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Portugal Job Seeker Visa
Luis Minvielle
Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.
Oleksandra Dosii
Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.
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If you want to work in Portugal but don’t have a job offer yet, you can apply for a Portuguese job seeker visa. This visa allows you to stay in Portugal while looking for work. If approved, you can remain in the country for a few months. Once you get a job offer and are ready to start working, you’re able to apply for a residence permit.
Job seeker visa duration
The Portugal job seeker visa is valid for 120 days (4 months) and can be extended for another 60 days, but it only allows one entry into Portugal. When you receive the visa, you will also get an appointment date with the immigration office. If you find a job during this period, you have to apply for a residence permit with the AIMA.
If your visa expires, and you haven’t secured a job or started the residence permit process, you must leave Portugal. In this case, you will have to wait one year before applying for another job seeker visa.
Why the job seeker visa is different from other Portuguese visas
If you’re researching visas to live and work in Portugal, you’ll probably have read about the D2, D7, or D8 visas. Those are national visas, as the Portuguese government calls them. But they’re longer-stay visas.
The job seeker visa, although also called a national visa, is a shorter-term visa. It’s not a residency permit: This visa ends after 120 days. You can only extend your stay if you do get a job. Likewise, you’ll notice you don’t need AIMA appointments at first. Those are only required if you switch to a work visa. And, compared to the Golden Visa, also known as the D9, it requires much less financial proof. With the job seeker visa, you don’t need to present business plans or large investments.
Job seeker visa requirements and documents
If you are a citizen of one of the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, you do not need a Portugal Job Seeker Visa and can freely enter the country to look for a job. There are no additional requirements, except that you must be at least 18 years old to work. That is, possibly, the biggest benefit of a European Union passport, which you obtain through citizenship. With a UE passport, you can work in The Hague, Lisbon, Berlin, or Barcelona without any paperwork.
If you’re a non-EU citizen, you will need the following documents for the application:
- Visa application form: Completed and signed.
- Passport: Must be valid for at least 3 months after your expected return date. Include a photocopy of the passport's main page.
- Photos: Two recent passport-sized photos (one for the application form).
- Proof of legal residence: If you’re applying from a country where you are not a citizen, provide proof that you have permission to stay there. This document must be valid beyond the visa expiration date.
- Criminal record certificate: Issued by your home country or any country where you’ve lived for more than a year.
- Travel Insurance: Must cover medical expenses, emergencies, and possible repatriation.
- Roundtrip flight reservation.
- Proof of financial resources: You need to show that you have at least three months’ worth of Portugal’s minimum salary, which is €870 per month in 2025. This amounts to a total of €2,610.
- A personal statement: Explaining your planned stay.
- Proof that you have submitted an expression of interest for job registration at IEFP (Portugal’s job centre).
You are also encouraged to present a cover letter, your CV and academic qualifications duly legalised. You don’t need to show financial proof if you have a sponsor (a Portuguese citizen or a foreigner with legal residence in Portugal) who guarantees your food, accommodation, and repatriation if necessary.
How to apply for the Portugal Job Seeker Visa: A step-by-step guide
These are the general steps to get the Portuguese job seeker visa. Remember that this is a permit that allows you to go into the country to get a job there. You’ll need to eventually find that job if you want to stay.
Step #1 – Prepare your application
Get the documents outlined above.
Step #2 – Apply at the Portuguese consulate
Where to apply:
- Outside Portugal: Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country.
Process:
- Book an in-person appointment at the consulate. You can read our guide on how to book an appointment on our Visa and Immigration page.
- Submit the national visa application form.
- Pay the fee: €110
Step #3 – Wait for approval
Processing time:
- 60-90 days (standard for national visas).
Step #4 – Travel to Portugal and get a job
Within 4 months of arrival in Portugal, you must get a job. Once you get it, you must get a residency permit. For that:
- Schedule an AIMA appointment: Required to convert your visa into a temporary residency permit. Residency permit fee: €155.50. You can read our guide on how to book an appointment on our Visa and Immigration page.
- You can “convert” your job seeker visa to a longer work visa, like the D1 visa.
If you can’t find a job during these four months, you must leave Portugal.
Where to apply for a Portugal job seeker visa
Candidates for the Portugal job seeker visa should submit their applications to the Portuguese consulate or embassy in their country of residence. In some countries, Portugal has partnered with VFS Global to facilitate visa applications, so you can opt for your nearest VFS Centre too. Contact the embassy, consulate, or VFS Centre to schedule an appointment.
After you apply, the decision on the visa application will take around 60 days, but it may vary by country.
Job seeker visa fees
The standard fee for processing a Portugal job seeker visa is €110. If you want to appeal a visa decision, you need to pay €75 to cover administrative costs. This fee applies to most cases, except for appeals related to family reunification visas.
Speak with a visa expert
Portugal is a good place to work and seek employment. It comes with plenty of advantages: Many visa pathways—like this job seeker visa—and many sunny days a year, to mention a few. But the country does have some drawbacks. For example, any visa process in Portugal is always relatively complicated. To be fair, the country has put forth plenty of initiatives, and they deserve respect for that. But their English sites are sometimes outdated or don’t work at all (plenty of web apps you’ll be referred to on other pages don’t even load properly; try Serviços - AIMA and the SIGA web app and see for yourself.)
The best way to get a Portuguese job seeker visa is to speak with an immigration expert. You can also turn the process around and first get a job without even living in Portugal. You should check companies in Portugal that are open to help international workers relocate. Good luck!
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