Jobs in Portugal for Foreign Workers: All Job Types, Pay and How It Really Works (2026)

Many people want to work in Portugal. Some jobs need a degree, but many do not. This guide lists the main job types for foreign workers in Portugal, what they pay and how the process really works. It helps you choose the right path and stay away from fake offers.

Read this first: Portugal changed its rules in October 2025. You now need a work contract, or a written promise of one, before you travel. Coming as a visitor and fixing the papers later is no longer possible.

The main jobs for foreign workers in Portugal

Farm work	Many seasonal jobs. Be careful with middlemen
Construction	Workers are wanted. Read the guide
Hotel, kitchen, cleaning	Seasonal visa possible. Read the guide
Truck driver	Companies hire from abroad. Read the guide
Factory and warehouse	Often the minimum wage. Read the guide
Care for old people	Portuguese needed

See how to apply

How much you can earn

In 2026 the minimum wage in Portugal is €920 a month before tax, paid 14 times a year. That is €12,880 a year. Helper jobs often pay the minimum wage or a little more, plus a meal allowance. Trained workers earn more.

From your pay, 11% goes to social security. Income tax depends on your salary.

If you have a trade

Electricians, plumbers, welders, mechanics, carpenters and cooks usually earn more than general workers, and employers look for them first. But a trade is only useful abroad if you can prove it:

Bring your training certificate and letters from past employers, with dates and the work you did.
Some trades, such as electrician and plumber, are regulated. You may need a local licence or an exam before you can work alone.
Photos or a short video of your work can help in an interview.

Which job is right for you?

If you are strong and like clear tasks, look at factory, warehouse and construction work.
If you have a clean licence and driving experience, driver jobs often pay more.
If you like working with people, look at hotel, kitchen and care work.
If you have a trade, apply in your trade first. It is the fastest way to better pay.

What you need before you can work in Portugal

For years, many people went to Portugal first and asked for papers later. That time is over. A new law has been in force since 22 October 2025, and the old way to become legal after arrival ended on 31 December 2025. Today the steps are:

See how to apply

A job offer. You need a work contract or a written promise of a contract from an employer in Portugal.
The job was offered in Portugal first. For the normal work visa, the job must be announced through the public job service, IEFP, and not be filled by a worker who is already in Portugal or Europe.
The work visa. You ask for it at the Portuguese consulate or its visa centre in your country, before you travel.
The residence permit. After you arrive, the migration agency, AIMA, gives you the residence permit.

The old visa to look for work is closed. A new one exists in the law, but only for highly qualified people, and it is not yet open at the consulates. There is also a visa for seasonal work of up to nine months, in fields such as farming, hotels and restaurants, and building. Nobody can promise you a visa.

Costs to plan for

Pay in Portugal is low and rent is high. In Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, a room can take half of a minimum wage, so many workers share. Rent is lower in small towns and inland. From your pay, 11% goes to social security, and income tax depends on your salary. You pay the visa fee and usually your travel. Ask the employer in writing if a room comes with the job, which is common in farm work and in some hotels. Portuguese helps you a lot at work.

How to apply safely

Read the visa rules on the website of the Portuguese foreign ministry and of the migration agency, AIMA.
Search for jobs on IEFP and EURES, and tell employers from the start that you need a work visa.
Ask the employer for a contract or a written promise of a contract.
Ask for the work visa at the Portuguese consulate in your country. Wait for it before you travel.
After you arrive, follow the steps of AIMA for the residence permit and register with social security.

These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.

Mistakes to avoid

Applying for every job you see. Choose the two or three job types that fit your experience.
Trusting adverts that promise “visa in 10 days” or “no interview”.
Travelling on a visitor visa to “find work there”. In most countries you cannot work on a visitor visa.
Paying anyone for a job offer.

Your rights as a worker in Portugal

You must get a written contract and at least the minimum wage.
The normal working time is 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. Extra hours must be paid at a higher rate.
You have 22 working days of paid holiday a year, and the pay comes in 14 parts, with extra payments in summer and at Christmas.
The employer must register you with social security. This gives you access to the public health service.
The labour inspection, ACT, takes complaints from workers for free.

See how to apply

Protect yourself from fake job offers

Never pay for a contract or a “promise of work”. Papers bought from an agent are often false, and the consulate checks them.
Do not believe anyone who says you can still enter as a visitor and become legal later. That way is closed.
Be careful with farm jobs offered by middlemen who also sell the travel and the housing. Many workers end up in debt.
Check that the company exists and has a real address and tax number in Portugal.

Questions people ask

Which job is easiest to get in Portugal without a degree?

Jobs with many open places and simple training: factory and warehouse work, cleaning, kitchen help and construction labour. Driver and trade jobs pay more but ask for a licence or proof of skill.

Is there an age limit?

You must be an adult. Employers decide who they hire. The visa rules are explained in this guide.

Can I go to Portugal as a visitor and get my papers there?

No. That way ended on 31 December 2025. You need the work visa before you travel.

Do I need to speak Portuguese?

For most jobs, yes, at least a basic level. In tourist areas English helps, but the team and the safety rules are in Portuguese.

More guides for Portugal

Last checked: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and pay change, so always confirm on the official websites before you decide. We are not a recruiter and we never ask for money.

See how to apply

These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.