Jobs for foreigners in Portugal: everything you need to know (2023)

Finding the right career opportunity can be difficult, especially if you are considering moving abroad, as many job opportunities require specific language skills in addition to specialized knowledge. However, those who intend to go and settle in Portugal should not worry too much, as there are numerous job opportunities in Portugal for foreigners.

This article gives you an overview of jobs for foreigners in Portugal, as well as the Portuguese job market.

How to find a job as a foreigner in Portugal

Whether you're a digital nomad looking for a remote job opportunity, a student interested in a quick summer job, or a permanent resident looking to start a career in Portugal, you may want to learn some key facts about the job market in Portugal. Get to know Portugal and the sectors open to expatriates. This allows you to make the most informed decisions about future employment opportunities in the nation.

The labor market in Portugal

The accessibility of the Portuguese job market is different for those who speak English and those who speak Portuguese, since many opportunities depend heavily on interpersonal language skills. Despite this, more and more companies settle in Portugal and are especially looking for people who speak fluent English.

In general, Portuguese speakers have greater employment opportunities in specialized fields such as architects, accountants, engineers, doctors, and lawyers. There are still several jobs in demand that require English speakers. For example, there are manyDeveloper jobs in Lisbon in the IT and software sector, where the job market is currently open to foreign applicants.

In the last five years, Lisbon in particular has become a hub for start-ups and has expanded the number of English-speaking opportunities for foreigners. This increase in business creation activity was undoubtedly reinforced byWeb Summit Hosting. However, the start-up industry was not the only one that grew across the country; you will notice thatPortugal's tourism industry is booming, which makes it easy to get an English-speaking job there.

Restaurants, bars and hotels are constantly looking for English-speaking customers, especially in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, where tourism is at its peak. The only qualification you really need is your knowledge of English.

With even the most basic knowledge of Portuguese, your chances of finding employment in the tourism industry will increase significantly. However, salaries may not match those in the hotel industry in other countries, mainly due to the averageSalary in Portugalgenerally lower than in other countries.

On the other hand, if you are looking for easy summer jobs that allow you to spend your free time exploring the city and relaxing on the beach, consider this one.a job opportunity withone of someCall center based in Lisbon. The only requirements to get a job in customer service centers in Portugal are English or another European language.

Where are the jobs for foreigners in Portugal?

You can easily find English jobs in IT, tourism and hospitality, as well as multinational corporations, customer service centers and language schools. As some of these positions require a high level of English proficiency, being a native speaker already gives you a significant advantage.

Being bilingual or, better yet, trilingual has additional advantages. Portugal is home to major international companies, including Google, Amazon, and Uber. For all of these jobs in Portugal, speaking English and other European languages ​​is a key asset, as they all emphasize hard and soft skills, including verbal and communication skills. Most of these businesses will also require a college degree.

Some of the most sought after jobs for expats in Portugal are:

• Web developer (backend and frontend)
• Sales representative
• Kellner
• Kneipier
• Account Managers (not only in call centers but also in multinational companies with offices in Portugal)
• team manager
• Online gaming support
• real estate agent
• interpreters and translators
• Contador
• project Manager
• mobile test engineering

Remember:There are many companies looking for people who speak German, French or Spanish, for example. Here in Portugal, being able to speak and write two or more languages ​​is definitely an advantage.

Call center jobs for foreigners in Portugal

Getting a call center job is incredibly easy and requires almost no qualifications. You just have to be able to speak English. Any additional language is an advantage. Also, you need to keep your composure because cold calling can take many hours and hard work.

The call centers are mainly concentrated in Lisbon and Porto. Here are some of the biggest:

Connect-Gruppe

Connect-Gruppe(the website is in Portuguese) is located in Lisbon and Viseu. This is one of the best-known customer service centers in Portugal. In addition to the search for Portuguese-speaking employees, English and Spanish-speaking employees are also needed. They have over 400 employees and you can apply directly on their website.

teleacting

teleactingis a global call center with offices in Lisbon and Porto, Setúbal and Convilhã.

You can easily search for jobs on the site and filter your job search by language, including:

• russian
• Español
• Arabica
• Italian
• German

Roles at Teleperformance are sometimes direct to the company, and sometimes as a subcontractor to organizations like Microsoft, not limited to customer support but extending to other roles. Salaries start at €9 an hour, depending on the role, and employees generally speak positively of the office environment.

TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air PortugalIt's a great place to look for a job if you're a fan of travel and who isn't? You can search for call center jobs and other types of vacancies on their website. TAP is a respected company that employs hundreds of people.

Apple

The legendary American companyAppleit also has a permanent support center in Portugal. You are always looking for bright and motivated people to work at one of the largest companies in the world. Helpdesk salaries start at around €9-10 per hour depending on the job and positions are available in more than one Portuguese city.

Sitel

Sitelis one of the largest call centers in Portugal, where you will find more opportunities, mainly in Lisbon and Porto. This company is almost always looking for more employees, with more than 10,000 jobs around the world. Salaries start at €9 an hour and the work environment is very relaxed.

English speaking jobs for expats in Portugal

More and more jobs are offered to foreigners in Portugal, especially inIT and technology company. Because the code is written in English, strong language skills are often a must for these positions. The alternative is to look for international companies with offices in Portugal and apply to job offers in English.

Some of the great coworking spaces in Lisbon could be good places to stay, likeSecond residence Lisbon,Home Lisbon, YHoy. You could even get hired if you chat with an entrepreneur or founder at a coffee shop.

Seasonal jobs for English speakers

Unsurprisingly, it is easier to get English-speaking jobs in Portugal during the summer holidays. For example, many hostels, hotels, surf camps and restaurants in the Algarve will compete for summer employees, particularly those with a good command of English.

Language teaching jobs for foreigners in Portugal

You can find English-speaking jobs at educational institutions throughout Portugal that could include, for example:Teach Englishto a group of students through a school or privately. Many administrative positions are also available, although some may also require Portuguese.

The main actors in Portuguese English teacher jobs are:

• british council
• oxford school(site in Portuguese)
• wall street english(site in Portuguese)
• Royal School of Languages

It may be beneficial to take a TOEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course to increase your chances of these roles.

For more information on how to learn English in Portugal, check out our article:How to teach English in Portugal.

Freelance jobs for expatriates in Portugal

Today, many digital nomads find the combination of being self-employed and living in Portugal extremely attractive. They can work flexibly while exploring a fascinating nation and live there for as long as they do.Portugal visa for digital nomadsIt is valid.

Freelance opportunities for Portuguese companies are mainly found in:

• Marketing
• graphic design
• Social media management
• Writing and content creation

Working as a freelance translator can also be a highly paid job.

The payment may not be what you expect. Therefore, consider working as a freelance for companies in other countries if you choose this as your workspace in Portugal.

If you are interested in becoming a freelancer or freelancer, please read our article:Register as a freelancer in Portugal with our step-by-step guide.

If you are interested in working for our partner company,Solutions for global citizensYou have several options, many of which are suitable for freelancers. Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique investment consultancy that helps expatriates find their ideal residence or citizenship through an investment program. You can visit their careers page below to find the latest open positions.

Global Citizen Solutions careers page

Working conditions and wages in Portugal

In Portugal, a full-time job is about 40 hours a week, eight hours a day.

HeMinimum wage in Portugalis lower than most of its EU counterparts, andis currently €822.50 per month based on 12 paymentsper year or €665 based on 14 payments. These types of salaries will be relevant for the tourism and hospitality sector and customer service centers. Depending on where you work in the hospitality industry, tips can significantly increase your income.

Don't be discouraged; If you work at a start-up or professional service provider, salaries in these roles will skyrocket.

For more information on working conditions, see:Salary in Portugal.

Do I need a work visa?

If you are an EU citizen you do not need a visa to work in Portugal. It is only requested for people with citizenship outside the European Union. Learn more about visas in Portugal here:Types of Portuguese visas.

Where can foreigners find work in Portugal?

Here are some useful pages with daily job offers for foreigners:

• LinkedIn
• As a matter of fact
• hola(site in Portuguese)
• Jobs in Lisbon
• The best language jobs
• learn4good
• glass door
• Netto-Jobs(site in Portuguese)
• online jobs(site in Portuguese)

frequent questions

What types of jobs are there in Portugal?

The most popular jobs in Portugal include tourism and hospitality. There are many job opportunities inretail trade,Essen,Customer service,Touristic centres, YHotels. Tech related jobsESare also on the rise in Portugal,and call center workis almost always available.

Is it necessary to speak Portuguese to work in Portugal?

No, it is not necessary to speak Portuguese to work in Portugal. There are many job opportunities for non-Portuguese speakers, especially in the hospitality and tourism industries. If you speak a language other than English, there are almost always call center jobs for you too.

As a foreigner, is it easy to get a job in Portugal?

Yes, foreigners can quickly get a job with accommodation in Portugal if they speak English and other European languages. This is especially true when they work with customer service centers like Teleperformance who are willing to relocate them.

What jobs are in demand in Portugal?

Many jobs in IT and educational institutions are in demand in Portugal.

What jobs pay well in Portugal?

Hospitality, IT, and technology and education jobs pay well, especially if you are a native English speaker with a tertiary education.

How do I get a job in Portugal?

There are many online jobs in Portugal for English speakers that can make your move easier, such as: B. a job at a customer service center. Alternatively, you can find tourism jobs in Portugal for those who speak English.

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