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New visa to look for work in Portugal

Last activity 24 May 2023 by JohnnyPT

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JohnnyPT

1. New visa to look for work in Portugal / Job seeker visa


Job seeker visa

The job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for job; authorizes him/her to carry out a subordinated work activity, until the visa expires or until the residence permit is granted.


https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-v … eeker-visa


A new visa, aimed at seeking work, has recently been created, which allows non-EU nationals who come to Portugal looking for work to enter for a period of 120 days, extendable for a further 60 days.


This new visa aims to speed up, simplify and reduce bureaucracy in the mobility of migrant workers, as well as to provide a solution to the labour demand in several activity sectors in Portugal, such as:


- Information and communications technologies (particularly IT engineers with very specific specialist profiles)


- Metallurgic and metalworking industries (skilled workers)


- Health (doctors with various specialisations)


- Tourism, hotel and restaurants sector (cooks, waiters and bar staff)


- Agriculture (seasonal employment, particularly fruit and vegetable picking)


- Construction (plumbers, electricians and other skilled workers)


- Call/Contact Centres (Business Support Centres and Shared Service Centres*, involving duties in sales, administration, human resources, accounting and management control). This area needs professionals with very specific language skills.



* It may not be necessary to have a knowledge of Portuguese to work in Business Support Centres and Shared Service Centres. Generally speaking, the working language is the native language and/or English.



SHORT-STAY VISA FOR SEASONAL WORK


Seasonal Work Visa

https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/prorrogar-p … ia/vcd-ts/


https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/short-stay … -work-visa








2. Portuguese Digital Nomad Visa


A temporary stay or residence visa will also be granted to digital nomads. See more details at this link:


https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1006006











3. Residence visa to attend higher education study programmes


Thirdly, it will also be easier to obtain a residence visa to attend higher education study programmes in Portugal. The SEF's preliminary opinion for this type of visa will no longer be necessary, provided that the applicant has already been admitted to the educational institution in Portugal.


_____________________


More details about this new visa to look for work in Portugal:



A. How long does the visa to look for work in Portugal last?


The visa allows the search for work for up to 120 days, and a further 60 days can be granted.

If he/she gets a work contract at the end of the maximum period of 180 days (120+60), the applicant will be able to apply for a residence visa for 2 years at SEF in Portugal.



B. How to request the visa to work in Portugal and how does it work?


The new visa must be applied directly to the Portuguese consulates and embassies, without the need to request it from SEF in Portugal.


Portuguese consulates and embassies (country name in portuguese):

https://portaldascomunidades.mne.gov.pt … e-consular


Basic documentation required: proof of means of subsistence, valid passport, travel insurance, accommodation. And not having any restrictions on entry into the Schengen Area.



C. What happens if I do not get the job during the visa period in Portugal?


You will have to find a job during that period, otherwise to avoid illegal stay you will have to leave the country.



D. Is it possible to apply for a visa to look for work in Portugal more than once?


If during the period of validity of the mentioned visa, the citizen is unable to find a job contract, he will have to leave the country. He can request to enter the country again with the same visa after one year (counting one year after the expiration of the previous visa).



_____________________


Additional info:


https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integratio … amilies_en


https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/20 … gins/71643


https://eportugal.gov.pt/en/cidadaos-eu … m-portugal


(...)

nz7521137

During the 120 to 180 days in Portugal, does the person looking for work (I assume work means an employment contract with payments into the social security system) have access to the SNS?

JohnnyPT

Hi Tom,


It all depends on the country of origin of the citizen (if it is from the EU, or from a country with a bilateral agreement with Portugal, or another third country) and the type of residence permit. This chart helps to explain (PDF doc):


https://www.ers.pt/uploads/writer_file/ … n_novo.pdf

mariacmorenovarela

@nz7521137

One of the requirements is to show proof of Travel Insurance for 120 days at least.

During that time, you are responsible for your health expenses.

After you find a Job, you will changing your Visa to Residence and is when you can opt to receive that benefit.

This explanation is from my lawyer, I hope this help.

JohnnyPT

Cont 1. Post #1


RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR EMPLOYED WORKERS WITHOUT A RESIDENCE VISA


https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/t … r/art88-2/


The expression of interest is preferably submitted through the electronic platform (SAPA Portal) and the application is submitted personally on a standard form signed by the applicant or his/her legal representative and may be submitted at any SEF’s directorate or regional delegation, which, after proceedings and decision, will forward it to the directorate or regional delegation of the applicant’s area of residence.



SAPA Portal:

https://sapa.sef.pt/an/default

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