Job Seeker Visa in Portugal: The Ultimate Guide

Ready to leap into the job market of Portugal, land of Pastéis de Nata and endless coastline?

But wait, you’ll need a Job Seeker Visa first.

Consider this guide your trusty compass, pointing you through the maze of Portuguese bureaucracy straight to your dream job.

What Is A Job Seeker Visa In Portugal?

Initially, Portugal did not offer any separate Job seeker visa. One would need to acquire a Type-C Schengen Visa to visit Portugal and look for a job during the 90-day permit. But on this visa, one wasn’t allowed to work at all.

Now, the Portugal Job seeker visa permit allows foreign residents to enter and stay in Portugal for up to 120 days, which amounts to a good 4 months. One acquires this visa, especially to get a job in Portugal.

During this visa, one can engage in any part-time work, and if one has ensured a full-time job, one would need to renew one’s job-seeker visa into a work visa.

The conversion of the Job-Seeker Type C Visa into a Work Visa Permit Type-D visa will be issued after one shows their work contract or is sponsored by their employer.

What Are The Different Types Of Visas In Portugal?

To apply for any visitation rights or seek citizenship in Portugal, one would first need to ensure that different types of visas are offered for foreigners visiting Portugal.

Following are the different types of visas that Portugal offers different foreigners to access:

Short-Stay Schengen Visa (Type C)
Job-Seeker Visa (Type C)
Work Visa (Type D)
Student Visa (Type D)
Family Reunification Visa (Type D)
Entrepreneur Visa
Golden Visa
Retirement Visa
Research or Scientist Visa
Medical Visa
Cultural, Sports, or Religious visit Visa
Transit Visa

The visas mentioned above have been discussed in detail below:

Short-Stay Schengen Visa (Type C)

As the name implies, the Type C visa is a Short-Stay Schengen Visa that allows one to stay in Portugal for a period of 90 days. One can stay straight for 90 days or stay in Portugal consecutively within 180 days.

If one has visited Portugal on a Schengen Type C visa, then one is not allowed to work.

Job Seeker Visa (Type C)

A job-seeker visa in Portugal falls under the Type-C visa, which entails the job-seeker visa being offered on a short-term basis. It allows one to stay for 120 days in Portugal.

In this visa, one is allowed to look for a job but not work. One would need a work permit Type-D visa to be allowed to work in Portugal.

Work Visa (Type D)

Two significant differences exist between Type C and Type D visas issued by Portugal. The first difference is that the type D visa allows one to stay for a more extended period. Secondly, it allows one to work in Portugal.

Work Visa are issued to those who want to work in Portugal and are usually sponsored by the hiring agency or the direct employer. It is only issued to a person if one has an ensured employment contract.

Student Visa (Type D)

Suppose a person is interested in studying in Portugal and has also availed admission to one of their highly esteemed universities. In that case, one can apply for a study visa in Portugal.

One has to have the admission letter and other documents that ensure the record of admission to Portuguese universities so that one can attach these documents with their visa application to get their application accepted readily.

Family Reunification Visa (Type D)

Having a family in Portugal who is a registered resident or citizen of Portugal allows a foreigner to apply for a family reunification Type D visa.

It is also a long-term visa that may allow one to follow further procedures for residency in Portugal.

Entrepreneur Visa

An option of an entrepreneur visa is also available for residents who want to start their own business in Portugal.

Entrepreneur visa shows the demand for harboring talent in a country. This visa also led to the booming of the economy of Portugal.

Golden Visa

The “golden visa” is issued to those individuals who reach a particular investment mark or maintain a financial threshold in Portugal.

EU residents get many opportunities, but this visa allows non-EU residents to acquire residency status in Portugal through real estate investment. It is a good gate away for non-European residents.

Retirement Visa

Portugal has become a popular destination for people who have worked hard throughout their lives and now have decided to enjoy their retirement.

This visa thus caters to retired individuals.

Research Or Scientist Visa

In the 21^st century, nothing is more important than developing and investing in human resources. One can enhance every sector through advancing technology.

Advanced technology could only be applied through the minds of scientists and researchers. Thus, Portugal facilitates scientists and researchers in acquiring the Portugal visa.

Medical Visa

People who want to seek medical assistance or treatment in Portugal through their efficient health department can apply for a medical visa.

Cultural, Sports, Or Religious Visit Visa

One also gets issued a specific event visa if participating in any cultural, sports, or religious event in Portugal.

Transit Visa

Suppose one wants to visit Portugal while traveling to some other place and wants to stay over for a while to explore Portugal. In that case, one might need a transit visa.

Who Needs To Apply For Portugal Job Seeker Visa?

Individuals who belong to European states usually have lax laws for traveling when it comes to Portugal and other European nations. However, the same perks cannot be accessed by non-European residents.

Thus, the following individuals would need to apply for the job-seeker visa in Portugal:

Non-EU/ EEA Citizens
Individuals who need Visa For Specific Purposes
Individuals who require a Work Visa/ Residence Permit
People needing an Entrepreneur Visa can also apply for a Job-seeker visa first.
Highly Skilled Workers

What Are The Requirements For A Portugal Job Seeker Visa?

The job-seeker visa application process includes specific criteria to be followed for one to be eligible to apply for this particular visa.

The requirements that determine the eligibility of the individual for seeking a job of one’s person and getting access to the job-seeker visa permit in Portugal have been given below:

Valid Passport

One needs to ensure that one has a valid passport. The validity of the passport refers to the expiration date of the passport. The expiry date needs to be later than 3 months after the estimated time of return from Portugal.

All other travel documents need to follow the same validity. One would also need to submit a photocopy of their passport and any other travel documents.

Complete Visa Application Form

Whatever documents are required to be attached to the application form of the visa permit for one’s identification need to be valid and clear. For example, one would need clear and recent photographs.

Filling out the application form completely and submitting it on time is also a requirement that makes one eligible for applying for a job-seeker visa in Portugal.

Financial Means

One needs to attach proof of one’s financial means to show the authorities that one can take care of oneself financially while visiting Portugal on the lookout for a job.

The minimum requirement of the financial resources includes at least a sum total of 3 months average salary.

Accommodation

Attaching the details of one’s accommodation in Portugal is a fundamental requirement. One can either attach the rental agreement or even a letter from the owners allowing one to stay in their residence.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is an essential requirement for one to be eligible for applying for a visa as a foreigner. One’s health insurance needs to be adequate to cover all the expenses in case of emergencies and for possible repatriation.

Clear Purpose Of Stay

One’s purpose of stay should be clear and conveyed persuasively in one’s visa applications for one’s applications to be accepted.

One must submit a declaration of interest that clearly states the purpose of applying for a job-seeker visa in Portugal.

Flawless Criminal Background

Criminal background is essential for one to apply for a job-seeker visa permit. One can request a criminal record in the Immigration and Border Services. This is only applicable to people who are above the age of 16.

Educational Qualifications

One needs to have a relevant educational background for the jobs one wants to apply for in Portugal.

The corresponding required education makes it easier for the authorities to ensure that the purpose of the visa applicant’s entry into their country will be fulfilled.

Language Proficiency

Submitting any language proficiency test results for a job-seeker visa is optional. However, it is always better to be proficient in English or know the local language where one wants to move as it will also help secure a job.

Fee Submission

Submitting the required fee for the application is mandatory for one’s visa application to be accepted.

Where Do I Apply For Portugal Job-Seeker Visa?

To Apply for the Job-Seeker Visa, one would need to go to the nearest Portuguese Embassy or Consulate.

One can easily find the information from the country’s website, download the application form, and locate the nearest embassy and consulate offices. However, the whole visa application process cannot be done online.

One would need to submit the application physically and the attached documents to apply for the job-seeker visa.

How Do I Apply For A Job Seeker Visa For Portugal?

One would need to visit the Portuguese embassy or consulate to get the visa application form or download it from their website online. The detailed process of the submission of the application for a job-seeker visa permit has been given below:

Determine The Eligibility

One needs to be sure of what type of visa one wants to apply for. It should coordinate with one’s purpose of visiting Portugal. It is always better to completely understand all the information about the type of visa permit one wants to apply for.

Also, one needs to have the required financial means, valid traveling documents, and health insurance to be eligible for the visa permit.

Attach All Required Documents

After determining one’s eligibility for the particular visa permit, the second step would be to fill out the application form and attach the required documents.

The following documents need to be attached to one’s visa application:

Valid passport and its photocopies
Photos
Residence permit
Financial statement andsufficient funds
Health insurance
Clear criminal record
Educational record
Proof of proficiency in language

Arrange An Appointment With the Embassy

Before one can submit the application form with the tick boxes in the checklist of the required documents, One would need to arrange an appointment at the embassy or the Portuguese consulate to submit one’s application.

Submit the Application Form

After one has confirmed that the application form has been filled and all the required documents have been attached, the appointment is booked at the Portuguese embassy or consulate.

Then, the next step would be to submit the application form to the required authorities.

Pay The Fee

The required fee for applying for a job-seeker visa permit ranges from 75 to 90 Euros for adults and less for adolescents.

Attend An Interview

Individuals are usually called for interviews after one’s application is submitted to the consulate. These interviews are crucial. If one appears in the visa interview, one’s application for a visa permit can be accepted.

Processing Time

The estimated processing time for one’s job-seeker visa application takes about 3-6 months. But it can vary as well.

Travel To Portugal

After the visa application has been accepted, one can travel to Portugal. The job-seeker visa for Portugal has a validity of 120 days, so one should be careful not to incur fines or punishments during this period.

How Much Does A Portugal Job Seeker Visa Cost?

The exact price of the Portugal job-seeker visa process is not confirmed. But The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given an estimated 75-90 Euros range.

One should be clear about the affordability of the expenses or the fee one would be charged for applying for a visa. To make it easy for one to understand, one may need to pay for the following steps:

Biometric Data Collection Fee
Inquiry of Criminal and Health Record Fee
Application Processing Fee
Multiple-Entry Visa Fee
Visa Facilitation Fees
Fee For Conversion To Residence Permit

Can The Job-Seeker Portugal Visa Be Extended?

One might get an extension of an additional 60 days after the visa expiry if one has given the application to the authorities before the validity of the visa ends.

However, if the Job-Seeker has exceeded the stay of 4 months and has yet to be able to get a job, then one would need to leave the country as the Job-seeker visa falls under the Type-C category, so one cannot extend this visa to the same duration.

Instead, one would need to apply again and undergo the whole application process one year after the expiration of the first visa.

In another case, if the person has succeeded in attaining a job within the validity of the job-seeker visa permit, one can convert the job-seeker visa to a resident work permit.

How Can The Job Seeker Visa Be Converted To Work Visa Permit In Portugal?

The Job-Seeker visa can be converted into a Work Visa permit only after securing the job before the expiry of the job-seeker visa. That is, within 120 days of one’s arrival in Portugal, one would need a sure employment contract.

One would need to undergo the following steps to convert one’s job seeker visa into a resident or work visa permit.

First, secure a job. Get a valid, signed employment contract.
Ask for Sponsorship from the employer.
Apply for a work visa in one’s home country.
Submit the application form with all the required documents attached.
Go through an interview when called.
Register with local Portuguese authorities after approval of work permit.
Get a residence permit for work.

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Job-Seeker Visa In Portugal?

Like any other visa, the job-seeker visa permit for Portugal has various advantages and disadvantages. Some of those pros and cons have been mentioned below:

Pros	Cons
✅One can enter Portugal to look for a job.	❌One can only extend the visa up to 60 days and can apply again for the same visa after one year.
✅Once one gets the job, the job-seeker visa can be converted to a work permit.	❌One must ensure to get a job within 4 months successfully.
✅No language proficiency test or score is required for a job-seeking visa application.	❌Knowledge and proficiency in the local language can help secure a job quickly and easily.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a good handle on how to secure your Job Seeker Visa in Portugal. So go ahead, pack your bags and your ambition; the sun-soaked streets of Lisbon are waiting for you.

Happy Job-Hunting

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