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Work in Portugal

AuthorProspects Editor
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Jobs in Portugal are available across sectors such as tourism, teaching and technology, but competition is strong. Understanding the job market, visa requirements and language expectations is key to success

As one of the world's leading tourist destinations, with its prime position on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is famous for sun, sea and beaches stretching for more than 500 miles.

It's no wonder that the country attracts many overseas workers seeking to enjoy the Mediterranean climate and lifestyle.

Casual work is common as the Portuguese economy relies heavily on tourism, resulting in an abundance of teaching English as a foreign language posts. However, competition for graduate jobs is fierce - especially in major cities such as Lisbon and Porto.

That's where a strong understanding of, and fluency in, Portuguese will set you ahead of other foreign candidates with little or no knowledge of the language. Taking a course in your home country before you start to look for work is recommended.

Jobs in Portugal

The services sector dominates the Portuguese economy, while jobs can also be found in:

  • aerospace
  • biotechnology
  • property
  • telecommunications.

Lisbon is something of a start-up hub, with IT being one of the country's key growth areas.

Popular graduate jobs

  • Biotechnology
  • Chemical products
  • Healthcare
  • IT
  • Pharmaceuticals.

Other major industries in Portugal include:

  • automobiles
  • construction
  • electronics
  • footwear
  • hospitality
  • textiles
  • tourism
  • transportation.

The capital city of Lisbon is home to a number of global companies including:

  • Accenture
  • AstraZeneca
  • Capgemini
  • Deloitte
  • Google
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Nestlé
  • Nokia
  • Siemens
  • Volkswagen.

Search for job vacancies in Portugal at:

Skills shortages

There's a shortage of skilled workers in:

  • communications (mainly call centre managers)
  • engineering and construction
  • healthcare (doctors and nurses)
  • hospitality
  • renewables and green technology.

How to get a job in Portugal

With such strong competition for jobs, European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) nationals should start looking for work as early as possible. If you're from outside the EU, such as the UK, you'll need to look for and secure a job before moving to the country.

For online applications, some employers may ask standard questions while others focus on open-ended questions. Cover letters should never exceed one side of A4, although CVs can be up to three pages long - but it's still advisable to aim for two pages. Unless otherwise specified, all applications should be made in Portuguese.

Networking is important for foreign nationals hoping to find work and speculative applications are welcomed, particularly at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Many companies use several rounds of interviews to filter candidates, while psychometric or technical testing is also common. It can take some time to discover the result of interviews, so be prepared to wait.

Summer jobs

Seasonal work in tourism can sometimes provide a launch pad into an entry-level graduate job, while also helping to improve your language skills.

There's a particular need for temporary workers in the hotel and catering industries and casual work can usually be found in bars and restaurants.

If you've gained some basic childcare experience, you may also be able to find work as an au pair.

Search for seasonal vacancies on sites such as:

Voluntary work is a useful option for many people heading abroad. Not only will it put your language skills to the test and help you understand more about Portuguese culture, it could help you create lasting contacts and enhance your CV.

This can be anything from placements in sport and culture to those focused on social care and the environment.

For successful applicants to EU schemes, such as those available through the European Youth Portal, accommodation, travel, food and insurance are all typically covered by a European grant and you may even receive a small monthly allowance.

To find volunteering opportunities run by dedicated organisations, visit:

Teaching jobs

Proficiency in English is a highly sought-after skill. There are a number of English language schools in the country and to teach here you'll generally need an undergraduate degree and a TEFL certification.

Organisations that provide TEFL training as well as teaching opportunities in Portugal include:

You don't need to be fluent in Portuguese upon arrival, as it's important to create an English-speaking atmosphere in the classroom.

You're more likely to find teaching work of this nature in cities such as:

  • Braga
  • Coimbra
  • Lisbon
  • Porto.

Contracts generally run from September to June and there are also opportunities to teach at summer camps.

For a directory of Portuguese language schools, see ESL BASE - TEFL courses in Portugal.

There are also opportunities to teach English through the British Council.

Internships

Internships and summer work placements for students can be arranged by:

  • AIESEC UK - students and recent graduates
  • IAESTE UK - for science, engineering and applied arts students.

Paid five-month, EU-based traineeships can be found at European Commission - Blue Book Traineeships.

Internships are also offered by:

Portuguese visas

UK nationals can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. To stay longer, they must apply for an appropriate long-stay visa (Type D) or residence permit.

Portugal offers various visas, including temporary-stay visas (up to one year) and residence visas (longer-term), as well as several work-related visas depending on employment type. Visit the Consulate General of Portugal in London to find out more about the types of visas and where to apply.

For standard employment visas, non‑EU nationals typically need a confirmed job offer before applying. However, there are also alternative pathways to residency, such as visas for:

  • entrepreneurs
  • remote workers
  • students
  • those with independent income.

After entering Portugal with a long-stay visa, applicants must apply for a residence permit through the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA).

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a visa or work permit to work in Portugal. If they stay longer than 90 days, they must register their residence with local authorities.

Language requirements

While many Portuguese people are able to converse in English, it's important to have a strong grasp of Portuguese before you consider working in the country.

Aside from the fact that it may help you stand out among other foreign workers, knowing the language will help when filling out application forms and making speculative applications.

While Portugal has a population of over ten million, Portuguese is spoken by more than 270 million people and is one of the top ten most spoken languages in the world.

There are many websites and courses around to help you learn, so do some research in your home country. Free beginner courses are available from the BBC and Loecsen.

Aside from knowing Portuguese, multilingual workers are often required in tourism hotspots, the property sector and call centres.

How to explain your qualifications to employers

Following the Bologna Process, UK qualifications are recognised by a large number of employers throughout the EU.

To find out more about the recognition of your qualifications, see Portuguese NARIC.

What it's like to work in Portugal

Usual business hours are 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with a one to two-hour break for lunch. The legal maximum is an eight-hour work day and 40 hours per week.

Full-time employees are entitled to 22 paid annual leave days per year. In addition, there are 13 public holidays.

The current minimum wage in Portugal is €920 per month (£794), which works out at €12,880 per year (£11,117), with 14 payments made during this period.

Find out more

Written by Prospects Editor

June 2026