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Portugal Work Visa 2026: Requirements and How to Apply
When people search for a Portugal work visa, what they need in practice is a residence visa for professional activity (visto de residência para exercício de atividade profissional). It is the regular route for non-EU citizens who want to work in the country, and it has become even more important since the manifestação de interesse was revoked.
Types of Portugal work visa
| Type | For whom | Key document |
|---|---|---|
| Employed work (atividade subordinada) | Employees working for an employer | Contract, contract promise or individual expression of interest from the employer |
| Self-employed work (atividade independente) | Freelancers, independent professionals | Company contract or proposal to provide services |
| Immigrant entrepreneur / Startup Visa | People who invest or start a company | Investment statement or incubation contract (IAPMEI) |
| Highly qualified activity (art. 61-A) | Qualified professionals | Contract ≥ 6 months with salary ≥ 1.5× national average salary or 3× IAS |
| Remote work | People working for clients/employers outside Portugal | See digital nomad visa |
| Looking for qualified work | People who do not have a job yet | See job seeker visa |
There are also temporary stay visas (less than one year) for seasonal, self-employed or highly qualified work.
“Trabalho subordinado” is the Portuguese term for employment with a contract. “Trabalho independente” means self-employment, invoiced with recibos verdes (in Portuguese) (green receipts, the freelancer invoicing system).
What documents do you need?
General documents (MNE — Ministry of Foreign Affairs):
- Application on the official form, filled in and signed
- Two passport-style photos
- Passport valid for 3 months beyond the planned stay, and a photocopy of the bio page
- Proof of legal status, if you apply in a country that is not your country of nationality
- Travel insurance covering medical care and repatriation (the MNE says it may be waived under agreements, such as Brazil’s PB4)
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin or the country where you have lived for more than one year, with a Hague Apostille or legalised
- Proof of means of subsistence
Specific to employed work:
- Employment contract, contract promise or individual expression of interest from the employer
- Proof that you are qualified for the profession, if it is regulated in Portugal (e.g. doctors, nurses, engineers)
How much money do you need (means of subsistence)?
The MNE uses the guaranteed minimum monthly pay (minimum wage) as the reference, which in 2026 is €920 (Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025). The main applicant counts as 100% of that amount; a second adult 50%; children and dependent adult children 30%.
For the work visa, the means are usually proved by the contract or contract promise itself, or by a statement of responsibility (termo de responsabilidade) from the employer with a certified signature.
How to apply for a Portugal work visa: step by step
- Get the job offer in writing (contract or promise).
- Gather the documents above, with apostilles and translations.
- Book the application at the Portuguese consulate or the external service provider (for example, VFS Global, in several countries). You can start the application on the portal pedidodevistos.mne.gov.pt.
- Pay the fee of €110.
- Wait for the decision — legal deadline of 60 days.
- Enter Portugal. The residence visa is valid for two entries for four months.
- Go to AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) to apply for the residence permit (see residence permit). The permit is valid for two years and renewable for periods of three years.
- Sort out the rest of the paperwork: NIF, NISS and utente number.
According to AIMA, with the changes to the Regulatory Decree the employer can submit the residence permit application on behalf of the worker, with the worker’s permission. For now, AIMA’s online channel is only open to some family reunification applications; other applications are made at Lojas AIMA (AIMA offices).
Highly qualified jobs
For the visa for highly qualified activity as an employee (art. 61-A — the system linked to the EU Blue Card), the MNE requires a contract of at least six months and yearly pay of at least 1.5 times the national average gross yearly salary or three times the IAS (indexante dos apoios sociais, the social support index), as well as high qualifications. For professions in major groups 1 and 2 of the ISCO classification (CITP) declared to be in particular need, the threshold drops to 1.2 times the national average gross salary or twice the IAS. The MNE does not publish the amount in euros: confirm the threshold that applies with the consulate.
Common mistakes
- Entering on a tourist visa hoping to get legal status later. Since June 2024 you can no longer apply for residence based on a manifestação de interesse.
- A vague contract promise. It should state the job duties, salary, length and place of work.
- Regulated profession without recognition. Without equivalence or registration with the professional body (ordem), the visa may be refused.
- Criminal record without an apostille or past its validity date.
- Working before you have the card, when the visa does not allow it.
- Paying “agents” (despachantes) for appointments. Official appointments are made by consulates and authorised providers.
Keep reading
- Portugal visa types
- Family reunification — to bring your family later
- Permanent residence
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job contract before applying for a Portugal work visa?
For employed work, yes: the MNE asks for an employment contract, a contract promise or an individual expression of interest from the employer.
How much does a Portugal work visa cost?
The processing fee for a national visa application is €110, according to the MNE. External application centres may charge an extra service fee.
How long does it take?
The legal deadline to decide on a residence visa is 60 days, except in cases set out in the law. In practice, the wait for an appointment can be added to that time.
Can I enter as a tourist and then apply for a residence permit to work?
No, as a general rule. The manifestação de interesse (expression of interest) that allowed this was revoked in 2024. The normal route is the residence visa at the consulate.
Can I work as a freelancer with this visa?
There is a separate visa for self-employed work, which needs a company contract or a proposal to provide services.