opportunities exist but have not been taken up by qualified Portuguese citizens, EU and EEA citizens, or non-EU workers who legally live in Portugal. The Portuguese government establishes annual quotas on job opportunities. Job offers are advertised on the internet by the Institute for Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) and are transmitted to the Portuguese embassies and consular posts abroad, which publicise them on specific sites and via diplomatic channels. If you want to apply for a temporary job, you must send the application to the employer. The employer sends the employment contract to successful applicants or a promise of contract as well as a declaration issued by the IEFP that the job offer is included in the quota and was not taken up in accordance with the principle of preference by a local worker.* Once you have a contract, or the promise of contract, you can apply for a residence visa at the embassy or consulate in your country of origin or residence. (*) Article 193 of Law no. 75-B / 2020, of December 31 - State Budget Law for 2021, suspends the establishment of a global quota for the purpose of granting a residence permit, introducing temporary changes to the provisions of this article 59, in the same terms: "During the year 2021, the establishment of the global contingent for the purpose of granting a residence permit visa for the exercise of subordinate professional activity provided for in article 59 of Law no. 23 / 2007, of July 4th is suspended, and are applied the conditions provided for in paragraph 5 of the mentioned article. |
Documents required | To obtain a residence visa, you must prove that you:
You must also prove sufficient means of subsistence, travel insurance and a return ticket. You must present your application and supporting documents in person. |
Refusal | The residence visa will be refused if you have been the subject of an order to leave Portugal and you are applying while the period of prohibition to enter is still running or if you are listed in the Schengen Information System or in the SEF's Integrated Information System. |
Duration of validity of Visa | The residence visa allows you to stay in Portugal for four months so that you can submit an application for a residence permit at the SEF. |
Further information | |
Where to apply | Temporary residence permit Once you have entered Portugal on the residence visa, you can apply for a residence permit. A temporary residence permit is an official document issued by the SEF which allows you to live in Portugal for a specific period of time. You must submit the application to the SEF of your area of residence. |
Documents required | You must have:
There must be no fact in existence that would have prevented the grant of the visa, if it had been known by the authorities before the visa was issued, also no previous conviction for a criminal offence which in Portugal is punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year. |
Validity of duration of permit | As a general rule, a temporary residence permit is valid for one year, renewable for successive periods of two years. For 2020 and 2021, by a provisional measure, a temporary residence permit is valid for two years, renewable for successive periods of three years. Because of the health emergency caused by the disease COVID -19, Order n.º 5793-A/2020, of 26 May and Order n.º 10944/2020, of 8 November, implemented a simplified procedure for the decision of pending applications, incorporating a procedure for the automatic renewal of residence permits. Order n.ºs 3863-B/2020, of 27 March, and 10944/2020 of 8 November provide that all third-country nationals with applications pending at SEF (submitted between March 18 and October 15), are deemed temporarily regular in the national territory. Third-country nationals in that situation have guaranteed access to every public service, specifically in obtaining the National Health Service user’s number and access to the NHS, as well as access to social benefits, rental contracts, employment contracts, opening of bank accounts and hiring of essential public services. |
Appeals | If your application for a residence permit is refused, you may challenge the decision before the administrative court. You will be notified of the refusal decision as well as the reasons for the decision, the right to appeal and the deadline for making an appeal. |
Further information |
Change of status | If you hold a temporary residence permit for exercising a professional activity, you may be authorised to perform a self-employed activity provided you obtain the necessary permission from the relevant Portuguese authorities. |
Unemployment | If you lose your job, you will need to prove sufficient means of subsistence in order to renew your residence permit. |
Long-term residence | Two types of permanent status can be obtained in Portugal - a national permanent residence permit or an EC long-term residence permit: Permanent residence permit The national permanent residence status can be obtained at the SEF after at least five years of legal temporary residence, if during this period you have not been convicted of a prison sentence exceeding one year. You must prove that you have basic knowledge of Portuguese, sufficient means of subsistence and accommodation. The national permanent residence permit must be renewed every five years. The status is valid for an unlimited period of time. Long-term residence permit The EC long-term residence status can be granted by the SEF after five years of continuous and legal residence. In order to obtain this status you must prove that you have:
The long-term resident status gives the same rights as Portuguese nationals in terms of:
The EC long-term residence permit is valid for five years and is automatically renewed upon application. An application may be refused on grounds of public order, public security and the risk that may result from that person remaining on the Portuguese territory. All decisions may be appealed before the administrative courts. Acquisition of long-term resident status - Applying for residence in Portugal |
No information available at the moment.
- Immigration and Borders Service (SEF)
- Institute for Employment and Professional Training (IEFP)
- Authority for Labour Conditions (ACT)
- Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE)
- Portuguese embassies and consulates abroad
- Ministry of Solidarity Employment and Social Security (MSESS)
- Ministry of Justice (MJ)
- Ministry of Education and Science
- Ministry of Economy (ME)