Immigration

Portugal Work Visa Process 2024 | Requirements & Guidelines

4 min read

In recent years, more and more foreign people have moved to Portugal. This is because Portugal offers many options for migrating, such as the Portugal Job Seeker Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, retirement visa, and employment visa. You can also apply for permanent residency after legally residing in Portugal for 5 years. Today, I will explain the Portugal Work Visa Process 2024, the types of visas they offer for work, and their requirements.

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One of the most exciting new visa options is the Portugal Job Seeker Visa, which allows foreign citizens to travel to Portugal to look for work. For non-EU nationals who want to work in Portugal, it is essential to secure a Portugal work permit, a visa, and a residence permit. Understanding the Portugal work visa requirements 2024 will make the process smoother.

If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you don’t need a work visa, but you will need to obtain a residence permit if you plan to live in Portugal for longer than three months.

About Portugal Work Visas

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The Portuguese Govt issues Residency Visas and Temporary Stay National Visa for Long Stays.

Temporary Stay National Visa:

  • Temporary Stay visas are long-term visas.
  • Valid during the entire stay and allow for multiple entries.

Residency Visas:

  • Allow two entries and are valid for 4 months.

Types of Portugal Work Visas

On the Temporary Work Visa, you can do the following things:

  • Seasonal Work: Temporary stay visa for seasonal work for over 90 days.
  • Independent Work: Temporary stay visa for independent work.
  • Highly Qualified Activity: Temporary stay visa for scientific research, higher education professorial activity, or highly qualified activity purposes for less than a year.
  • Remote Work / Digital Nomad: Digital nomads who can do work remotely.
  • Amateur sports activity: Temporary stay visa for amateur sports purposes.
  • Intra-Company Transfer: Designed for employees who are being transferred from one branch of a multinational company to another branch in a different country.

Cost of Portugal Work Visa

The fee for processing a national visa application is 90€ (may be subject to change from country to country)

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Portugal Work Visa Requirements

  • You must have a Job offer from the Portugese employer if you are applying for Seasonal work or other temporary stay visas.
  • Your employer needs to apply for a Work Permit on your behalf. They apply to the Portuguese Labor Authorities.
  • 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.
  • Passport-size pictures
  • Your employment contract.
  • Clean Criminal record

Note: Not all visas require job offers such as Digital Nomad, Job Seeker, and Retirement Visa.

Please check the document requirements for each type of work visa.

Processing Time

  • It will take approximately 30 days to process your Temporary Stay Visa application.

How to Apply for the Portugal Work Visa?

Once you have secured a Job offer.

  • Follow the steps below:
  • Work Permit: Your employer applies for the Work Permit
  • Apply for a Work Visa: Once you have a Work Permit, you must apply for a work visa by filling out the national visa application form.
  • Locate the nearest Portugal embassy.
  • Check this link where you should lodge your application.
  • Make an appointment.
  • Submit your documents.
  • Wait for the Visa Decision: Now if you have received your visa you can now travel to Portugal.
  • Get a Portugal Residence Permit. Once you have arrived in Portugal, you must apply for your Residence Permit for Work at the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).
  • This is what allows you to live in Portugal long-term.

National Visa Application Form

  • To fill out the national application form for a long stay kindly visit this link.

Duration of a Work Visa

  • Your work visa will be valid for 1-2 years.
  • The residence permit will also be valid for 2 years.
  • You can renew this permit at the SEF before it expires as long as you still have a valid Job in Portugal.

Helpful Links:

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