Portugal Introduces Work Visa Requirement for Foreign Job Seekers

 

Foreigners wishing to work in Portugal will now need to apply for a work visa at a Portuguese consulate before entering the country, following new regulations approved by the government.

Previously, foreign citizens could enter Portugal on a tourist visa, secure a job, and then apply for a residence permit. With the new requirements, most foreigners will need to obtain a work visa prior to arrival, as announced by Presidency Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro.

“Portugal needs regulated immigration,” Leitao Amaro stated at a press conference near Lisbon after a cabinet meeting where the plan was approved. “Rules without supervision lead to the limbo and indignity that many immigrants face.”

In 2023, the number of foreign residents in Portugal increased by 33% to a record one million people, about 10% of the country’s population, according to government data.

The center-right minority government also plans to enhance border controls, create a task force to address the backlog of over 400,000 visa applications, and invest in centers to support migrants living under difficult conditions, Leitao Amaro added.