How Can We Apply for Work Visa for Portugal?

Work Visa for Portugal:- Portugal is one of the most popular countries for studying in Europe. Many international students are now choosing Europe as a country for higher education. This is because English-speaking countries are highly expensive. 

The rent expenses and other miscellaneous expenses are too high when compared to English countries. European countries offer a high standard of living at a lower cost. This is the reason why more students are now choosing to live in a non-English country. Portugal is one of the best countries to work in Europe.

European labor laws offer a lot of benefits to working professionals, even international ones. To work in Portugal you need a Portuguese work visa. The visa process is often tedious and time-consuming. People tend to get confused regarding many documents that are to be submitted. This blog will clear all your doubts regarding the Portuguese work visa.

In this blog, we will discuss everything regarding work visas for Portugal. 

Who Needs a Portuguese Work Visa?

Many people are confused about whether they would need a Portuguese work visa if they have received an offer letter from a Portuguese company. If you are not an EU/EEA or Swiss national then you will need to apply for a work visa for Portugal. 

If you are a Swiss or EU/EEA national and you wish to stay in Portugal for more than 3 months then you don’t need a work visa but you need to obtain a residence certificate. 

What is the Eligibility for a Portuguese Work Visa?

To work in Portugal you need a work visa. This work visa is issued based on many parameters but there are two basic eligibility criteria that you must fulfill. To be eligible for a Portuguese work visa you need to fulfill the following two criteria:

• A job Offer from a Portuguese Employer: The first thing that you need to get a work visa is of course a job offer from a Portuguese company. The important point here is that the job you have been offered should have been posted online for at least a month. If no good candidates are available in Portugal for the job only then you can be offered the job by the Portuguese employer. 
• Work Permit: Your employer will have to apply for a work permit on your behalf. This application is to be submitted to the Labor authorities. 

Supporting Documents for a Portuguese Work Visa

When you apply for a work visa there are several documents that you must submit in addition to the visa application form. These are as below:

• Passport: A valid passport. Many people don’t look at the specific requirements for the passport that have been asked. A valid passport has been issued in the last 10 years.
• 2 Passport Size Photos. Visit the official website to know the specific photo requirements. Do not make any mistakes while submitting your photos, especially with the dimensions. Ideally, the photo should be taken with a white background. 
• Proof of Accommodation: You need to prove that you have a place to stay in Portugal. This can either be a rented apartment or a dorm. In either case, you have to submit the contract between you and the employer. 
• Police Clearance Certificate: This can be obtained from your nearby police station.
• Proof of Sufficient Funds: You need to have enough funds to sustain yourself during your stay in Portugal. For the precise amount of funds required, visit the official website of the Portuguese embassy. Note that these requirements keep changing about inflation, so always check the data from the official website before you apply. 
• Health Insurance: Valid health insurance is required. If a family member is accompanied by you then they also require health insurance. Health insurance should either be global or at least cover the EU area. It should cover all your expenses in case of an emergency. 
• Employment Contract: The contract which states all the details and the responsibilities of the job. It should also state the period for which you have the contract. 

The Application Process for a Work Visa for Portugal

There are 3 steps that you have to follow to obtain a Portuguese work visa. These are as follows:

• Your employer will apply for a work permit on your behalf. This is the first step in obtaining a Work visa for Portugal. This has to be done after you have accepted the job offer but much before the travel date. 

• You need to wait until you get a work permit from your employer. After you have the permit, you need to apply for a Portuguese Work Visa. This has to be done by visiting the Portuguese embassy in your country. 

• The third and final step is to get a residence permit. This is different from a work permit. The work permit allows you to work in Portugal while the residence permit allows you to stay in Portugal. You have to apply for a residence permit when you have landed in Portugal. 

Now that you have a brief overview of the entire process for a work visa for Portugal let us have a detailed look at each of these steps.

Step 1: Work Permit

As mentioned above, your employer needs to apply for a work permit on your behalf. This can be done by the Portuguese Labor authorities. When applying for a work permit your employer will need to submit various documents. These are as follows:

• Proof that there was no Portuguese candidate that could be hired for the job. 
• Employment contract: This should be signed by both you and the employer and should clearly state the job responsibilities and all the other details regarding the job contract. 
• Proof that the company is recognized in Portugal. This can be proven by the tax statements.
• Proof of registering with Social Security.

Step 2: Work Visa Application

Once your employer has obtained a work permit on your behalf, you need to apply for a work visa. This is the step where you have to visit the local Portugal embassy and apply for a visa. Note that the work visa for Portugal is valid for 3-4 months. This visa is just a requirement for you to land in Portugal. After coming to Portugal you have to apply for a residence permit which will allow you to stay for a longer duration. The detailed steps are as below:

• Find where the local Portugal embassy is in your country. 
• Visit the embassy and start your application by collecting the application form.
• Make an appointment for your document submission and visa interview.
• Collect the documents and go for the interview.

Step 3: Residence Permit Application

After living in Portugal you will have a time duration of 3 months in which you have to apply for a residence permit. You also have to apply for social security and get a tax number in addition to the residence permit. You can apply for this residence permit at the Social Security office.

Read More: How To Apply Malta Work Visa

Portugal Work Visa Processing Time

People are always concerned about the visa processing time. The work visa for Portugal may take up several months to be approved. This happens because it is a two-step process. The work permit itself takes up to 2 months to get approved. The work visa that you will apply for then will take 2-3 additional months.

However, your specific case defines the processing time for your application. In some cases, the visas get approved faster and for some, it may take more than the given time range.

Fees for a Portuguese Work Visa

The work visa for Portugal is a multistep process and thus you need to pay fees at different steps. Firstly you have to pay EUR 90 for the work visa application. Then to apply for a residence permit you have to pay EUR 83. If you receive a residence permit after the application then you must pay an additional EUR 72. The fees for work visa application may change in different countries from which you are applying. 

Validity of the Residence Permit

As mentioned above the work visa is only valid for a few months and a residence permit allows you to stay for longer durations. However, residence permits also have a limit. A residence permit is usually valid for 1-2 years. 

After the residence permit has expired you can again apply for a renewal of the permit and continue to stay in Portugal as long as you have a job offer. 

If you wish to permanently stay in Portugal, you will have to work in Portugal for 5 years, after which you can apply for Permanent Residence. After you have a permanent residence you will no longer have to renew your work permit every year. Having a permanent residence permit also allows you to stay for longer without having to renew it now and then. Additionally, you will enjoy all the benefits of being a Portuguese resident. 

Conclusion

A work visa for Portugal is one of the most trending topics as more and more people are moving to Portugal and other European countries for work. There are multiple job opportunities in Portugal, and if you have been lucky enough to get a job offer from Portugal then you should make no mistakes in your visa application. 

There are many steps and aspects which need to be done precisely while applying for a work visa for Portugal. In this blog, we have included everything regarding the Portuguese work visa including the processing time and the fees. Make sure to check the official website of the Portuguese embassy for specific details. All the best for your application! For more details about study abroad stay connected with Course Mentor.

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