144,000 Foreigners looking for work in Portugal

5 January 2023

The number of foreign workers who signed up for the IEFP - Institute for Employment and Vocational Training in the last two months of 2022 to signal their availability to work in Portugal rose to 144,000, as indicated by the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho.

 

At issue is the new job search Visa, created when the law of permanence in Portugal was amended, in August 2022, providing the possibility for foreigners who wish to live and work in Portugal of registering through the IEFP website.

 

The changes introduced by Law no. 18/2022, of 25th August to the legal regime of entry, stay, departure and removal of foreigners from Portuguese territory came into force on 30th October 2022.

 

The main goal of this new Law was to implement simplification measures regarding the procedures of obtaining visas to enter Portugal and created a few new categories of visas, namely the Work Search Visa, which was created solely for those who are looking for a job, as well as to exercise a dependent work activity, as long as the holder complies with the general requirements for obtaining a Visa

 

All foreign citizens who intended to enter Portugal and search for a job can apply for the Work Search visa, which is granted for a maximum of 180 days: Initially granted for 120 days, and close to the end, the applicant may ask for an extension of additional 60 days.

 

After the formalization of an employment contract during this period, the holder of a Work Search Visa will acquire the right to apply for a residence permit.

 

Although it is relatively easy to apply for the Work Search Visa, the requirements of the application are as follows:

  • Proof of a return ticket to his home country in case the holder is not able to find a new job.
  • The applicant will have to submit an expression of interest to register with the IEFP, stating that after entering Portugal he/she will register with Institute for Employment and Vocational Training to look for work.

 

Once the 180 days validity limit of the visa for looking for work has expired, without an employment relationship having been established, the visa holder must leave the country and can only re-apply for a new visa for this purpose, one year after the expiry of the previous visa's validity.

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