Portugal Work Visa- Requirement, challenges, and process!

Portugal has, in recent years, become an attractive destination for immigrants looking for a better life than their homeland. That is not to say that Portugal has not always been a popular destination for immigrants, especially expats that are willing to retire on the beachside. But in the last few years, it has massively improved in the index and has become one of the top immigration-friendly countries in the world. And one of the main reasons is their business-friendly environment.

For a business that is looking to expand its horizon and compete on a global scale, Portugal offers an excellent opportunity. And that is why one can see a massive influx of immigrants to Portugal for a better, more lucrative job offering.

Now, if this has got you intrigued, then there are a couple of things you need to know about a Portugal work visafrom India – mainly what are the requirements for it, the challenges that an individual may face, and most importantly, the process for the same. So, without further ado, let's get into it. 

Work Permits for Indians

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not require any kind of work permit to live and work in Portugal. Since India is not part of any of those groups, Indian citizens require a permit to work inside the country's jurisdiction. 

Requirement for Portugal Work permit for an Indian citizen

These are some of the essential documents and proof that one needs to submit with their Portuguese Work permit application.

• A valid passport issued not over 10 years ago.
• Passport-size pictures that are in line with the Schengen visa picture guidelines
• Bank statement as a proof that the individual is financially in a sound condition
• Criminal records from the resident country. Individuals who have stayed in another country than their home country for over a year would also need to submit criminal records from that country.
• A document authorizing the SEF to check the individual's Portuguese criminal record. This is essential as if one has a record in the system, their application will get immediately rejected.
• A document containing the individual's health insurance policy.
• A document attesting to the accommodation that the individual plans to stay at in Portugal.
• An employment contract from the company that is hiring the individual in question. A job offer letter would often suffice as well.

One thing that the individual needs to keep in mind is that the submitted documents must either be in Portuguese or in English. Any other language used would result in immediate rejection of the work permit application. In addition, all these documents need to be legalized through Apostille Stamp or through the Portuguese embassy.

Challenges faced by individuals applying for a Portuguese work permit

As one can gather, a work permit in Portugal is quite attractive, especially for skilled professionals looking for a better paying job. And while the work visa process might seem straightforward enough, hundreds of thousands of applications get rejected every year. Undoubtedly, this is something you do not want to happen with your case. So, it is better for you to be aware of some of the more common problems faced by Portuguese work visa applicants.

·        Incomplete/ incorrect documentation

The main reason for work permit rejection in an overwhelming number of cases is either the absence of documentation or a filing error. As one can see from the documentation required for the permit, several documents are needed for the process. In addition, if any of the information does not match or is incorrect, then you can say goodbye to your work permit. So, naturally, you need to be extra careful when filing your application.

·        Wrong visa application

There are basically two different types of work permits that one can apply for in Portugal – short-term and long-term.

A short-term work permit is a six-month temporary contract that allows one to search for an appropriate job within the set time frame. If they are able to find a job, they are eligible for a Long-term work permit.

On the other hand, a long-term work permit is for individuals who have already got a job offer from a company and are planning to stay in the country for more than six months.

The distinction between these two is important, as they often result in the wrong filing by the applicant.

·        Finding an accommodation

The applicant has to show their accommodation when staying in the country at the time of application submission. It could be tricky for folks who do not have intimate knowledge about the country. Thankfully an immigration expert could assist the individual and help them get a Europevisa for Indians.

Process

Lastly, we have the process for the work visa and permit application.

First, the individual needs to obtain a visa from the Portuguese embassy. For this, the applicant needs to fill out the Work visa form with the documentation mentioned earlier for the investigating officer to process. The approval could easily take a couple of months here.

Once the work visa is approved, the next task on the hand is getting a permit. For this, one is required to go to the SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras). They would need to submit the work visa and relevant documents for processing here. And that is it; if the work permit is approved, the individual can travel to Portugal. Additionally, they would also need to collect their residency card and tax code from the competent authority and register for social security.

Conclusion

Getting a Portuguese Work Visa seems like a straightforward enough job. But it could easily become a hassle, so it is recommended that one hire a European immigration consultant who can help them with the process. The European immigration consultant would ensure a smooth and hassle-free visa application process with guaranteed approval.