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  • Home
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  •  /  Country Overviews
  •  /  Portugal
  • Country Overviews

Portugal

At a Glance

Capital Lisbon
Language Portuguese
Population 10,197,000
GDP Total $240.8 billion
GDP Per Capita $23,477.70
Assessing Travel and Visa Obligations

 

When traveling to Portugal, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

 

Traveling for Business

 

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Portugal, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

  • » Attend business or sales meetings
  • » Buy goods for sale outside the country
  • » Tour a company facility
  • » Sign contracts
  • » Attend a trade show or seminar convention

 

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Portugal?

Nationals of the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter and conduct business activities in Portugal.

Portugal is a member of the Schengen Area, a free-travel zone comprised of 27 European countries. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver in the Schengen Area, you will be required to obtain a Schengen C Visa prior to travel. Visa-waivered nationals, as well as those who are required to obtain a visa, are authorized to travel to Portugal and throughout the Schengen Area. Please note that travelers may not spend more than 90 days within any 180-day period inside the Schengen Area.

 

Working in Portugal

 

What types of activities require work authorization?

The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Portuguese law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Portugal, even if conducted for a short duration.

  • » Project implementation
  • » Conducting repairs
  • » Consulting

 

If I am traveling to Portugal for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Portugal. The most common types of work authorization for Portugal are:

  • » Temporary Stay Visa (short-term work authorization for assignments and local hires)
  • » Residence Visa and Residence Permit (long-term work authorization for local hires and assignees)
  • » Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) Permit (work authorization for managers, specialists, and trainees transferred from a company based outside the EU to a host entity in Portugal that belongs to the same company or group of companies)
  • » EU Blue Card (work authorization for highly-skilled direct hires)
  • » Digital Nomad Visas:
    • » Temporary Stay Visa for Digital Nomads (for stays of up to one year)
    • » Residence Visa for Digital Nomads (for stays of more than one year)
  • » Jobseeker Visa

 

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

Nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland are not required to obtain a work permit in order to work in Portugal. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in Portugal.

 

What else should I know?

 

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which governs post-Brexit relations between the EU and the U.K., has altered immigration regulations in the affected countries. Please be sure to contact your immigration representative for full details regarding the TCA's impact in Portugal.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

 

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.


News and Events

20 Jun 23

Online consular services platform launched

Portugal

16 May 23

Travel permissions for nationals of CPLP countries clarified

Portugal

15 Mar 23

Online residence permit made available to Portuguese-speaking countries

Portugal

15 Feb 23

Residence permits automatically extended

Portugal

4 Nov 22

Job Seekers visa introduced

Portugal

27 Sep 22

Digital Nomad visas to be introduced

Portugal

7 Jul 22

COVID-19: Entry requirements lifted

COVID-19 Portugal

6 Jul 22

COVID-19: Entry requirements lifted

COVID-19 Portgual

29 Jun 22

COVID-19: Health, entry requirements eased

COVID-19 Portugal

30 Sep 21

COVID-19: Internal restrictions, health measures to be reduced

COVID-19 Portugal

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At a Glance

Capital Lisbon
Language Portuguese
Population 10,197,000
GDP Total $240.8 billion
GDP Per Capita $23,477.70

Related News

  • Online consular services platform launched

    PORTUGAL   20 Jun 23

  • Travel permissions for nationals of CPLP countries clarified

    PORTUGAL   16 May 23

  • Online residence permit made available to Portuguese-speaking countries

    PORTUGAL   15 Mar 23

  • Residence permits automatically extended

    PORTUGAL   15 Feb 23

  • Job Seekers visa introduced

    PORTUGAL   4 Nov 22

  • Digital Nomad visas to be introduced

    PORTUGAL   27 Sep 22

  • COVID-19: Entry requirements lifted

    PORTUGAL   7 Jul 22

  • COVID-19: Entry requirements lifted

    PORTUGAL   6 Jul 22

  • COVID-19: Health, entry requirements eased

    PORTUGAL   29 Jun 22

  • COVID-19: Internal restrictions, health measures to be reduced

    PORTUGAL   30 Sep 21

  • COVID-19: Border measures, flight restrictions updated

    PORTUGAL   21 Sep 21

  • Minimum wage to increase

    PORTUGAL   9 Jan 19

  • EU directives implemented, new online portal launched

    PORTUGAL   16 Nov 18

  • Portugal joins Canada’s IEC Program

    CANADA, PORTUGAL   3 May 18

  • New salary minimum for foreign workers takes effect

    PORTUGAL   5 Jan 18

  • Portugal moves to implement ICT directive

    PORTUGAL   31 Oct 17

  • Portugal implements EU posted worker requirements

    PORTUGAL   6 Jul 17

  • Portugal institutes border checks for visit from pope

    PORTUGAL   11 May 17

  • Strikes expected to cause delays in coming months

    PORTUGAL   17 Jan 17

  • New law requires translations of all supporting documents

    PORTUGAL   17 Apr 15

  • ‘Golden Visa’ corruption probe causing processing delays

    PORTUGAL   17 Nov 14

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