The Portuguese government launched the job seeker visa in 2022 to address the country’s skilled labour deficit. Without a job offer, non-EU nationals can enter Portugal on a visa.
The Portugal job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for a job; and authorizes him/her to carry out a subordinated work activity, until the visa expires or until the residence permit is granted.
This visa is granted for a period of 120 days, renewable for another 60 days and allows only one entry into Portugal.
The issuance of this visa supposes the attribution of a date of scheduling in the competent services, within the period of validity of 120 days of the visa, and it allows the applicant, after the formalization of the employment contract throughout that period, the right to apply for a residence permit. To do so, you must fulfil the general conditions for granting a temporary residence permit, under the terms of article 77 of the Law.
Once the maximum validity limit of the visa for looking for work has expired, without an employment relationship having been established nor the process of requesting the granting of a residence permit having begun, the visa holder must leave the country.
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In these situations, you can only re-apply for a new visa application for this purpose, one year after the expiry of the previous visa’s validity.
The request for a visa extension by a job seeker visa holder must be accompanied by proof of registration with the IEFP, I.P., and a declaration by the applicant indicating that the conditions of the planned stay are maintained, which will be assessed considering the reasons that justified its issuance.
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Benefits of Portugal Job Seeker Visa
The nicest thing about this work visa for Portugal is that you can apply without a job offer from a Portuguese company. You are free to enter the nation and hunt for employment that fits and needs your experience.
You also get the opportunity to freely investigate Portugal’s job market. Seeking employment within Portugal with a job seeker visa is preferable to searching for employment elsewhere. Employers will find hiring someone already in the country easier than someone outside of Portugal.
You can also stay in the country for 120 days, with the possibility of an extension of 60 days to look for employment.
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Portugal Job Seeker Visa Requirements
Here are the eligibility requirements for the Portugal job seeker visa:
1. Non- EU National
This visa is specifically made to attract talents from outside the EU, so you are not eligible for the visa if you are a citizen of any EU country.
2. Clean Criminal History
The Portuguese government is serious about checking the criminal history of people they allow to enter their country. If you have any record of having committed and being convicted of a criminal offence, the chances of getting a successful visa application are low.
Read on: How To Apply For Police Clearance Certificate in Ghana 2023
3. Valid Passport
Before applying for a job seeker visa, you must ensure your passport is valid. Its validity should extend to 3 months after the visa you are applying for must have expired.
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4. Health Insurance Requirement
Since you are not yet a tax resident, you cannot contribute to the Social Security System and, therefore, cannot access public healthcare. Hence, you must show the consulate that you have an insurance policy covering you while you look for work in Portugal. This policy should be worth at least €30,000.
5. Financial Requirement
Even though you are coming to Portugal to seek a job. You must prove you have enough money to care for yourself while looking for a job.
Typically, you need to show that you have the value of a month’s minimum wage in Portugal for 3 months. The minimum monthly salary is €760. So you must show you have at least €2,280 in savings before your visa is approved.
NOTE:
You must not be proficient in Portuguese before applying for a job seeker visa. However, this can help as knowing the language of the locals will help you integrate faster and get access to certain jobs. It is advisable, though, that you should know how to speak English if you do not know how to speak Portuguese. These are the two main languages spoken in Portugal, and knowing one or both will help you greatly.
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How To Apply: Portugal Job Seeker Visa
Application Process for Portugal Job Seeker Visa
Validity and Extension of Job Seeker Visa
Your Portugal job seeker visa is valid for 120 days (4 months). You can only enter Portugal once with the permit. Upon approval of your visa application, you are given a date within 4 months to get a job. If you do not get a job by that time, you can apply for an extension after the 120 days elapse.
The extension can only be done once and is valid for 60 days (2 months).
Portugal Job Seeker Visa Cost
The Portuguese government lists no specific cost. The fees you are required to pay depends on the country you are applying from. However, you can plan to pay:
- Between €75 to €80 at the Portuguese consulate or embassy you are applying from
- €170 for your resident permit. You must pay for this in Portugal so SEF can process your application
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Processing Time
There is no specific duration for the Portuguese authorities to process and make a decision on your application. The time is dependent on where you applied and the workload of the application centre at that time.
Typically, it takes anywhere from 30 to 90 days to get a decision on your application.
If you want to know the exact time it will take to decide, you may have to visit any embassy or consulate to know.
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