Portugal : Help and advice abroad

Public employment services

The Portuguese Public Employment Service (Instituto do Emprego) is managed by the Ministerio Emprego e Segurança Social. The offices (centro do emprego) offer advice on training, opportunities and how to find work, as well as providing access to vacancies. There are 84 offices in Portugal.

You can also get contact details for EURES advisers in Portugal through EURES - European Job Mobility Portal.

Higher education careers support

• Some universities have careers services that can be used by foreign students.
• The University of Lisbon, for example, has several careers services across its campus. Students can enrol on Units of Active Life Insertion (UNIVAS), which provide employment information and help students to find jobs and training positions. Each faculty has a section about graduate employability. See individual universities’ websites for more information.
• The international office of individual universities’ will also be able to advise on this and other student support services available.

Help in an emergency

• The police, ambulance and fire services can be contacted by telephoning 112.
• A list of other useful numbers is available at Visit Portugal.
• Instituto da Juventude - aimed specifically at young people. In Portuguese.
• The British Embassy in Portugal supports UK citizens residing in Portugal and can assist with a wide range of issues, problems and queries.
• There are strong expatriate communities in Portugal who often have their own websites and can offer useful and practical information for foreign visitors. See, for example, Expats Portugal and Pure Portugal.