8 de May, 2025
If your plan is to relocate to Portugal, but you don’t have a source of passive income or a remote job you can bring with you, it will be essential to find a local job to support yourself. But is it easy to get a job in Portugal? Are salaries compatible with the cost of living? Are there good job opportunities in Portugal for expats?
The answer is: it depends. The Portuguese job market does have challenges, especially for those who arrive without planning or without the proper documentation. But there are also growing sectors, jobs for different skill levels, and a constant demand for labor in specific areas. With organization and the right information, working in Portugal can be an excellent gateway to a life with quality, safety, and new prospects.
In this guide, we’ve gathered everything you need to know to start your journey on the right foot: types of visas, how the job market works, in-demand professions, salaries, taxes, and where to find the best opportunities.
Realizing your goal of living in Europe or obtaining European citizenship can be simpler than you think. We offer personalized support to make the immigration process more accessible and uncomplicated.
The path almost always starts with job searching. There are several specialized job websites that allow you to search even while still in your home country (see below).
Another important step is to adapt your resume to the European model, highlighting relevant experiences, languages, and key skills for the position you are seeking. Having a good cover letter is also a plus, especially in more formal recruitment processes.
Finally, mastering Portuguese and, if possible, other languages such as English or French is a great advantage. Although some jobs do not require immediate fluency, being able to communicate well significantly increases your chances of entering the job market in Portugal.
You don’t necessarily need to have Portuguese citizenship or any other European citizenship to work legally in Portugal. Having citizenship makes the process easier, but it is not a requirement.
If that’s not your case, you’ll need to apply for an appropriate work visa and be legally residing in the country.
For those with other European citizenships, such as Spanish or Italian, it’s enough to request a CRE – Certificate of European Registration to work legally in Portugal.
Those who already have a job offer can apply for the traditional work visa.
Professionals with higher education in strategic areas can apply for the D3 visa, aimed at highly qualified workers.
Entrepreneurs with innovative projects may apply for the Startup Visa, provided they meet the program’s criteria.
For those who don’t yet have a job, there is the Job Seeker Visa, which allows you to legally reside in Portugal for up to six months while looking for an opportunity.
If the goal is to work as a freelancer or start a business, there’s the D2 visa.
Another alternative is to obtain a student visa, which allows you to combine studies and work (up to 20 hours per week during the academic period).
Important: a tourist visa does not allow you to work legally in Portugal! Moreover, the “Manifestação de Interesse” (Expression of Interest), a process for legalizing irregular residents through an employment contract, is currently suspended in Portugal. Don’t stay illegally. Talk to Atlantic Bridge!
There are several websites that can be very helpful when looking for a job in Portugal — both for those already in the country and for those still planning to move.
Check out some options:
The most practical way to start is by checking the main job portals in Portugal. You can filter by area, location, contract type, and experience level.
Net-Empregos – One of the best-known platforms in the country, with a high volume of listings — especially for operational, technical, and mid-level roles.
Sapo Emprego – Very intuitive, with good options in various regions. It’s used by both small businesses and large corporations and may offer good opportunities in mid-sized cities.
Indeed.pt – The local version of the global platform, offering a wide range of listings — from operational to technical and corporate roles. Allows you to create alerts, save CVs, and apply directly through the site.
CareerJet – Works as a job aggregator, collecting listings from other websites and companies. Useful for getting an overall view of available opportunities in the country.
Emprego XL and Jobrapido – Also aggregators and may be useful as a complement, but be sure to check the publication date and the source of each job.
LinkedIn is widely used by recruiters in Portugal, especially for mid- and high-level jobs. Keep your profile updated, well-structured, and with keywords from your field to increase your chances of being noticed. Also, follow companies of interest and activate job alerts.
Another option is Facebook groups, common in cities like Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and Coimbra. Informal job postings are frequent in areas like tourism, restaurants, cleaning, construction, and home care. However, always be cautious and check the legitimacy of each posting.
Depending on your field, it may be more productive to focus on specific platforms. Some examples:
Carga de Trabalhos – Ideal for professionals in communication, marketing, design, and audiovisual fields.
ITJobs.pt – Focused on technology and software development.
Turijobs.pt – Specialized in tourism, hospitality, and food services.
EURAXESS – A repository of opportunities for researchers, academics, and scientists, affiliated with the European Union.
Hospital da Luz, CUF, Lusíadas – For healthcare professionals, the websites of major hospital networks also publish job openings directly.
Besides job boards, there are recruitment agencies and specialized consultancies. Companies like Randstad, Hays, Manpower, Adecco, Page, and Multipessoal help with the selection of qualified professionals and offer support with CVs and interviews.
Career transition consultancies are recommended for those seeking personalized guidance when entering the job market in Portugal — especially in international moves. These services are usually paid but can speed up the process and increase your chances of success.
If you intend to work in a regulated profession in Portugal, such as lawyer, engineer, or doctor, you will need to go through formal diploma recognition or validation processes and, in many cases, register with the appropriate professional body.
For non-regulated professions, diploma recognition is not mandatory. Still, having your qualifications recognized can strengthen your resume and ease access to better job opportunities.
Learn how to get your medical degree recognized in Portugal.
The Portuguese job market has proven dynamic in recent years, with significant growth in strategic sectors. The latest data from IEFP (2024) and PORDATA indicate the following sectors as the country’s largest employers:
1.Tourism, Hospitality and Catering: One of the top hiring sectors, especially in Lisbon, Algarve, and Madeira. According to INE, tourism accounted for about 15% of the Portuguese GDP before the pandemic and has grown significantly again in 2023 and 2024. In-demand roles include receptionists, cooks, waiters, housekeepers, and transfer drivers.
2.Information Technology (IT): A rapidly growing sector with a demand for qualified professionals far exceeding supply. According to Startup Portugal, over 2,500 startups were active in 2024, and Lisbon was named one of Europe’s top five cities to work in tech (Source: Startup Blink 2024). High-demand roles: developers, data analysts, cybersecurity specialists, UX/UI designers.
3.Construction and Public Works: There is a shortage of workers to meet the increasing demand for public and residential construction, particularly in large cities and coastal areas. The sector is hiring more and more foreigners — including Brazilians — with or without previous experience. Key roles: bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters.
4.Health and Personal Care: The aging Portuguese population is increasing the demand for healthcare professionals and caregivers. Therefore, the Portuguese government has made it easier to hire foreign doctors and nurses to work in the SNS (National Health Service). In-demand profiles: elderly caregivers, nursing assistants, nurses, doctors (with recognized diplomas).
In 2025, the national minimum wage in Portugal is €870 gross per month. The average monthly salary in the country was €1,602 in 2024, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Salaries in Portugal are generally paid in 14 annual installments: 12 months of regular pay, plus two mandatory bonuses — the holiday bonus and the Christmas bonus. However, some companies choose to pay these amounts in twelfths, meaning they are spread across the 12 months of the year.
In addition, it is important to note that the maximum limits for regular working hours are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with some exceptions provided for in the National Labour Code.
Despite growing interest in Portugal as a work destination, it’s important to remember that the country is not known for offering high salaries compared to other European nations. Many foreigners arrive expecting to get rich quickly and end up frustrated. Still, some careers stand out in terms of pay, particularly those related to technology and healthcare.
Based on updated data from PORDATA, Indeed and Glassdoor, here are the approximate averages by profession in 2024:
| Profession | Average Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | 2,200 – 3,500 |
| Civil Engineer | 1,500 – 2,800 |
| Doctor (with specialization) | 3,000 – 5,000 |
| Nurse | 1,200 – 1,800 |
| Nursing Assistant | 950 – 1,200 |
| Electrician | 1,000 – 1,400 |
| Cook | 950 – 1,300 |
| Waiter | 800 – 1,100 |
| Construction Worker | 900 – 1,400 |
| Cleaner | 800 – 1,000 |
| Graphic Designer | 1,200 – 2,000 |
| Accountant | 1,300 – 2,100 |
| Sales / Customer Service | 900 – 1,200 |
Portuguese law guarantees 22 working days of vacation per year, in addition to public holidays. These days are counted from Monday to Friday, excluding weekends and holidays.
The rules for taking vacation include:
Portugal provides for different types of contracts:
⚠️ Although informal situations exist, working without a contract is not allowed by law and carries serious legal and labor risks.
Working in Portugal is an excellent opportunity to live in a safe country, with a pleasant climate, functional public services, and access to the European Union. However, it is essential to go through this process legally and with proper planning, meeting the requirements for visas, work contracts, and documentation.
❗ Do not come to Portugal without proper planning and documentation.
At Atlantic Bridge, we help foreigners and their families make this transition safely, providing guidance on visas, legalization, job opportunities, and integration in the country.
Contact us and find out how to make this goal a reality.
Realizing your goal of living in Europe or obtaining European citizenship can be simpler than you think. We offer personalized support to make the immigration process more accessible and uncomplicated.
Author:
Silvia Resende
Queima das Fitas (Burning of the Ribbons) is a party that takes place every year in several cities in Portugal and celebrates the end of the academic year for university students. See the 2025 schedule!
Author:
Atlantic Bridge
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