To work in Portugal, non-EU/EEA citizens need a Portugal Work Visa, and if the position is long-term, it must be converted into a residency permit that allows employment in Portugal.
There are several options, including visas for highly qualified professionals and seasonal workers. The first step is getting a job offer from a Portuguese employer, who will then initiate the work authorization process. There is also a dedicated visa for digital nomads and freelancers.
After this, you must apply for a work visa at a Portuguese Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence. Once the visa is approved and you enter Portugal, you must apply for a residence permit through AIMA.
So, if you want to work in Portugal legally, this article explains all the visas available, how you can apply, and how much it will cost.
Portugal Work Visa: Key Takeaways
Do I need a visa to work in Portugal?
Yes, you’ll need a work visa for Portugal if you are a non-EU citizen.
EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens do not need a work visa. However, if they plan to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days, they must register their residence and obtain a Residence Certificate (Certificado de Registo) from the local town hall. The cost of this Residence Certificate is €15.
Types of Portugal Work Visas
The type of Portuguese work visa that you’ll need depends on your nationality and how long you’ll be working in the country. For non-EU citizens, there are two main types:
Short-term Portuguese work visas: These are temporary stay visas that cover work in Portugal for up to a year. It’s the route for short contracts, seasonal work, and some self-employed assignments, and in certain cases, the labor authority (IEFP) will assess the job before the visa is issued.
Long-term Portuguese work visas (Type D): If you have a longer contract and you’ll be living in Portugal, you’ll need to apply for a residence visa instead. That gets you into the country, and once you’re here, you convert it into a residence permit at AIMA.
6 Best Portuguese Work Visas and Permits
Highly-Qualified Activities Visa (HQA)
The Portugal Highly Qualified Activities Visa is a work visa for highly skilled professionals. It is also called the Portugal D3 Visa. Highly skilled workers in Portugal, such as scientific researchers, medical professionals, professors, and Ph.D. students, are eligible for the work residence permit.
D1 Visa
The D1 Visa, also called the Subordinate Worker Visa, is for people who have received a job offer in Portugal. This offer must have been publicly advertised and subjected to interviews, but remained unfilled by a Portuguese or EU/EEA national.
D2 Visa
The Portugal D2 Visa, also known as the Entrepreneur Visa, is for non-EU/EEA/Swiss entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent service providers who want to establish a business or make a significant investment in Portugal.
This visa has two categories:
- Independent professional activities: People who can prove self-employment
- Entrepreneurs: People looking to start or purchase a business in Portugal
Seasonal Worker Visa
The Seasonal Work Visa, also known as the Portugal E8 Visa, comes in two forms. If the work lasts up to 90 days, you apply for a temporary stay visa. If the contract runs longer than that, you apply for a residence visa, which leads to a residence permit for the season.
The visa is only available for working in specific sectors approved by the Portuguese government, such as:
- Agriculture, stock farming, game, forestry, and fishery
- Accommodation, catering, and related fields
- Food, beverage, and tobacco industries
- Wholesale and retail trade
- Construction
- Inland transport
D8 Digital Nomad Visa
The D8 Visa, also known as the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, is for remote workers and self-employed people who want to live and work in Portugal.
According to our Global Intelligence Unit’s Global Digital Nomad Report 2025, Portugal ranks 6th among the best countries for remote workers, outperforming France, the UAE, and Germany.
To qualify, applicants must prove that they earn at least four times the minimum wage in Portugal (€920 per month), which equals €3,680, and produce a contract of employment or a statement confirming their employment relationship.
Portugal Job Seeker Visa
Until recently, Portugal offered a Job Seeker Visa for non-EU nationals who wanted to come to the country and look for work, even if they didn’t have a job lined up. This visa gave you 120 days to find employment, with the option to extend for another 60 days. If you landed a job during that time, you could then apply for a residence permit.
However, Portugal changed its immigration rules in 2025. The Job Seeker Visa is no longer available under the same terms, and a new system is planned to replace it. As of October 2026, no details have been provided.
How do I get a work visa in Portugal?
Getting a work visa involves several steps, including finding a job vacancy and signing a work contract with a Portuguese employer. Once hired, your employer should apply for your work permit by contacting AIMA.
1. Finding work in Portugal
Getting a job and working in Portugal as a foreigner is about understanding the local job market, navigating the application process, and meeting legal requirements. There are several job boards online, but a good starting point is some of the most well-known ones, such as Europe Language Jobs, Expatica, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Jobs In Lisbon.
2. Work permit application
Once you have accepted and signed your employment contract, your employer should apply for your work permit online through the Portuguese Labor Authorities and AIMA.
3. Portugal work visa application
After the authorities approve the Portugal work permit, you must submit the documents to the Portuguese Embassy in your home country of residence as part of the work visa application. Once you obtain this work visa and prove that you have a guaranteed monthly minimum salary, you can legally enter the country and start working in less than six months. During this time, you will need to apply for a residence permit.
4. Residence permit application
You have already landed the job, obtained the work permit, obtained your Portuguese work visa, and traveled to Portugal safely and soundly. If you’re considering staying longer in Portugal, it’s time to apply for a Residence Permit. Your first residence permit is valid for two years and renewable for three years.
If your employer has not done so, you must register for a Social Security Number (NISS) from the Portuguese Social Security Office.
It is essential for accessing various social services, including health care, pensions, unemployment benefits, and other social security benefits. Your social security contribution is ordinarily a percentage of your earnings automatically deducted.
5. Renewing your work residency permit in Portugal
As an employee, you will be legally living and working in Portugal. The standard validation period for your residence permit is two years, and after that, it gets renewed as long as you’re still working in Portugal.
Renewal can be done online through the AIMA website. After five years of residency, you can apply for Portuguese permanent residency.
Portugal Work Visa Requirements and Documents
Each work visa, such as the D8 Visa or the D2 Visa, has its own set of requirements. However, in all cases, you must prepare the following documents for your visa application:
- A valid passport
- Passport-size pictures, following Schengen Visa picture guidelines
- Proof of sufficient funds to sustain yourself
- Clean criminal record certificate from your last country of residence of at least 1 year.
- A document permitting AIMA to check your Portuguese criminal records
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
- Your signed contract
Portuguese Work Visa Processing Time and Fees
Processing time
The Portuguese Embassy can take two to three months to issue an entry visa, and AIMA can take up to 90 days to process the work permit application. However, depending on your specific circumstances, your visa could be processed faster.
Fees
There is more than one fee you have to pay when applying for a Portuguese work visa. According to the latest fee data from AIMA, the agency breaks it down as follows:
- Entry visa issued by the Portuguese consulate: €90
- Receiving and analyzing a temporary residence permit application, including permits for employed and self-employed work: €133
- Granting or renewing the temporary residence permit: €307.20
If, for whatever reason, you need to change the information on an existing permit, there is a charge of €114.30
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