Work: Immigration news in Portugal

How the State Budget ended up after the PSD's 'in extremis' agreement with the PS

Brazilian man swaps welding for manicuring in Matosinhos

Wesley Martins, originally from Minas Gerais, left his job as a welder to become a nail technician at his wife's salon in Matosinhos, in the Greater Porto area. He says he now earns more and has more time for his family.

Immigrants have higher employment rates in Portugal than in the EU, but remain overqualified

Although the employment rate for immigrants in Portugal exceeds the EU average, many workers are employed in roles below their level of qualification.

Portugal signs agreement for the integration of Indonesian workers in the fishing sector

Portugal has established a formal agreement to facilitate the hiring and integration of workers from Indonesia into its domestic fishing industry.

TV RECORD Europa11 Oct

Over 50% of immigrants in Portugal are in jobs below their qualification level

Teachers waiting tables, nurses working as elderly caregivers, and physiotherapists driving ride-sharing vehicles: a study by the Migration Observatory reveals that more than 50% of non-EU citizens in Portugal with higher education are overqualified for their jobs, a rate significantly higher than the European average. The report highlights structural issues, such as instability and job insecurity, and recommends accelerating the recognition of foreign qualifications to better align skills with the labour market.

dnbrasil.dn.pt10 Oct

Over 50% of immigrants in Portugal are in jobs below their qualification level

A study by the Migration Observatory reveals that more than 50% of foreign nationals in Portugal are overqualified for their jobs, with teachers and nurses often working in roles such as ride-hailing drivers or hospitality. In 2025, 52.3% of non-EU citizens with higher education were overqualified, compared to 14.1% of Portuguese nationals, a disparity significantly higher than the EU average. The report also highlights that immigrant workers face greater job instability, higher risks of in-work poverty, and more temporary contracts. Experts recommend accelerating the recognition of foreign qualifications and creating better pathways for professional mobility to address these structural inequalities.

Portugal and Indonesia sign agreement for mutual recognition of maritime certificates

Portugal and Indonesia have formalised a bilateral agreement to mutually recognise maritime professional certifications between the two nations.

Jornal Económico9 Oct

Immigration “green lane”: 72% of visas are for workers from Asia, 25% from Africa

Protocol for hiring workers in countries of origin has received over 21,600 applications in a year and a half. 12,000 visas have been issued, with agriculture and construction accounting for 92%.

The Leading Alternative for H-1B Professionals is the New Portugal HQA Residency Study Finds

mykxlg.com3 Oct

Melo Alves adds Bruno M. Cardoso to the Asian Desk team

Melo Alves strengthens its Asian Desk team with associate Bruno M. Cardoso. The lawyer joins from ASA Lawyers. His experience and connection to the Asian market, combined with his knowledge in immigration, mobility, and foreign investment, are a significant asset for the growth of the Asian Desk and the firm.

Two men and a Spanish company allegedly aided illegal immigration

The defendants are accused of bringing in and exploiting foreign workers in Elvas to illegally introduce them into the labour market. They allegedly profited more than 324,000 euros from these practices.

Mozambique wants to send victim of xenophobia to Portugal

The Mozambican President says the Executive has registered the professional qualifications of citizens repatriated from South Africa. Daniel Chapo mentioned a “labour agreement” with Portugal and the Emirates.

Immigrants drive growth in ride-hailing services

The sector saw a 9% increase in drivers over the past year, driven by a significant rise in drivers from Bangladesh (35%), Cape Verde (29%), and Pakistan (20%).

“Brazilians in Portugal are a blessing. May more come,” says businesswoman

Faced with the labour shortage affecting the restaurant sector, Sofia Lemos, owner of Sabores do Lima, states that Brazilian workers have been vital to keeping businesses running.

11 PM. Iran reached an agreement with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz

This was announced today by the spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, water levels in the Danube River have reached their lowest point in the last 30 years.

Young people, families and skilled workers: who are the new Angolans in Portugal

An analysis of the demographics and professional profiles of the recent wave of Angolan immigrants arriving in Portugal.

Young immigrants in Bragança are an asset to the region's economy

Twenty percent of students at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança are from Portuguese-speaking African countries. These students have been an asset to the region, and not only after they finish their degree.

Portugal’s Immigration Curbs Deepen Construction Labour Shortage Amid Housing Crisis

news.brgbuildingsolutions.com24 Jul

How is a xenophobe born? Using archive footage and animation, Samir tells his story and that of many immigrants

The odyssey of emigration and foreign labour in Switzerland is the backdrop for the documentary 'The Prodigious Transformation of the Working Class into Foreigners', by Swiss-Iranian director Samir

More than 1,500 Mozambicans recruited to work in Portugal in the first half of the year

More than 1,500 Mozambicans were recruited in the first half of the year to work in Portugal in sectors facing labour shortages, half of them through the Institute for Employment, the President of the Republic told Lusa this Tuesday, highlighting the integration of the community. “The Mozambican community in Portugal is well integrated. We are already implementing the labour agreement...

More than 1,500 Mozambicans recruited to work in Portugal in the first half of the year - PR

The President of the Republic reported that over 1,500 Mozambican citizens were recruited for employment in Portugal during the first six months of the year.

Government attempts to repatriate Mozambicans deceived by false job promises in Portugal

Preliminary information provided by the citizens currently in Portugal indicates that they arrived in the country at the invitation of labour recruitment agencies and are now left stranded.

Politicians with form and no substance - listeners

We answer questions about the current political path and the potential favouring of populists. Also, we discuss the real contribution of unskilled immigration to the country.

Bad weather: Mission Structure wants immigrant labour for reconstruction and forests

The Mission Structure for the Reconstruction of the Country's Central Region is coordinating with the Government, AIMA, and the “main forestry sectors” to identify specialized workers.

Immigration boosts productivity in advanced economies, ECB reveals

A study by Gaetano Basso, Mitali Mathur, and Giovanni Peri shows that immigrants tend to be more qualified than the native population, that there is no saturation, and that restrictive policies have a negative impact on productivity.

Immigration: it was the economy, stupid!

It was the economy, more than the law, that determined migratory fluctuations. Even so, we are aging and the active population only grew thanks to immigrants. The question is not whether 14% is too much. It is what we would be without them. They put pressure on public services because we prepared them for a demographic desert. We receive low-skilled and disintegrated immigration because that is what the extractive economic model with little added value absorbs. The question is not who enters. It is changing what the country offers. To them and to us.