Portugal Info
Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 21
Home Country: portugal
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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject: WORK PERMITS IN PORTUGAL |
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WORK PERMITS IN PORTUGAL
If you don’t qualify to live and work in Portugal by birthright, family relationship or as a national of an EU country (or a European Economic Area country), obtaining a work permit may be difficult or even impossible.
If you’re an EU national, you don’t require official approval to live or work in Portugal, although you still require a residence card (autorização de residência). If you visit Portugal to look for work, you have 180 days in which to find employment or establish a business and apply for a residence card.
EU nationals who come to Portugal to work for a period of less than three months and seasonal workers whose work duration doesn’t exceed eight months, don’t require a residence card.
Employees whose work period will last more than three months and less than 12 months require a temporary residence permit valid for the duration of their employment contract. If the contract is extended, but the total (cumulative) period doesn’t exceed one year, the residence card will be extended for a period equal to the work extension. If the cumulative work period exceeds one year, the renewed residence card will automatically be valid for five years.
Documentation required when applying for work permit/residence permit:
- Passport or identity card
- 2 current passport-type photographs
- Notarized letter from employer stating expected duration of employment
- Proof of health insurance
- Criminal background check
- Proof of housing
Work permits are generally issued for six months initially, renewable at six-month intervals. Work permits must be approved by the Portuguese Ministry of Labour. The process may take up to three months.
Note: Professionals (doctors, lawyers, dentists etc.) must validate their home-nation credentials with an authorized board of Portuguese professionals prior to setting up practice. |
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