I want to work in Portugal
- People intending to work as employees.
- Job-search visa holders who formalised an employment relationship.
- People choosing between employment, self-employment, remote work and highly qualified routes.
TRAB · route
Work can mean several different visa and residence routes.
Employment, job-search visas, self-employment, seasonal work, remote work, highly qualified activity and performing arts are not the same route.
Do not mix legal routes
Do not use the former Expression of Interest as if it were still open for new applications. The former Articles 88(2) and 89(2) were revoked for new cases in 2024.
Your route, step by step
What to check first
01
If you are still abroad
For employment, the residence-visa application is handled through the competent consular channel and depends on the employment basis required by current rules.
02
Job-search visa
A specific route exists; the employment relationship must be formalised and the applicable conditions met before the residence-permit stage.
03
If you are self-employed
Use the self-employment/entrepreneur route rather than the employee route.
04
If you work remotely for outside Portugal
Use the digital-nomad/remote-work route, which has its own visa and evidence.
Confirm before acting
Employment residence visa — gov.pt ↗Work/business guide — gov.pt ↗
Job-search visa residence route — AIMA ↗
Rules, channels and fees can change. The official source prevails at the time of filing.