Key takeaways
  • Portugal has a job seeker visa that lets you look for work on site.
  • Lisbon and Porto have many English speaking tech and service jobs.
  • Salaries are lower than in Northern Europe, and housing in Lisbon is expensive.
  • Portuguese helps in daily life and for long term careers.

Portugal has become a hub for international tech and service centres. It also offers a job seeker visa, which few European countries have.

Visas

Job seeker visaLook for work in Portugal for a limited period
Work visaWith a job offer or contract
Highly qualified activityFor skilled roles
EU Blue CardFor highly qualified jobs above the threshold

Check the current conditions on the official visa portal before applying.

The job market

Lisbon and Porto host tech companies, startups and service centres that hire in English, often for roles needing other European languages too. Find current roles on my Portugal jobs list.

An honest look

  1. Compare salaries carefully. They are lower than in Germany or the Netherlands.
  2. Plan housing early. Rents in Lisbon have risen sharply.
  3. Use Portugal as a base, not only a destination. EU experience can help you move later.

Common questions

Is the job seeker visa a work permit?

No. It lets you look for work; you then switch to a work permit once you have a job.

Do I need Portuguese?

Not in many international companies, but it helps a lot outside them.

Can I bring my family?

Family reunification is possible once you have a residence permit.

Sources

Written by Swapnil (Samadhan Mule)

I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.