Are you interested in moving to live and work in Portugal? Great decision. From seasonal and summer jobs, to full time careers, view our guide to working in Portugal as a foreigners, find jobs and apply today.
Quick Facts
• Population: 10,605,000 (est 2006)
• Principal languages: Portuguese
• Capital: Lisbon
• Other major cities: Oporto, Braga, Coimbra
• Monetary unit: Euro = 100 cents
• Internet domain: .pt
• International dialling code: +351
History
Portugal has a rich cultural heritage influenced over the centuries of Portuguese history by different cultures, such as the Roman, the Moorish and also by the traditions and cultures of its former colonies. Portuguese literature is represented by such poets as Luis de Camoes and Fernando Pessoa, and by writers such as José Saramago.
In the 15th century, Portuguese sailors led the overseas exploration that would soon lead to a large Portuguese empire spanning the globe. As a legacy of the imperial age, there are today more than 200 million speakers of Portuguese. In 1755 Lisbon was levelled by an earthquake and led to a decline in Portugal’s prosperity. In the twentieth century Portugal was for decades ruled by a dictatorship dominated by Antonio Salazar. In the beginning of the 1970’s, Portugal was led to a series of wars in an effort hold on to its African colonies. The government was overthrown by a bloodless military revolt in 1974, leading to independence of Portugal’s African colonies, and eventually to the country’s membership of the EEC (now EU) in 1986.
Jobs in Portugal
Unfortunately Portugal has been one of the hardest hit nations as an outcome of the Eurozone crisis. Unemployment has sky rocketed with job opportunities scarce and no sign of the nation dragging itself out from recession.
The chances of finding full time professional jobs in Portugal as an English speaking foreigner are difficult and the Portuguese economy has been shrinking for a long time. Each year around 70,000 graduates enter the Portuguese jobs market and with the level of unemployment many of those people have been forced to look for work in other parts of the EU.
To land a job you have to have all the skills needed by the employer including usually the ability to speak Portuguese and English. If you are looking to improve your language skills you could take a language course in Portugal. Knowing other European languages will also make you stand out from the crowd.
Seasonal and Summer Jobs in Portugal
Thousands of foreigners do find employment in Portugal every year though, industries which hire most English speakers include travel and tourism, hotels and hospitality. Seasonal positions including summer jobs in Portugal are really popular, the Algarve is a top destination to go. Lots of sports instructor companies also hire staff, for example working as a surf, scuba, or yoga instructor.
Guide to Working in Portugal
Work Permits
EU citizens are not required to have a work permit in order to be employed in Portugal. Non-EU citizens are required to hold a work permit and/or a residence permit in order to be legally employed in the country. Applications have to be made at a Portuguese consular office in their home country before arriving in Portugal. Professional workers such as doctors, lawyers etc must validate their home-nation credentials with a Portuguese equivalent.
Salaries
Currently the minimum wage in Portugal stands at €740 per month, the average monthly salary in Portugal is between €700 and €3000 depending on the industry and employer. This kind of wage will give you enough money to live off but not enough to fulfil an extravagant lifestyle. Salaries are usually paid in monthly instalments by direct debit.
Holidays
Every employee is entitled to a minimum of 22 days paid holiday each year. This does not include the thirteen public and bank holidays.
Working hours
May not exceed eight hours per day or 40 hours per week. However, by means of a collective bargaining agreement the normal working hours can be increased by up to four hours per day, provided the working week does not exceed 60 hours. An individual arrangement may be made between the employee and the employer to increase daily working time by up to two hours, provided the average working week does not exceed 50 hours over a two-month period. The working day must be broken by a period of between one and two hours to avoid employees working for more than five hours in a row.
Portuguese VISAs
Depending on your nationality, you may require a residence permit/work permit/visa to live in Portugal, make sure you understand your situation and organise the relevant paperwork before you go!
Residency
As an EU citizen you might not require a visa to live in Portugal, but you will need a residence card (autorização de residência) to be allowed to live permanently in the country. Applications need to be made at the nearest foreigners department or at an office of the Portuguese Ministry of internal affairs; these can be found in most major cities. When in Portugal you should always carry your foreign or Portuguese identity card or passport. You can be asked to produce your identification papers at any time by the Portuguese police or other officials, and if you don’t have them with you, you can be fined (although this is unlikely).
If you visit Portugal to look for work, you will have 180 days in which to find employment or establish a business and apply for a residence card.EU nationals who come to Portugal to work for a period of less than three months and seasonal workers whose work duration doesn’t exceed eight months, don’t require a residence card. Employees whose time working in the country will last longer than three months, but less than twelve have to acquire a temporary residence card.
EU nationals who visit Portugal with the intention of finding employment or starting a business have up to six months to find a job and apply for a residence card. However, if you don’t have a regular income or adequate financial resources your application will be refused. Failure to apply for a residence card within the specified time is a serious offence and can result in a heavy fine and even deportation.
Documentation required for applying for a residence card:
• Passport or identity card.
• Two current passport-type photographs.
• Notarized letter from employer stating expected duration of employment (if intending to work).
• Proof of health insurance.
• Criminal background check.
Currency
Portugal is a member of the European Union (EU) and the euro-zone. This means you can move from certain EU counties to others without having to exchange funds. However, it also means that the fortunes of one country have an effect on the currency of others.
Coins start with the 1 cent piece and end with the 2 euro piece whilst notes can be found in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euro denominations. Whilst the denomination side of the coins remains the same throughout the euro-zone the face side image varies from country to country.
Although foreign currencies can be changed into Euro’s at currency exchange kiosks at airports and banks (among other places) it is more important now than ever to transfer your funds at the right time. Getting the best exchange rate possible can save you money and really help your global transition. If you’re emigrating it’s strongly recommended that you seek advice from a trusted currency broker. TorFX are one of the most well known and trusted brokers out there.
Banks
If your stay in Spain is going to be of some duration you’ll probably need a Portuguese bank account. There are several national banks in Portugal, with the two largest being Santander Totta and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya (BBVA). There are also numerous regional banks.
As always, shop around and find the bank which offers the best services for you. If you deposit foreign currency into a Portuguese Bank account you will need to request immediately that it be converted to Euros. If you don’t you may encounter problems when you try to do it later.
In recent years bank ‘branches’ have been established in supermarkets and Portugal has the most developed European supermarket banking network (e.g. Banco Portuguese do Atlantico teamed up with Jeronimo Martins’ retail group to open branches called Expresso Atlantico in Pingo Doce and Feira Nova supermarkets, and in shopping centres). Supermarket outlets rely on telephone banking for personal banking services. There are no drive-in banks in Portugal.
There are also several foreign banks operating in Portugal, although there are fewer (with an overall smaller market share) than in most other European countries. Foreign banks are present in Lisbon and some also in Porto, but branches are rare in other towns, although in recent years branches have opened on the Algarve. Foreign banks include Barclays, Citibank, Deutsch Bank and Rheinhyp (a major German mortgage bank).
Most banks are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm (or from 8.30am to 11.45am and from 1 to 3pm in smaller towns) and are closed at weekends and on public holidays. In Lisbon and some resorts on the Algarve, some bank branches open in the evening to change money.
Best Portuguese Cities to Move to
If Portugal is the country of your expat dreams but you’re not sure where to settle then read all about the country’s top city Lisbon!
Lisbon
The largest city in Portugal and the nation’s capital, Lisbon boasts a population of over 547,631. The city is the largest westernmost city in Europe and the only capital city located along the Atlantic coast. Lisbons airport sees over 13 million passengers a year pass through its gates and the cities seaport is the second largest container port on Europe’s Atlantic coastline. Lisbon is one the oldest cities in the world predating cities such as London by centuries. Today the city is a hub of international business, trade and tourism and boasts a vibrant lifestyle as a result.
Top Tips for Finding Work in Portugal
Here are our top five tips for finding work as an Expat in Portugal.
Be prepared in advance
Explore the job market before you move, see what career options most suit you and your qualifications. Be aware that you may need to re-qualify or retrain to be applicable for the position you want. See if there are any skills you possess which are in demand. Make yourself marketable by knowing the market.
Refine your CV, and get it out there
CV’s are often formatted differently abroad, make sure yours is up to date and formatted correctly for the Portuguese market. Get your CV circulating through as many avenues as possible – utilise connections, new neighbours, local amenities etc. Put your CV on job sites and clearly present yourself to your target employers. Ensure you clearly state when you are available to start, and be realistic about how long it will take for you to be in a position to commit yourself to a contract.
Ensure that appropriate work permits are in place
Where possible get any and all paperwork out of the way prior to searching for work.
Embrace new career opportunities
When beginning a new career abroad you have to be aware that you may not be able to start work at the level you previously occupied. You may have to take a pay cut or demotion and re-work your way up the career ladder. You may even have to rethink what type of work you wish to do. Don’t be disheartened. The skills you used in your old job might not be in demand in Portugal, but maybe they could be differently applied or you could discover new ones!
It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know
Starting a new life abroad can be difficult, stressful and lonely. In general the quicker you get to know people the sooner you’ll settle in. Join clubs, or fitness classes, get out and about, socialise. Don’t be afraid of rejection, for every person who tells you to get lost there’ll be someone else who won’t. Hold a party, get to know you’re neighbours and take advantage of every useful contact you meet. Children are great for bringing people together (as long as they’re reasonably well behaved of course). Help your child make friends by signing them up for clubs, and help yourself make friends by dropping them off and picking them up. Joining an expat forum can also be an excellent way of meeting people who’ve been in the same position as you, and they can be an invaluable source of comfort and advice.