Stay compliant with Portuguese visa laws and work permit requirements with the help of our expert Portugal PEO services.
Incredibly important documents when looking to work, or employ people who will be working in Portugal, work permits and visas are an essential part of global business expansion which must be handled compliantly. Despite this, Portuguese work permits and visas can sometimes be challenging to acquire, and often can cost businesses valuable time, money and resources in the process.
Like several European countries, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are not required to obtain a work visa to live or work in Portugal. Employees who intend on working in Portugal for over six months however will need to obtain a Residence Certificate, also known as a Certificado de Registo. By comparison, non-EU nationals require a Portuguese work permit to be employed in the country.
In most cases too, the Portuguese work permit will only be available to non-EU nationals if they have a job offer or are married to a Portuguese citizen. In terms of permanent residence for employees working and living in Portugal also, workers have to have lived within the country for at least five years in order to qualify.
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With the help of our expert Portugal PEO services, our team can support you in securing the relevant work permits and visas for prospective employees within Portugal. In doing so, you can still focus on expanding your business internationally, whilst still adhering to strict Portuguese laws and mitigating the risk of non-compliance. Read on to find out more information about Portuguese work permits and visas, and how our PEO services can help guide you through the process.
What are the types of Portuguese work visas?
Non-EU citizens must obtain the correct visa to facilitate their residency and employment in Portugal. This can include:
- Short-Term Portuguese Work Visa - short-term work visas relate to temporary contracts which last less than six months. Open to employees and self-employed workers, subject to their evaluation by the IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional).
- Long-Term Portuguese Work Visa - this type of work visa is necessary for non-EU nations who are required to work in Portugal for more than six months. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Israel can apply for this within 90 days of arrival. Other non-EU nationals must obtain this visa before travelling to Portugal.
Obtaining the correct work visas for your employees in Portugal is an essential part of successful international expansion. Failure to acquire the necessary work visas could result in unwanted fines and in more extreme cases, imprisonment. Our Portugal PEO services can help to alleviate the stress of non-compliance and ensure each of your employees’ work permits and visas are dealt with correctly.
What are the types of Portuguese residence permits?
Depending on the employee’s qualifications and employment type, there are numerous types of Portuguese residence permits, including but not limited to:
- Residence permit for employees - a standard residence permit for most employees working in Portugal. The permit is valid for one year for up to five years, before applying for permanent residence.
- Residence permits for highly-skilled migrants - suitable for scientific researchers, academics and employees in highly-qualified professions.
- EU Blue Card - the Blue Card scheme acts as a Portuguese work visa and residency for highly-skilled workers from non-EU countries.
Understanding the requirements for each individual employee can be a complicated task, and one that you do not want to apply for incorrectly. Especially when employing a number of workers in Portugal, it is key that you have the expertise to confidently apply for the appropriate work permit and visa for each individual. In doing so, you are reducing your risk of non-compliance and preventing any mistakes from hindering your expansion process.
How do I apply for a Portuguese work visa?
For EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, employees will only need to apply for a Residence Certificate from the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrangerios e Frontieras, SEF) if they plan on working in Portugal for more than three months.
For non-EU nationals needing a work visa, the process is as follows:
- Obtain a job in Portugal and a signed work contract.
- Once signed, the employer must apply for a work permit on the employee’s behalf (Autorização de Trabalho).
- Once approved, the employee must apply for a work visa at their local Portuguese embassy or consulate with all their necessary documents.
The application process for a Portuguese work permit and visa can be time-consuming, especially if your company is hiring in Portugal for the first time. For this reason, it is advised that employers begin the application process in sufficient time before the employee is due to begin work. On average, this can take between 3-4 months including both the work permit and visa application.
How much does a Portuguese visa cost?
There are several fees associated with Portugal work visa applications, such as:
- €90 for the temporary visa that will allow entry into Portugal.
- €83 to submit your work residence permit application to SEF.
- €72 to collect your work residence permit from SEF.
Of course, these figures do not account for any incorrect forms which are submitted or even extra correspondence, which will not only delay the application process, but may also incur higher fees as a result. Ensuring this process is dealt with compliantly and accurately from the beginning can guarantee a smoother expansion process.
Why use a PEO partner to obtain Portugal work permits and visas?
Without a doubt, facilitating your company’s expansion into Portugal requires the proper and compliant employee documentation. This can put extra strain on your existing workforce, as well as time and money on top of this. Other key aspects of international business growth, including payroll, employment contracts, national insurance, tax and more also require more resources in order to be handled compliantly.
By outsourcing to an expert PEO service like Leap29, we use our years of experience to efficiently and compliantly organise the correct employee work permits and visas for your workers in Portugal. To discuss how our specialists can assist you in your company’s expansion into Portugal, contact our expert team now.
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