Portugal Work Visa Process 2024 : Visa Types and Requirements
Portugal has become one of the most popular destinations for all ages in recent years. Whether it is about students, job seekers, freelancers, or retired people, Portugal has all types of visas. You will get your Portuguese citizenship in five years.
You need to know carefully about Portugal’s work visa process for 2024, its requirements, and which visa is best for you. There is also a new visa that allows you to come to Portugal without a job.
Jobs in Portugal pay between £2,000 and £4,000 a month, more in cities like Lisbon and less in smaller towns. Portugal is a very interesting country and many people from the US and other Asian countries have immigrated to Portugal because of the diverse range of visa options. If you want to try Portugal too, in this detailed guide, you will find everything you need to know about work visas in Portugal.
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Details About Portugal Work Visa Process
- Country: Portugal
- Visa Type: Work Visa
- Stay Duration: 3 Months, 6 Months, 1 Year, 5 Years
- Who can Apply: Anyone, each visa has its requirement
Before we dive directly into “How to Apply for the Portugal Work Visa“, one should know about the following things:
- What is the Portugal Work Visa?
- Who does not need a Portugal Visa?
- Types of Portugal Work Visas
- Requirements and Application Process.
What is the Portugal Work Visa?
The Portugal Work Visa allows all non-EU nationals to work in Portugal.
There is “No specific name” for Portugal work visas. The Portuguese Govt issues Short Stay Visas and Temporary Residence permits for Long Stays.
- Short Stays: Not Exceeding 90 Days
- Long Stays: More than 90 days
Who does not need a Portugal Visa?
EU Nationals do not need a work permit or work Visa to come and work in Portugal.
Permanent Residency in Portugal After 5 Years
A temporary residency permit will be initially issued for one year. You can renew it four more times. In Total it will be for 5 years. After five years, you can apply for the Portugal Permanent Residence.
Portugal Work Visa Duration
- Initially Issued for 1 Year
- Extension: Five years
- Apply for Permanent Residency after 5 years.
Here we will use the term “Portugal Work Visa”
Benefits of Portugal Work Visa
- EU Access: A Portuguese work visa grants entry to the Schengen Area of the European Union, facilitating unrestricted movement across the majority of European nations. This is especially beneficial for individuals who wish to discover Europe or secure employment in other member states of the European Union.
- Diverse Job Opportunities: Portugal’s expanding economy and diverse sectors, including renewable energy, technology, agriculture, and tourism, all provide employment opportunities. The work visa permits you to investigate these industries in search of suitable employment.
- Permit to Reside in Portugal: A work visa frequently results in a residency permit, which authorizes legal residence in Portugal. You are eligible to petition for permanent residency or even Portuguese citizenship after five years of lawful residency, which would provide you with access to social benefits such as healthcare and education.
- Quality of Life: In comparison to many other Western European nations, Portugal is renowned for its pleasant climate, breathtaking landscapes, and comparatively low cost of living. Additionally, the nation boasts a profound cultural legacy and a hospitable ambiance.
- Opportunities for Startups and Entrepreneurship: Portugal promotes entrepreneurship through the provision of numerous support programs, with particular emphasis on the thriving startup ecosystems found in cities such as Lisbon and Porto. Working in innovative industries or establishing a business may be facilitated by a work visa.
- Family Reunification: Certain work visas in Portugal provide the opportunity for spouses and dependent children to accompany the visa holder to Portugal.
- Cultural Immersion and Language Proficiency: Living and working in Portugal can offer a splendid opportunity to acquire or enhance one’s Portuguese language capabilities while being fully immersed in the nation’s abundant Portuguese-speaking community.
Types of Portugal Work Visas
This is the main part where I will tell you about all Portuguese visa types that are mainly related to work purposes. We will cover these types of Visas in our post.
- Schengen Visa
- Seasonal Work Visa
- Temporary Work Visas
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Job Seeker Visa
- Retirement Visa
- Golden Visa
1) Portugal Schengen Visa
The Schengen Visa is a Tourist Visa that allows people to come on a Visit. On this Visa, you can also visit other EU Schengen Countries. It allows you to stay for up to 90 days.
On a Schengen Visa, you can also work on Jobs such as Seasonal Jobs, farming, Fruit Picking, and Packing.
2) Portugal Seasonal Work Visa
The Seasonal work Visa is equal to or less than 90 days. It allows you to work in approved sectors such as:
- Agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry, and fishing;
- Hospitality, restaurants, and similar;
- The food industry, liquor, and tobacco industries
- Gross and Retail commerce
- Construction
- Land transport
Requirements of this Visa
- You must have a Job offer from the Portuguese employer for a seasonal work Visa.
- You can not stay for more than 90 days.
- For more information: Visit this link.
3) Portugal Digital Nomad Visa – Road to Permanent Residency
The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa is a New type of Visa launched in 2022 that allows applicants to come to Portugal without a Job offer. For this Visa, you do not need a Job.
If you are a Freelancer, working remotely from anywhere you are eligible to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa. This Visa is valid for one year and can be renewable five times.
4) Portugal Job Seeker Visa – Without Job
The Portugal Job Seeker Visa allows applicants to come to Portugal and look for employment. It allows you to stay in Portugal for six months to find a Job.
If you are able to find a Job you can apply for a temporary residence permit. The application fee for a Portuguese Job seeker Visa is €75.
5) Portugal Retirement D7 Visa
This is a national (residency) visa, issued to non-EU citizens who want to live in Portugal without working, but who have a steady income from pensions, savings, etc.
6) Portugal Golden Visa
You can apply for this type of visa if you purchase a property in Portugal worth at least €500,000. The Golden Visa program has two types. The Portugal Golden Visa program is rated the best residency program in the world.
- Residency-by-investment:
- Five-year stay in Portugal required
- Minimum real estate investment of EUR 280,000
- Citizenship-by-investment
7) Portugal Temporary Work Visas
The Temporary Stay Visa is divided into different categories. I have made a table below with the type of visa and its purpose.
| Purpose | Type of Visa |
|---|---|
| Seasonal work | Temporary stay visa for 90 days. |
| Independent work | Temporary stay visa for independent work, Entrepreneurs |
| Highly qualified activity | Temporary stay visa for scientific research, higher education professorial activity or highly qualified activity purposes for a period of less than a year. |
| Professorial activity | Temporary stay visa for scientific research, higher education professorial activity or highly qualified activity purposes for a period of less than a year. |
| Volunteer Work | Temporary stay visa for periods of over 3 months |
| Retired | People living on their own income |
How You Can Find Jobs in Portugal Online?
Visit this link to find a Job in Portugal.
Requirements to Obtain a Portugal Work Visa
Before applying for your Portugal Work Visa, keep these things in mind.
- You must have a Job offer from the Portuguese employer if you are applying for Seasonal work or other temporary work visas.
- Not all visas require job offers such as Digital Nomad, Job Seeker, and Retirement Visa.
- Your employer needs to apply for a Work Permit on your behalf
- Once your work contract or work permit is approved, you can apply for the Portugal Work Visa and submit all the documents to the Portugal Embassy or VFS Global.
Required Documents for the Portugal Work Visa
Each type of work visa has its own set of documents required.
Visit this link to check the list of required documents for each visa. The section of the document is under a Menu.
Portugal Work Visa Fees
- Job seeker visa: €90
- Digital nomad visa: €180
- Temporary residency visa: €90
- Short stay visa: €80 for adults
How and Where to Apply for the Portugal Work Visa (Step-By-Step Instructions for Portugal Work Visa Process)
Once you have all the documents in hand, and you know for which visa you are applying. If you are applying for the Work Visa that needs a Job offer from Portugal then:
- Find a Job, and you are accepted for a Job. Then your employer will Apply For Your Portugal Work Permit.
- After you have received your work permit, you can start your Portuguese Work Visa application.
- Complete all the online forms, Schedule and attend an appointment.
- Your work visa will grant you entry to Portugal.
- Apply for your residency permit in Portugal once you land there.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Is a work permit in Portugal available for Pakistanis?
Pakistanis can apply to live and work in Portugal by following the non-EEA citizen process for a visa and work permit. After five years of continual work and residency in Portugal, individuals may apply for permanent residency status.
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Is a Portugal visa easy to get?
A Portuguese visa is usually processed within 15 calendar days. However, depending on the circumstances, such as the time of year, whether you have all your documents in order, etc., it may take longer. So, you should apply about a month before you intend to travel, but no earlier than three months.
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How long does it take to get a Portugal work visa?
The application time is unique to each person and is determined by a variety of factors. It can take up to 60 days to get a Portuguese work permit. After getting the work permit, it will take the Portuguese Embassy another two to three months to issue you an entry visa.
