Job Search Visa – Amendment to the Foreigners Law
The proposal for Law nº 19/XV was voted in favor today, which makes the 10th amendment to Law nº 23/2007 of 4 July (Foreigners Law) which provides, among other things, for the creation of a new type of visa: The visa for looking for work.
What is a job search visa?
The job search visa entitles the holder to enter and stay in Portugal for the purpose of looking for work and authorizes the holder to carry out a dependent work activity, until the visa expires or until a residence permit is granted.
Who can get a job search visa?
Citizens of Third States who wish to seek work in Portugal and legally reside here as subordinate workers; or service providers – excluding self-employed professionals – who carry out their activity individually.
How long is the job search visa valid for?
This visa is valid for 120 days and can be extended for another 60 days.
At the end of the 180-day period, if the holder has not yet signed an employment contract and applied for a residence permit, he or she will have to leave the country.
You are only allowed to apply for a new job search visa after 1 year from the expiry date of the previous visa.
How can the holder of this visa obtain a residence permit in Portugal?
Upon obtaining the visa, its holder will have immediate access to the appointment date at SEF in Portugal. If you have already formalized your employment relationship before the date of the aforementioned appointment and as long as you meet the general requirements, you can acquire a residence permit in Portugal.
This residence permit will be valid for two years from the date of issue of the residence card and is renewable for successive periods of three years.
After the present approval of the referred draft law, the subsequent legislative procedure will be followed up, which, from the outset, will culminate, in the near future, in the publication of the referred legislative amendment in the Diário da República and subsequent entry into force of the referred amendment. There will still be room for the necessary legislative regulation.
