Guide to finding a job in Portugal

The job market in Portugal has improved slightly in recent years as the country recovers from an economic crisis. With the right research, it’s possible to find employment in one of the many growing industries, where your skills and qualifications as a foreigner will be an asset.

This article to finding work in Portugal includes sections on:

The job market in Portugal

If you plan to look for a job in Portugal, prepare yourself by researching the job market before moving and set realistic expectations for yourself. There is a growing number of graduates, so competition has increased. However, Portugal is quite welcoming to foreign workers, and there are many opportunities in industries that are growing, and those with shortages for high skilled workers.

Unemployment in Portugal has come down significantly in recent years, from around 12.4% in 2016 to 6,1% as of June 2024. Youth unemployment remains much higher, measuring at 19%.

What jobs are in demand in Portugal?

Portugal’s main industries include:

• tourism and hospitality
• textiles and footwear
• administration
• automotive
• construction
• electronics
• transportation
• agriculture

Skills shortages have been reported in a number of sectors, including:

• communications (particularly call centers)
• IT
• healthcare
• tourism and hospitality
• agriculture

The biggest Portuguese companies are:

• EDP (energy)
• Jeronimo Martins (food retail)
• Galp Energia (energy)
• NOS (telecommunications)
• REN (energy)
• Banco Comercial Portugues (finance)
• Corticeira Amorim (cork supply)
• Altri (wood pulp)

In addition to these, multinational companies with a strong presence in Portugal include Nestlé, Nokia, and Samsung.

Job vacancies for foreigners in Portugal

The country attracts fewer foreign workers than the larger European economies. However, there has been a growth of working-age migrants in recent years, and they now make up around 13% of the active working Portuguese population.

It’s also interesting to note that Portugal is one of few countries offering a job seeker visa. In 2024, they launched Programa Integrar (more on Programa Integrar further down), an initiative to attract, train, and integrate workers from other countries. This initiative demonstrates that Portugal finds value in adding a foreign workforce.

There are many job opportunities for foreign workers, some specifically for their language skills and others for highly skilled expats. The number of companies with at least one foreign employee has increased in the past decade.

For example, the tourism industry is vital to Portugal’s economy, with various seasonal and part-time jobs on offer, particularly in hotels and catering. In recent years, the call center industry has also boomed, offering opportunities for multi-lingual workers, while the automotive trade and repair sector and construction showed some job growth.

However, it’s critical to note that the median salary of foreign workers is lower than that of their Portuguese counterparts, demonstrating a certain level of precariousness with more fixed-term or part-time employment contracts.

Jobs in Portugal for Americans

If you’re an American looking for a job in Portugal, explore international job platforms like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or local sites like SAPO Emprego and Expresso Emprego. You can find open roles for English-speaking professionals in major cities such as Lisbon and Porto where multinational companies and startups are headquartered.

Portugal’s job market offers opportunities in technology, tourism, and customer service, with the rise of remote-friendly positions making it an attractive destination for digital nomads. While roles in international companies usually don’t require Portuguese, proficiency in the language can expand opportunities. This is particularly relevant if you want to work in marketing, hospitality, or with local businesses.

Teaching English is another popular career path for Americans working in Portugal, with roles available in private language schools and tutoring. See the section below for more information on teaching English in Portugal as a US citizen, or find TEFL courses in Portugal.

How to find jobs in Portugal

Expatica jobs in Portugal

You can find suitable openings on the Expatica jobs page, which has a constantly updated list of jobs across Portugal.

EURES

If you’re from the EU/EFTA, you can look for a job through EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal, which is maintained by the European Commission. As well as looking for work, you can upload your CV and get advice on looking for work in Portugal.

Public job sites

The Portuguese Public Employment Service (Instituto do Emprego) provides information on job vacancies in Portugal. Here, you can register your CV and access thousands of job listings around the country.

Job websites

There are also various general job websites, including the following:

• Empregos Online
• Indeed
• Learn4Good
• Net Empregos
• SAPO Emprego

English-speaking jobs

If you’re in search of an English-speaking job, there are a few dedicated sites that you can check to find the latest job openings, such as JobsinLisbon.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on English-language newspapers, such as Portugal Resident, which runs job adverts in its classifieds section.

Recruitment agencies

As a starting point, look in the Portuguese Business Directory under employment. You can also check out Expatica’s recruitment agency listings in our directory.

Foreign language teaching

To teach English in a school in Portugal, you’ll generally need to have a BA degree and a TEFL certification. Most teaching contracts begin in September and end in late June. Some teachers also choose to teach at English language camps in the summer or take on private lessons. The main cities for teaching jobs are Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and Braga. There are more than 30 English language schools across the country.

You can also look for jobs at British Council, and on TEFL-associated websites such as APPI or ESL Base.

Embassies and foreign organizations

Check out opportunities at the embassies and consulates in Lisbon and beyond. Most will expect a high standard of both spoken and written Portuguese.

The British Embassy in Lisbon advertises jobs from time to time. As well as working on foreign policy issues, the embassy offers various services for British nationals in Lisbon including assistance with emergency travel documentation.

Newspapers

Portuguese newspapers such as Correio de Manhã, Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias (jobs page) and Expresso (jobs portal) are worth checking out to keep an eye on vacancies across Portugal.

Make the first move: speculative applications

There’s no harm in firing off some speculative applications to companies you’d particularly like to work for. Try looking on the company websites to see if they have a vacancies page or contact details where you can send your CV.

Self-employment and freelancing in Portugal

Another option is to set out on your own and either work as a freelancer in Portugal or starting up a Portuguese business. You can do this as long as you have the right to work in Portugal. This includes all EU/EFTA citizens and third-country nationals with the relevant visa.

The Portuguese government has been keen in recent years to encourage entrepreneurs to start businesses and has set up an investment initiative called Portugal Ventures which has invested more than €200 million since 2012. The initiative includes funding for new businesses as well as a startup hub.

Traineeships, internships, and volunteering in Portugal

University graduates can find EU-based traineeships via the European Commission Traineeships Office (Bureau de Stages); otherwise, you can search for internships and placements on AIESEC (for students and recent graduates in the UK) or IAESTE (for students in science, engineering, and applied arts). Internships can also be found at Globalplacement and Intern Abroad.

For those aged between 17 and 30, you can find volunteer programs at the European Voluntary Service (EVS), where you work abroad for up to 12 months in exchange for board, food, insurance, and a small allowance. Concordia is another organization for volunteer opportunities. For holiday volunteering opportunities, check Workaway.

Assistance looking for employment in Portugal: Programa Integrar

In 2024, the Portuguese government launched Programa Integrar, an initiative that aims at attracting, training, and integrating foreign workers into the local labor market who are:

• unemployed or seeking for a job;
• looking to change careers
• in search of vocational training.

The program, managed by the Portuguese unemployment office IEFP, offers support that starts with an interview during which the job seeker receives guidance examining their:

• Professional profile, such as fields of expertise and areas of competence
• Skills, including how to get qualifications and diplomas transferred or recognized
• Languages proficiency, including potential Portuguese learning requirements
• Training needs, especially for those who wish to reorient towards a new career.

After the assessment, a personal employment plan is drawn up, and includes job placement options. The goal is to help each person overcome the cultural and logistical barriers of job-hunting as an immigrant, and to integrate the workforce with all the necessary tools and assets in hands.

How to Apply for Programa Integrar

Joining Programa Integrar only requires to register with the IEFP (National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training). Ask about the program, attend the initial assessment to discuss your profile, and then follow the plan step by step.

Even without joining the program, you can search for job training on the IEFP website if you would like to improve your skills while looking for a job.

How do you apply for a job in Portugal?

Once you’ve found a suitable job in Portugal, you need to work on your application to give yourself the best possible chance of landing the job.

The job application process in Portugal usually involves either completing a standardized application form (often done online), or sending a CV with accompanying personal statement. Some applications may require both a form and accompanying CV.

Unless asked, don’t send copies of educational certificates along with your job application, but bring them along to the interview if you get to this stage.

The interview process can take some time, including psychological or psychometric tests. The exact process will depend on the job you are going for.

If you get the job, your references will be contacted and a start date will be arranged. Expect to provide between 1-3 references, which should be previous employers, college tutors or those who can vouch for your job skills, experience, and character.

Get more useful tips in our guide to CV writing and job interviews in Portugal. There are also plenty of online services that can make resume-writing even easier, such as Resume.io.

What are the requirements to find work in Portugal?

1. Do you need a Portuguese work visa?

Citizens from the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) moving to Portugal will not need any official permit to work but they will have to find a job and apply for a residency card (Cartão de Residencia) within six months.

For the others, in brief, there are three different kinds of Portuguese work visas:

• Short-term work visas – valid for up to three months and non-renewable, these are usually for short-term missions or seasonal workers
• Temporary work visas – valid for up to two years and often renewable
• Job seeker visas – for people coming to Portugal to find work; valid for 120 days and renewable for another 60 days

And then, if you’re an entrepreneur looking to invest, there’s the Portuguese golden visa.

2. What are the language requirements to work in Portugal?

While speaking fluent Portuguese is of course an advantage, there are jobs in Portugal for English speakers. This is especially the case in the tourism and hospitality sector and with large multinational businesses based in Portugal.

If language is a barrier, there are plenty of institutions offering language classes, CESA languages, and the Eurolingua Institute. See our guide to learning Portuguese in Portugal for details of language schools and opportunities.

Should you decide to look for a job in the tourism sector, speaking other European languages such as German, French, and Spanish can be very useful.

3. Can you transfer your qualifications to work in Portugal?

Most major European countries are signed up to the Bologna Process, through which your qualifications from your home country will be recognized in Portugal. If your country isn’t signed up, you should instead contact the National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC) in Portugal to ensure your qualifications are recognized.

You can find out whether your profession is regulated (needs specific qualifications for you to be able to practice it) in Portugal by checking on the European Commission’s database.  

4. You will need a NIF, a tax and social security number

Everyone carrying out official or legal activities, for example working or buying property, needs a Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF) number. This applies to both residents and non-residents and should be sorted out through your local tax office in advance of looking for work in Portugal.

The NIF number is a unique nine-digit number that you need in order to receive an income, pay Portuguese taxes, or claim social security in Portugal.

Financial support while looking for a job in Portugal

Like many European countries, Portugal has a social security system that includes an unemployment allowance to provide financial support in times when you don’t have a job. However, this is contribution-based and you need to have worked at least 360 days in the two years prior to claim the full amount. Other conditions include having the capacity and availability to work.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you can contact the Portuguese Social Security Office (Seguranca Social) to see if you are entitled to any support.

Starting your job in Portugal: important questions

Probation periods in Portuguese jobs depend on the type of contract as well as the type of job you’re doing. For permanent contracts, the probation period is between 90-240 days. For fixed-term or unfixed contracts it is between 15-30 days. During this time, the notice period for terminating your contract may be shorter.

Once you start work in Portugal, your employer should enroll you for social security including health insurance and the Portuguese state pension. You will also be covered for workplace accidents and be entitled to other statutory benefits.

Depending on your employer, you may also be offered the chance to opt in on a company pension to top up your state pension benefit, as well as other in-work benefits.

Useful resources

• Portuguese Public Employment Service (Instituto do Emprego, IEFP) – government employment website with information, job vacancies and more
• EURES – EU job portal