Visas
Portugal ended its job-seeker visa. What now?
Portugal tightened its immigration rules in October 2025. The popular job-seeker visa is gone, and so is the old "manifestation of interest" route.
What changed
- Law 61/2025 amended Portugal's foreigners law.
- From 23 October 2025, consulates stopped accepting general job-seeker visa applications and cancelled existing appointments.
- A new job-search visa exists only for highly qualified people, and it is valid only for Portugal, not the rest of Schengen.
- The "manifestation of interest" process, which let people regularise after entering without a work visa, is closed. Residence must be applied for from abroad.
- Family reunification generally requires two years of legal residence, with exceptions including highly qualified professionals.
What remains
- Work visas based on a job offer or contract
- Visas for highly qualified activity
- The EU Blue Card
- The Tech Visa programme for certified companies
Watch out
Some agents still sell "Portugal job-seeker packages" or promise regularisation after arrival. Those routes no longer exist. Apply only with a real offer or a highly qualified profile, through the consulate.
