Portugal is increasingly emerging as a destination of choice for foreign workers looking for short-term employment opportunities especially in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, construction and tourism.

If you are a non-EU citizen wishing to undertake some temporary work in Portugal, then it is important that you understand the Portugal Seasonal Work Visa before you start with your application.

Here we will explain the requirements to qualify, the documents you need, the process to apply, how long you can stay and the rights you will have when working legally in Portugal.

What is the Portugal Work Visa for Seasonal Workers?

With the Portugal Seasonal Work Visa, non-EU citizens may enter Portugal for a limited time to fill seasonal jobs.

This permit is not to be confused with long-term work visas, as it is for temporary work contracts related to seasonal business activity.

The visa is most often used for work in:

  • Farming and agriculture
  • Fishing and foresty
  • Tourism & Hotels
  • Restaurants & hospitality
  • Building Retail trade,
  • Food production and processing
  • Transportation and Logistics

Seasonal workers are key for peak times for many employers in Portugal, especially during summer tourist seasons and harvest times.

Types of Portugal Seasonal Work Visas

In Portugal there are two different options depending on the length of employment.

Short Stay Seasonal Work Visa (S)

This visa is for employment of 90 days or less.

You need a short stay visa to travel to Portugal and you also need to show proof of employment and where you will be staying.

This option is popular for short agricultural contracts or temporary hospitality work during peak tourism months.

Seasonal Work Temporary Stay Visa

Applicants are required to apply for a Temporary Stay Visa if the employment contract is over 90 days.

Key points:

  • During the term of the work contract
  • Maximum validity in a 12 month period 9 months
  • Not immediately eligible for permanent residence

This option is more common for workers hired for longer tourism, agriculture or construction projects.

migrants

Portugal Work Visa - Requirements For Seasonal Work

In Portugal, a seasonal worker visa requires that the applicant has a job offer from a Portuguese employer.

Basic requirements are:

  • Valid passport,
  • Official job offer or employment contract
  • Book a round trip flight
  • Health insurance.
  • Proof of accommodation in
  • Portgal Evidence of sufficient funds
  • Certificate of criminal record (stay over 90 days)
  • Visa application forms
  • Pictures for a passport

Applicants for regulated professions may also be required to submit professional certifications recognised in Portugal.

Which sectors can you work in Portugal seasonally?

According to Portuguese immigration law, seasonal work visas can only be issued for certain sectors, as determined by the government.

Sectors currently approved include:

  • Agriculture
  • Livestock and farming
  • Forestry
  • Fishing industry
  • Hotels and accommodation
  • Restaurants and catering
  • Food manufacturing
  • Retail and wholesale trade
  • Construction sector

  • Land transport services

Vineyards in the Douro Valley, for instance, frequently employ foreign workers for the grape harvest, and the Algarve’s hotels regularly hire temporary workers for the summer season.

How to apply for Portugal Seasonal Work Visa

Typically, the application process starts once you get a formal work offer from a Portuguese employer.

The process in general looks like:

Step 1: Get a Job Offer

Before you can start the process of applying for your visa, the first thing you need is a confirmed offer of employment from an employer in Portugal.

In practice this means a contract of employment or formal work offer which clearly sets out the main terms of employment. It should say what your salary is, the length of your contract, your expected hours, your paid holiday entitlement and the type of work you’ll be doing.

This is an important part of your application and will be used by the Portuguese Immigration authorities to verify the authenticity of the work and that the job is in the approved sectors for seasonal work.

Step 2 Collect Supporting Documents

Gather all the necessary documents: your insurance, your passport, your proof of accommodation and your work contract.

The documentation required can vary slightly depending on the Portuguese Consulate where you will process the application.

Step 3: Get your visa

As soon as you get a job offer and the required documentation, the next step is to go to the relevant Portuguese authorities in your home country to apply for a visa.

Most of the time, the application is filed at the Portuguese Embassy, Portuguese Consulate or an official visa application center authorized to process Portuguese visas locally.

As a general rule, you must complete the visa process while you are still outside Portugal, before traveling. This means you cannot normally arrive in Portugal first and then apply for a seasonal work visa after entering the country.

Step 4: Wait for Processing

Portuguese immigration authorities review the application.

In most cases, decisions are issued within 90 days, although repeat seasonal workers may benefit from faster processing.

Simplified Process for Returning Seasonal Workers

Portugal has created a simpler process for foreign workers who have already worked in the country legally under a seasonal work visa in the past.

If you previously came to Portugal for seasonal employment and fully respected the immigration rules during your stay, you may benefit from an easier application process when applying again. In general, this applies to workers who have completed seasonal work in Portugal at least once within the last five years.

In these cases, the visa process can move faster, certain supporting documents may no longer be required, and immigration authorities typically give these applications priority treatment. In many situations, a decision can be issued in as little as 15 days.

This system was designed to make it easier for Portuguese employers to rehire trusted and experienced workers while reducing unnecessary bureaucracy for applicants who have already followed the rules during previous stays.

Rights of Seasonal Workers in Portugal

If you come to Portugal as a seasonal worker, it is important to know that Portuguese law gives you many of the same protections as local workers.

This means that your employer must respect fair working conditions, pay your salary according to the contract and provide the same basic labour protections that apply to Portuguese employees. You are also entitled to safe working conditions, paid leave where applicable and professional training opportunities while you perform your job.

In practice, your employer cannot treat you differently just because you are a foreign worker, whether you are working on a farm during harvest time, in a hotel during the busy summer season, or on a construction project.

Under Portuguese law, your employer must also provide you with work accident insurance, so that you are covered in case something unexpected happens while you are carrying out your work.

Rules for accommodation of seasonal workers

In many seasonal work arrangements Portuguese employers offer accommodation as part of the job offer, especially in industries such as agriculture, hospitality and construction where workers often move temporarily for work.

However, Portuguese law clearly requires employers to ensure that the accommodation provided is adequate to live in. The housing must be safe and comply with health and safety regulations. Accommodation conditions must always be clearly stated in writing, either in a separate agreement or directly in the employment contract.

When the employer provides accommodation for the worker on payment of rent, the rent shall be reasonable, and shall not exceed 20% of the worker’s salary. Furthermore, employers are not permitted to automatically deduct housing costs from wages, unless the worker has agreed to this beforehand.

The regulations are designed to protect workers from abroad and to ensure that accommodation provided as part of seasonal work is fair, transparent and free from abuse.

Are family members allowed to accompany a seasonal worker?

The Portugal Seasonal Work Visa has one big drawback and that is that family reunification is not allowed.

This means spouses and dependent children cannot join their partners in Portugal under the same seasonal visa application.

If you intend to live in Portugal on a permanent basis there are other types of visas that may be better for you.

You may also want to consider the D2 Entrepreneur Visa or the D7 Passive Income Visa.

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Your Questions Answered

No. To apply you need to have a formal job offer or a valid contract of employment from an employer in Portugal.

Seasonal workers can remain in Portugal for one year. A short-stay visa allows you to stay for up to 90 days; a temporary stay visa allows you to stay for up to 9 months in a 12-month period.

Usually not. Seasonal work visas are temporary and do not automatically result in residence permits.

Common sectors include agriculture, tourism, hospitality, construction, transport, fishing and food production.

No, not. Family reunification during the stay is not permitted with Portuguese seasonal work visas.

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