Work in Portugal

Published on

The 1960’s saw a steady migration of the younger Portuguese workforce, and this has been accelerated by Portugal’s entry into the EU. It is calculated that 4.5 million Portuguese now work outside the country. Work for immigrants in Portugal is available providing you have a good knowledge of Portuguese, a language not dissimilar to Spanish, but different enough to be confusing if you already have some knowledge of Spanish.

Those wishing to make a new life in Portugal really need to undertake an intensive course in the language before seeking employment, particularly if you looking to work further north in Portugal. Even if you intend to live in the depth of the country, with no near neighbours, you still need to be able to converse in Portuguese, as being able to speak the language and understand what is being said to you will help you integrate much more smoothly into the life of the community. Although it is fair to say if you choose to live in some of the more touristic areas and more so the Algarve, you will find most people will speak with a good level of English and will be easier for English speakers to find work.

As with all participating members of the European Union, a work permit is not a requirement if you are coming from another EU country,but to obtain employment you will be required to provide evidence of residency. Non EU citizens will need work permits, and these should be obtained from the Portuguese consulate in their home country before relocating to Portugal.

For further information on Employment in Portugal, contact the Portugal Property team via email at: info@portugalproperty.com or call free on 0800 014 8201

Published in: Business