The job seeker visa lets the holder enter and stay in Portugal only to look for a job. It also lets the holder do subordinate work until the visa expires or until a residence permit is given. This visa is good for 120 days, can be renewed for another 60 days, and can only be used once to enter Portugal.
For this visa to be issued, the applicant must be given an appointment date by the appropriate services within the 120-day validity period of the visa. The applicant can then apply for a residence permit after the formalization of an employment contract during that time. The person who has a visa to look for work must leave the country if they haven’t found a job or started the process to get a residence permit before their visa expires.
In these cases, you can only apply for a new visa for this reason one year after the old one has run out.
Can I work in Portugal without a visa?
If you are not from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you will need to get a visa to work in Portugal. If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you can work without a visa, but if you plan to live in Portugal for more than three months, you need to get a Residence Certificate (Certificado de Registo).
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Portugal Work Visa Requirements
When you apply for a Portugal work visa, you need the following:
- Your legal passport.
- Passport-sized photos that follow the rules for photos needed for a Portugal visa.
- Proof that you have enough money to live on.
- Your crime history in the country where you live. If you have lived in another country for more than a year, you must also get your criminal record from that country.
- A paper that gives the SEF permission to check your criminal record in Portugal.
- Health insurance proof.
- Proof that you are living in Portugal.
- Your job contract.
- Proof that you are allowed to be in Portugal, like a visa.
If you are applying from somewhere other than the country where you were born: Proof that you are allowed to stay, like a visa or a residence pass.
Document guidelines:
All of the papers you send in must be written in English or Portuguese. If they are not, you must have a qualified translator translate them and then have them notarized.
How do I get a work visa for Portugal?
Once you have a job offer, there are three parts to the application for a Portuguese work visa:
The Work Permit is made by your company. They have to do this after they’ve given you the job but before you go to Portugal.
You go to the Portuguese Embassy to ask for a Work Visa. Once you have a Work Permit, you need to go to the Portugal Embassy and ask for a work visa, which you will use to get into the country.
You ask for a Residence Permit in Portugal. As soon as you get to Portugal, you need to go to the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) to get your Residence Permit for Work. This is how you can stay in Portugal for a long time.
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Apply for a residence permit
When you get to Portugal, you have to get a tax number, sign up for social security, and get a residence pass.
You must go to the Social Security Office in order to sign up for security.
Start by going to the website of the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) to apply for a residence pass.
Appointment: If you apply for a visa at the Embassy, they may set up an appointment for you at the SEF if you tell them when you plan to travel and where you will be living in Portugal.
Types of Work Visas for Portugal
Depending on your job or skills, you can apply for one of the following types of work visas:
Work Visa for Skilled Workers. You must have an offer of work in one of the jobs or professions that qualifies. For example, scientists, doctors, people who work in information technology (IT), engineers, or people in high-level or management jobs at a company.
Work Visa for Working for Yourself. As an independent worker in Portugal, you can apply for a self-employment visa if you own a business or give services.