Job Seeker Visa for Portugal: What Changed in 2025 and Who Can Apply

For three years, Portugal had a visa that allowed people to enter the country just to look for a job. It was created in 2022, became known among Brazilians as the "job seeker visa" and was open to people in any field. In October 2025, Law 61/2025 changed this visa: it was renamed the visa to seek qualified work and was restricted to people with the technical skills to be defined by a Government ministerial order (portaria).

As of October 1, 2026, this ministerial order has not yet been published, and the visa portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, MNE) states that the visa is not available at Portuguese consular posts. This article explains what changed, what the law already provides, who is expected to be covered and what the alternatives are for people who want to work in Portugal now.

What the visa was like until October 2025

The job seeker visa was created by Law 18/2022, which added Art. 57-A to the Foreigners Act (Lei de Estrangeiros) (Law 23/2007). In its original wording, the visa:

• allowed the holder to enter and stay in Portugal in order to look for work, provided the general requirements of Art. 52 were met;
• authorized the holder to work as an employee until the visa expired or until the residence permit was granted;
• was valid for 120 days, extendable by another 60, with one entry into Portugal;
• included an appointment for the residence permit, to be requested once the employment relationship was formalized.

There was no specific qualification requirement. Anyone who met the general conditions could apply.

What changed with Law 61/2025

Law 61/2025, of October 22, in force since October 23, 2025, gave Art. 57-A a new wording. The main changes:

• Restricted group: the visa can now only be granted to people with the technical skills to be defined in a ministerial order of the Government members responsible for foreign affairs, migration, education and labor (Art. 57-A(1)(a) and (5)).
• Work allowed: while the visa is valid, the holder may carry out highly qualified professional activity, and no longer any kind of employment (Art. 57-A(1)(b)).
• Name: the article is now titled "visa to seek qualified work".

The 120-day period, extendable by 60, the single entry, the residence permit appointment and the rule that, without a job within the period, the person must leave Portugal and can only apply for a new visa for the same purpose one year later were all kept (Art. 57-A(2) and (3)).

Law 61/2025 applies to procedures started after its entry into force (Art. 8).

What changed in 2026: a mandatory return ticket

Law 62/2026, of September 10, in force since September 11, 2026, amended Art. 52(2) of the Foreigners Act: the visa to seek qualified work now also requires a travel ticket that secures the return, as was already the case for temporary stay and short-stay visas.

The current situation: the visa cannot be requested yet

On the page of supporting documents for seeking qualified work, checked on October 1, 2026, the MNE states: "Not yet available at Portuguese consular posts. Awaiting the necessary regulations for Article 57-A of the Foreigners Act."

This means that, today:

• there is no official list of the technical skills that give access to the visa;
• there is no list of specific documents or dedicated form on the MNE portal;
• consulates and VFS do not accept applications for this visa.

Anyone who finds promises online of a "job seeker visa" available for any profession should be wary. The official information is on the MNE portal, and the law that restricted the visa is in the Diário da República (Portugal's official gazette).

Who should be able to apply once the ministerial order is published

The law does not define the professions covered; it leaves that to the ministerial order. What is already known from the legal text:

• the visa will be for people with the technical skills that the Government defines in the ministerial order;
• during the job search, only highly qualified activity will be allowed;
• the general requirements of Art. 52 still apply, such as a valid passport, means of subsistence, travel insurance, no impediments and, now, a return ticket;
• after starting work within the period, the holder will be able to apply for a residence permit, if they meet the general conditions of Art. 77.

When the ministerial order is published, it will be necessary to check the list of skills, the documents proving the qualification, the amount of means of subsistence and any transitional rules. We are following the topic and will update this article.

Alternatives for people who want to work in Portugal now

Without the job seeker visa, the route is to have the work arrangement defined before traveling. The main options are:

D1 visa: employment

For people with an employment contract or a promise of an employment contract with a company in Portugal, or an individualized expression of interest from the employer, when they have recognized qualifications suited to the role (Art. 59(5)). See the page on the D1 visa.

D3 visa: highly qualified activity

For teachers, researchers and highly qualified professionals with a contract, a promise of a contract or an invitation letter. For employment, the contract must last at least six months and pay at least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary or three times the IAS (Social Support Index) per year (Art. 61-A). The decision period for the visa is 30 days. See the page on the D3 visa. Companies certified under the Tech Visa program can issue a statement of responsibility for these professionals; we explain this in the article on Startup Visa and Tech Visa.

D2 visa: self-employment or entrepreneurship

For self-employed professionals with a contract or proposal for the provision of services and for people who will invest or open a company in Portugal (Art. 60). See the page on the D2 visa.

D8 visa: remote work

For people who will keep working remotely for a company or clients outside Portugal, with an average monthly income of €3,680 in 2026. See the page on the D8 visa.

Enter as a tourist and look for a job?

Brazilians can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa in the Schengen area, but this entry does not allow them to work or to apply for a residence permit in Portugal. The expression of interest (manifestação de interesse), which allowed people to regularize their status later, ended in June 2024, and Law 61/2025 now also requires a residence visa for the CPLP permit. The full comparison is on the page Visas for Portugal.

Why diploma recognition matters

Since the new visa and the main alternatives revolve around qualifications, it is worth preparing proof of your education now. Brazilian diplomas may need recognition in Portugal, and regulated professions require registration with the professional body. See the page on diploma recognition.

How Sene & Araújo can help

Sene & Araújo has lawyers admitted to the OAB and to the Portuguese Bar Association, with offices in São Paulo and Albufeira, and acts directly in the procedures in Portugal. We review your education, the job offer and your family, identify the visa that fits the case, review contracts and invitation letters, prepare the application at the consulate and follow the residence permit at AIMA. Talk to our team.

• Law 23/2007 — Foreigners Act (Lei de Estrangeiros), consolidated version (Arts. 52, 57-A, 59, 60, 61, 61-A and 77)
• Law 18/2022, of August 25 (creates Art. 57-A)
• Law 61/2025, of October 22 (Arts. 2 and 8; new wording of Art. 57-A)
• Law 62/2026, of September 10 (Art. 52(2))
• MNE — Qualified job seekers
• MNE — Processing times for national visas

Sene & Araújo Sociedade de Advogados team. Content prepared and reviewed by the firm's lawyers, admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados), with offices in São Paulo and Albufeira. The provisions cited were checked against the official sources listed above. Meet the team.