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Work Visa
in Portugal.

  • Learn about work visas in Portugal thanks to Horizons’ up-to-date guide.
  • Horizons is where real, local hiring expertise meets world-class customer service. Quickly and compliantly hire employees in more than 185 countries worldwide, without the need to open a local entity.

SALARY PAYMENT IN Euro (EUR, €)

CONTRACT LANGUAGES Portuguese / English

PAYROLL TAX 26.50%

PAYROLL CYCLE Monthly

TIME TO HIRE 12 hours

Horizons-owned entity with local country experts in Lisbon.
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We offer fair, scalable, and transparent pricing on Portugal PEO service. Contact us for a cost breakdown
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Fair pricing
End service in Portugal with no additional penalties or fees.
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Flexible terms
Horizons is enrolled in the Portugal Tech Visa Program.
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180+ countries

Portugal

Types of work visas in Portugal

Only non-EU/non-EEA/non-Swiss citizens are required to get a work visa; however, if the EU citizen working in Portugal stays longer than 6 months, they are required to get a Residence Certificate (Certificado de Registo).

For citizens who are required to get a Portugal work visa, there are several types including:

  • Work visa for skilled workers. You must have a job offer in one of the qualifying jobs or positions. For example scientists, medical professionals, IT experts, engineers or someone who works in a company in high-level or administrative positions.
  • Self Employed Work Visa. If you own a business or provide services, you can apply for a self-employment visa in Portugal as an independent worker.
  • Work visa for highly qualified people. If you have exceptional qualifications in your job and are paid at least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary of Portugal.
  • Work visa for cultural activities. If you are involved in a cultural activity carried out in Portugal, in a project recognized by the competent Portuguese authorities.
  • Working visa for teaching. You are eligible for this visa if you have a job offer from an education, training or research center in Portugal.
  • “Tech” visa. You can apply for this type of work visa if you are employed by a company that is “in the field of technology and innovation”. Horizons is certified to sponsor Portugal Tech Visas. 
  • Digital Nomad Visa. The “Temporary Stay Visa” is commonly known as the Portugal Digital Nomad visa and allows individuals with an overseas remote job to work for up to a year in Portugal. It can be renewed up to four times meaning a potential period of five years.  More on this below. 

Portugal Tech Visa

Portugal Tech Visa Conditions

The Portugal Tech Visa is a specific visa program aimed at attracting highly skilled professionals in the technology and innovation sectors to Portugal. Horizons is one of the very few Portugal Employers of Record certified to support applicants with the Portugal Tech Visa. 

Besides the tech focus, the Portugal Tech Visa differs from other Portugal work visas in a few ways:

  • The job must be offered by a certified company — to receive a Tech Visa, applicants must be offered a job by a “certified company” in Portugal. This is a company that has been specifically approved by a government agency based on their commitment to tech and innovation
  • The position must meet a specified salary threshold — currently this is set at 1,201.08 EUR monthly
  • Enhanced skill requirements — proof that the individual is highly skilled in a tech field is required. This usually means that the applicant is degree-qualified, though in some cases it may be sufficient to have at least five years experience in the field. Each applicant must speak either Portuguese, English, French or Spanish
  • Personal requirements — the applicant must be without a criminal record
  • Fast-track application — the Tech Visa is a faster route to obtaining a work visa than other types of visa
  • There is no labor market test required — there is no requirement for companies to prove that they have attempted to fill the position with a Portuguese or EU citizen before hiring a non-EU candidate
  • Family and dependents —  visa holders can bring their family members (spouse, children, and dependent relatives) to Portugal, a privilege not applicable to all other work visas.

Portugal Tech Visa Support Services

Through its Portugal visa support services, Horizons is able to provide assistance throughout the entire Tech Visa process.  Note, it is the potential employee themselves that must apply for the visa, not Horizons.  The support Horizons provides includes:

  • Creating and reviewing all relevant visa documents
  • Creating and reviewing all relevant documents and forms for a residence permit application
  • Information and guidance on all Portugal relocation matters, including all social security contributions and obligations, registering with local authorities and receiving a Tax ID Number and opening a bank account
  • Support in getting a Health Number (“SNS Number”), as well as access to additional private health insurance
  • Guidance in applying for the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) Tax Regime — this scheme means visa holders only pay a flat 20 percent personal income tax rate, rather than the 15-48 percent paid by those not in the scheme
  • Information on housing and finding accommodation in Portugal.

Please note, the Portugal tech visa is only currently available for management/senior administrative positions, or positions related to computer science or software engineering. 

Portugal Tech Visa with Horizons

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Required documents for a work visa in Portugal

The following documents are required to apply for a work visa in Portugal;

  • Your valid passport.
  • Passport-size pictures, following Schengen visa picture guidelines.
  • Proof of sufficient funds to sustain yourself.
  • Your criminal records from your country of residence. If you have lived in another country for more than one year, you have to get criminal records from there as well.
  • A document giving permission to the SEF to check your Portuguese criminal records.
  • Proof of health insurance.
  • Proof of accommodation in Portugal.
  • Your employment contract.
  • If you are already in Portugal: Proof of legal entry into Portuguese territory, such as a visa.
  • If you are applying from a country other than that of your origin: Proof of legal stay, such as a residence permit or a visa.

Process to get a work visa in Portugal

Getting a work visa when the employee is based outside of Portugal

There are three main parts to having a Portugal work visa processed:

  1. The employer applies for the Work Permit. They must do this after they have offered the job to you but before you travel to Portugal.
  2. The employee applies for a Work Visa at the Portuguese Embassy. Once the employee has a Work Permit, they must apply for a work visa at the Portugal Embassy, which they will use to enter the country.
  3. The employee applies for a Portugal Residence Permit. Once they have arrived in Portugal, they must apply for your Residence Permit for Work at the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF), which allows the employee to live in Portugal on a long-term basis. This can take up to 60 days.

Work visas in Portugal are generally valid for 1-2 years, at which point they will need renewed. After living and working in Portugal for 5 years on a work visa, the work visa holder will be entitled to apply for permanent residency.

Getting a work visa when the employee is based inside of Portugal

An employee on a working visa who wants to changs jobs must reapply at the SEF and provide an offer letter and proof of legal entry into Portugal (i.e. a visa from your original entrance).

Special notes about work visas in Portugal

Work visas in Portugal allow you to bring your family on a family visa; the family visa in Portugal entitles the holder to apply for work. If you bring your spouse to Portugal, they will need to apply at the SEF before being legally able to work, but if approved should have no problem earning income.

Hiring in Portugal, Made Easy

Your business can easily hire employees in Portugal without opening a local entity. We handle local employment law, complex tax regulations, and international payroll in 180+ countries worldwide. All you need to do is focus on your business.

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FAQs

The EU Blue Card allows holders to work and reside in any EU Country. Applicants of the EU Blue Card must have spent 3 years completing higher education in the EU, or have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the EU. Holders of the EU Blue Card must have a salary that is 20%-50% higher than the average.

Yes, Portugal work visa holders can bring their family members (ex. Spouse or dependent children) to Portugal. To qualify, the work visa holder must be able to prove that they have sufficient funds to provide adequate care and accommodation for your family members.

The Portugal work visa is valid for 1 year and can be renewed up to 5 years. After 5 years of working in Portugal on a Portugal work visa, the employee may apply for permanent residence in Portugal.

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"As a seed-stage, London-based startup, we were initially hesitant to expand internationally due to the administrative workload involved. Horizons took the headache out of the process, allowing us to hire a team of software engineers in Germany."
Gabor SzedlakCo-founder & COO at MindLabs (UK)
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Chris MorrellManaging Director, Schaeffler Group (Germany)
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"We needed an EOR that could provide expert support for payroll in APAC. We are pleased with Horizons’ expertise and the fact that they are flexible, responsive, and easily accessible from Belgium. They were able to provide services within the short timeline we required."
Katia FlamandHuman Resources, Devian Chemicals (Belgium)
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