Work visa: how to move to Portugal for a job
Moving to Portugal for a job with a Portuguese employer: the work visa route, the job offer and contract, applying at the consulate and AIMA.
What this guide will cover
- Who the work visa is for
- The job offer and contract
- Applying at the consulate
- After arrival: AIMA
- Changing employer
Official sources
We check our guides against these official pages. If something has changed, the official source wins.
Need help?
Official bodies and services related to this guide. Sponsored listings are always labelled.
- Official Immigration & residency
AIMA — Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum
The public agency that handles residence permits and renewals for non-EU nationals. It took over these functions from the former immigration service, SEF, in 2023. Start here for current procedures and appointment channels.
- Languages
- Portuguese, English
- Where
- Nationwide
- Official Immigration & residency
Portuguese Visa Portal (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Official information on national (D) and short-stay visas, the documents required and applying through consulates abroad.
- Languages
- Portuguese, English
- Where
- Nationwide · online
- Official Immigration & residency
gov.pt — Public Services Portal (formerly ePortugal)
The government's single entry point for public services, with step-by-step guides to registrations and certificates, and the list of in-person Citizen Spots (Espaços Cidadão).
- Languages
- Portuguese, English
- Where
- Nationwide · online
How to rent a flat in Portugal: a step-by-step guide for foreigners
How to rent a flat in Portugal: where to search, documents, deposit and advance rent, the lease, tenant rights, typical rents and scams to avoid.
-
Rental Deposits in Portugal: Rules, Refunds and Tenant Rights
How rental deposits (caução) work in Portugal: the legal cap, advance rent, guarantors, getting your deposit back, tenant rights and the proposed 2026 reform.
Tax Residency in Portugal: The 183-Day Rule Explained
When you become tax resident in Portugal: the 183-day rule, the habitual residence test, split-year residency, treaty tie-breakers and registering at Finanças.