Job-seeker visa — come first, get hired here
⚠️ Not available yet. As of 28 September 2026, Portuguese consulates are not issuing this visa: the foreign ministry's visa portal (vistos.mne.gov.pt) says it is awaiting the regulation of article 57-A of the Foreigners Act (the law leaves the required "specialised technical skills" to a ministerial order). Until that regulation is published you cannot apply — look at the D3 or D8 instead.
The job-seeker visa lets you enter Portugal to look for work — but after the 2024–2026 migration reforms it was reworked around qualified profiles: the current version targets holders of specialised technical skills seeking highly qualified work.
Savings: at least €2,760 — 3× the 2026 minimum wage of €920 (Decreto Regulamentar 84/2007, art. 12-A n.º 4).
Scope: highly qualified professional activity — the old "come and look for anything" version is gone.
When hired: you convert to a residence permit without leaving Portugal.
Scope: highly qualified professional activity — the old "come and look for anything" version is gone.
When hired: you convert to a residence permit without leaving Portugal.
⚠️ This is the most reform-sensitive route of all — categories, durations and conditions kept changing through 2024–2026. Verify the current rules on the official visa portal before building plans on it, and watch our rule-change log.
If you already hold an offer, skip this route: go straight to the D3 (qualified) or a standard work visa. If you can work remotely for a foreign employer, the D8 is usually the stronger play.
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