The Portugal work visa is called the Residence Visa and is for high skill professionals that will work inside the country for at least one year.  It can be renewed in increments of 2 years after the first year. The work visa must apply for from outside the country as it is not permit to convert immigration status from a business visa (short term) to a long-term work visa.

When the assignee arrives in Portugal with a valid work permit, he or she must also apply for a residence permit at the town hall there.  After 5 years of work with a Residence Visa, a foreign national can apply for permanent residency.

Non-EU nationals who want to work in Portugal will have to apply for a Portugal Work Visa. To be eligible for a Portuguese work visa:

1. You must have a job offer from an employer in Portugal. The job opening must have been posted for at least one month, so the relevant authorities can ensure that a Portuguese or EU citizen could not have filled the position instead.
2. Your employer must apply for a Work Permit on your behalf. They submit the application to the Portuguese Labor Authorities.

Do You Really Need a Visa to Work in Portugal?

• If you are not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, then you need to apply for a visa to allow you to work in Portugal.
• If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, then you can work without a visa, but you have to get a Residence Certificate (Certificado de Registo) if you intend to live in Portugal for longer than three months.

Types of Portuguese Work Visas :

You can apply for the following types of work visas, depending on your profession or qualifications:

1. Work Visa for Skilled Workers.

• You must have a job offer in one of the qualifying professions or positions. For example, scientists, medical professionals, IT professionals, engineers, or someone working in high-ranking or administrative positions in a company.

2. Work Visa for Self-Employment.

• If you own a business or offer services you can apply for a self-employment visa in Portugal as an independent worker.

3. Work Visa for Highly-Skilled Workers.

• If you have exceptional qualifications in your profession and are paid at least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary of Portugal.4.

4. Work Visa for Cultural Activities.

•  If you will involve in a cultural activity carried out in Portugal; in a project which is recognize by the relevant Portuguese authorities.

5. Work Visa for Teaching.

• You are eligible for this visa if you have a job offer from an educational or vocational training institution or from a research center in Portugal.

6. “Tech” Visa.

•  You can apply for this type of work visa if you are employed by a company that is “active in the area of technology and innovation”.

Processing Time for a Portuguese Work Visa :

The EU Blue Card is a quicker option for a work permit, but the processing time is still up to 3 months. 

if you don’t know what is EU Blue Card is, then read the post What is EU Blue Card – Benefits.

The Residence Visa can take a whopping 3 to 8 months to complete, so it is wise to plan your assignments to Portugal well ahead of time.  The residence permit from the local town hall can take up to 60 days once the application is submitted.

Work Visa Cost :

There is more than one fee you have to pay when applying for a work visa.

• Cost of the entry visa issued by the Portuguese Embassy – €90 (may be subject to change from country to country)
• To submit the application for a residence permit for work at the SEF – €83
• To receive the residence permit for work from the SEF – €72

However, there are also other costs to consider when trying to obtain a work permit for your employees assigned to Portugal.  Your HR department will have to allocate the time and resources necessary to gather the documents; verify the information and prepare the application.  You might even hire local experts to help you in case of issues that arise with the application.

The alternative to this arduous DIY approach is to let the Shield GEO local employer of record do it for you.  As the legal employer in Portugal; our local partner is already in place and experienced with work permits and residency permits.  We can help expedite the process and ensure a seamless transition for your employee into Portugal.

What Is the Duration of a Work Visa?

When you apply for a work visa, you will receive a residence permit which allows you to live and work in Portugal for one to two years. After 1-2 years, you can renew this permit at the SEF before it expires; as long as you still have a job offer from your employer.

Then, you can continue to live and work in Portugal for the duration that the residence permit is issue.

Five years later, you can apply for permanent residency.