Latest news and stories about work visa in work in Portugal for expats and residents.
Australia has suspended applications for its Work and Holiday visa program for Portuguese citizens. The Australian Department of Home Affairs cited high demand as the reason for the pause, which currently affects 23 countries participating in the program.
A year after the launch of the regulated labour migration protocol, over three thousand visas have been granted with an average processing time of 21 days, according to the Ministry of the Presidency.
'There is almost a green lane' for those who want to come to Portugal to work, considered Manuel Castro Almeida, pointing to the drop in the unemployment rate.
Starting 1 June, the Portuguese Consulate-General in Luanda will implement a new procedure for work visa applications, requiring prior consulate approval before scheduling an appointment at the VFS Global Visa Centre. This change applies to residence visas for subordinate professional activities and temporary stay visas for seasonal work exceeding 90 days. Applications must be submitted exclusively by companies based in Portugal or their legal representatives via a specific email address. The consulate aims to streamline the process and reduce reliance on general appointment slots. Additionally, from 20 May 2026, visa appeal submissions will be handled at VFS Global, and notary services will transition to an email-based scheduling system starting 1 June.
The Portuguese Consulate in Luanda has implemented a new requirement for prior authorisation for all work visa applications.
Changes come into effect on June 1st and aim to speed up processes
The Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP) is monitoring around one hundred work visa issuance processes under the Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labour Migration, known as the 'green lane', it announced on Wednesday, the 6th. Recognised by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) as a suitable entity to support companies in recruiting immigrant labour, the AIP ensures the preparation and monitoring of visa applications for foreigners wishing to work in Portugal. This mechanism allows for the reduction of visa issuance to a maximum of 20 days after consular service and guarantees priority scheduling at Portuguese consulates abroad. The initiative is part of the Government's Migration Action Plan and is intended to meet the needs of the national labour market within the new legal requirements for granting work visas. The agreement also allows for the submission of applications for groups of workers through a single procedure. According to the AIP, interest from companies 'has been significant, reflecting the persistent recruitment difficulties in various sectors of the Portuguese economy'. Government reverses migration logic: more visas at consulates, fewer applications within the territory.
Brazilian lawyer André Lima addresses the uncertainty surrounding the suspension of the job seeker visa in Portugal. He explains that the most secure alternative is to secure a job offer while still in Brazil, allowing for a residence visa application based on a work contract. Other options include the D2 visa for entrepreneurs and the Tech Visa for highly qualified technology professionals, reflecting a shift in Portuguese immigration policy toward pre-arranged employment and structured professional projects.
The Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP) is calling for the return of an expression-of-interest scheme for hospitality to tackle the sector's labour shortage, because, it says, the fast-track route introduced by the Government has so far brought 'no' workers to the sector.
