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Finding a Job in Portugal as a Foreigner

Job boards, the public employment service (IEFP), in-demand sectors, the Portuguese CV, and what salaries to expect.

Finding a Job in Portugal as a Foreigner

Last verified: September 2026.

Who this is for

  • You are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen and want to work in Portugal.
  • You are a non-EU citizen who already holds, or is planning, a residence permit that lets you work.
  • You live here already and want to change jobs or restart your career.

Not for you if: you have an offer and want to understand the contract. Read Employment Contracts, Pay, and Worker Rights in Portugal instead.

Updated September 2026. The old job-seeker visa closed on 23 October 2025. Its replacement, for qualified workers only, is still not open.

Finding a job in Portugal means three things: having the right to work, searching in the right places, and presenting yourself the Portuguese way. EU citizens can start at once. Most non-EU citizens need a job offer or a qualifying visa first. Registering with the public employment service (IEFP) is free. Expect a few weeks for English-speaking roles and several months for local ones. The minimum wage in 2026 is €920 a month, paid 14 times a year.

Check that you can work here

Your right to work depends on your nationality and your residence status.

If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you can work from day one. If you stay more than three months, register your residence with your local council. See Registering as an EU Citizen Resident in Portugal (CRUE).

If you are a non-EU citizen, you need a residence permit or visa that allows work. The main routes are:

  • A work visa sponsored by an employer. You apply at the Portuguese consulate with a signed contract or job offer.
  • The highly qualified worker visa (D3), for skilled roles with a higher salary. See Getting the D3 Highly Qualified Worker Visa for Portugal.
  • A permit you already hold for another reason, such as family reunification or study. Most of these also allow work.

The general job-seeker visa no longer exists. Since 23 October 2025, consulates do not accept it. The law replaced it with a job-seeker visa for qualified workers, but as of September 2026 the government has not issued the rules. Consulates list it as "not yet available". Do not plan a move around it until it opens.

Some larger employers use a fast-track hiring scheme agreed with the government, known as the "Via Verde". It speeds up the consulate stage for workers those employers recruit. You cannot apply to it yourself. Ask your future employer whether they have joined.

Get your numbers ready

Employers will ask for these before your first payday. Get them early:

  1. A tax number (NIF). You need it for a contract, a bank account, and a lease.
  2. A Social Security number (NISS). You cannot go on a payroll without it.
  3. A Portuguese bank account (IBAN). Salaries are paid by bank transfer.

Where jobs are advertised

Cover several channels at once. No single site has every vacancy.

  • The IEFP job portal (iefponline). The public employment service lists vacancies from all over the country, including many from small local firms.
  • EURES. The EU's public job network lists Portuguese vacancies open to EU jobseekers, some in English.
  • LinkedIn. The main channel for tech, finance, multinational, and English-language roles in Lisbon and Porto.
  • Portuguese job boards. Net-Empregos is widely used by small and medium firms. Indeed also carries many Portuguese listings.
  • Recruitment and temporary-work agencies. They fill many office, shared-service, and industrial roles. Registering is free for candidates. Temporary-work agencies must hold an IEFP licence, and the IEFP publishes the list.

Networking matters more here than in many countries. Many small firms hire through personal contacts. Use professional associations, alumni groups, meetups, and your neighbours.

Register with the IEFP

Anyone looking for work can register with the IEFP, including people who already have a job. Registration gives you access to vacancies, free training, CV help, interview preparation, and hiring support programmes. You must register if you later claim unemployment benefit.

You need:

  • to be at least 16 and available for work
  • a valid identity document: your national ID card or passport if you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, or a document that lets you live and work in Portugal if you are not

To register online:

  1. Go to iefponline and log in with your Social Security Direct (Segurança Social Direta) password or the Digital Mobile Key (Chave Móvel Digital).
  2. Create your user profile: personal details, contacts, qualifications, and driving licence.
  3. Fill in the online CV. It has nine tabs.
  4. Choose "Inscreva-se para emprego" (register for employment), say where you can work, and submit.

The IEFP then validates your registration and may call you for an interview. You can also register in person at any employment centre (centro de emprego).

Sectors that hire foreign residents

Some sectors hire international staff routinely, often because they need languages other than Portuguese:

  • Technology. Software, data, cybersecurity, and product roles in Lisbon and Porto. English is often the working language.
  • Shared-service and customer-service centres. Multinationals serve all of Europe from Portugal. This is the easiest route in if you speak English and another European language but little Portuguese.
  • Tourism and hospitality. Hotels, restaurants, and tour operators, especially in the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto. Much of this work is seasonal.
  • Health care. Doctors and nurses are in demand, but these are regulated professions.
  • Engineering, construction, and skilled trades. Civil and electrical engineers, electricians, and builders are sought after.

If your profession is regulated

If you work in medicine, nursing, law, engineering, architecture, teaching, or another regulated field, you cannot practise on a foreign diploma alone. You usually need your degree recognised, then registration with the professional body (ordem) for your profession.

Start this before you arrive if you can. It often takes months and is usually slower than the job search itself. See Getting a Foreign Degree Recognised in Portugal.

Writing a Portuguese CV and cover letter

Portuguese CV (currículo) conventions differ a little from British or American ones:

  • Length. Two pages is normal.
  • Format. Many employers know and accept the EU's free Europass CV template. You can build one online in Portuguese or English.
  • Cover letter (carta de apresentação). Still expected for most office roles. Keep it short and tailored to the vacancy.
  • Languages. List each one with an honest level on the EU scale, A1 to C2. Employers understand it.
  • Photo and personal details. A small photo is common but optional. You do not have to give your age, marital status, or whether you have children.

Apply in the language of the advert. If the advert is in Portuguese, a Portuguese CV and letter help, even if the job uses English.

How language affects your options

Portuguese is the biggest factor in how many jobs you can reach. You can build a career in tech or shared services with English alone. For public-sector jobs, local firms, and customer-facing roles, Portuguese is essential.

Even a basic level shows commitment and changes how employers read your CV. Free state courses exist for foreign residents. See Free Portuguese Courses for Foreigners in Portugal (PLA). The IEFP also runs Portuguese courses for registered jobseekers.

What salaries to expect

Pay in Portugal is low by Western European standards. This surprises many newcomers.

  • Minimum wage. €920 a month gross in mainland Portugal in 2026. The Azores and Madeira set slightly higher rates.
  • Average pay. Average gross monthly pay was about €1,835 in the second quarter of 2026, according to the national statistics office (INE). This average includes bonuses and other irregular payments.
  • Higher-paid roles. Tech, finance, multinational, and management roles pay well above the average.

When you compare offers, check four things:

  1. Gross or net. Income tax and your 11% Social Security contribution come out of the gross figure.
  2. 12 or 14 payments. Most salaries are paid 14 times a year, with holiday pay and Christmas pay. An annual figure divided by 14 gives the monthly salary.
  3. Meal allowance (subsídio de refeição). Many employers pay one for each working day. In 2026 it is free of income tax up to €6.15 a day in cash, or up to €10.46 a day on a meal card.
  4. Other benefits. Health insurance, a phone, remote-work allowance, or a car can add real value.

For more detail on pay levels, see Salaries and Minimum Wage in Portugal.

If the search takes longer

The Labour Code has not changed in 2026. A proposed labour reform was rejected in June 2026, so the current rules on contracts and rights still apply.

Sources

This guide is written from official Portuguese and EU sources and, for prices and contact details, the providers' own websites.

Last verified September 2026. Rules and fees change; check the official source before acting.

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