12 Nov How to Apply for Portugal Job Seeker Visa from India?
Are you someone looking to move abroad but do not have a job offer in hand? Worry not! Countries like Portugal issue a type of visa called the job seeker visa which allows a foreign national to enter the country and search for jobs. The Portugal job seeker visa is basically a single-entry visa which is valid for a period of 120 days and allows you to search for jobs for that time.
But, how to apply for Portugal job and a job seeker visa from India? Let us learn about this, the eligibility criteria, documents required, benefits and other aspects about working in Portugal in this blog.
How Are Jobs in Portugal?
When it comes to jobs and career opportunities, Portugal offers diverse options along with the safest places to live in. The country has a rich cultural heritage, delicious cuisines with a welcoming environment for foreign nationals. There are more than 50,000 job vacancies, and you can earn an average of 22,000 euros yearly in the country.
Some of the highest-paying jobs include IT, accounting, human resources, hospitality and marketing where you can earn an average of 19,000-30,000 euros yearly in these job roles. Some other benefit of working and settling in the country is that it offers the highest percentage of salary increments and a progressive working environment.
What is a Portugal Job Seeker Visa and its Benefits?
The Portugal job seeker visa was introduced by the government of Portugal on October 31,2022 as a visa for foreign nationals looking for employment in the country. This visa was introduced to mitigate the labor shortages in the country and let the foreign nationals look for employment in an easy way. The Portugal job seeker visa holds a validity of 120 days wherein you are allowed to search for jobs in the country even if you do not have a job offer in hand. You can also renew your visa for 60 days more. Following are the benefits of this type of visa:
- You do not require ILETS
- Get your citizenship within 3-5 years
- Portugal gives you benefits to settle with family after getting the work permit
- You get to earn an average of 30,000 euros per year
- It is considered as the best destination to retire and offer free healthcare services
How To Apply for Portugal Job Seeker Visa? Fees, Processing Time and Steps to Follow
To apply for the Portugal job seeker visa, you need to register with the IEFP and complete the declaration of interest form in the preferred language of your choice. Post filling the form, you will receive an e-mail from the IEFP after which you can easily apply for the visa at the Portuguese consulate or visa application center. Next, you need to keep your documents handy and schedule an appointment and attend the interview at the VFS application center or consulate.
Now the fees that you need to pay will be in three ways. First, the entry visa cost that the embassy will issue will be about 90 euros. Second will be the fees for the application of a skilled worker’s residence permit at the SEF which will be 83 euros. Lastly, to get the work’s residence permit from the SEF which will cost 72 euros.
Generally, the processing time for your Portugal job seeker visa will take 2 months but it may take more time also.
In brief, to fly to Portugal for job opportunities you need to evaluate yourself, get your skills reviewed, meet all the requirements and simply apply for the visa application.
Read Also: how to get job in singapore from india
Eligibility Criteria and Documentation Required in Portugal Job Seeker Visa
To apply for the job seeker visa, you need to meet the basic requirements such as the eligibility criteria and documentation required. The basic visa requirements include:
- A statement of purpose (SOP) describing vividly your plan of activities in Portugal whether you wish to stay or apply for jobs.
- The IEFP registration, which is the Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional- that declares your expression of interest in applying for jobs in the country.
- Attested educational qualification documents
- Proofs of accommodation for stay and financial subsistence.
- CV/Resume
- A Return flight ticket
Now let us learn what is the eligibility criteria required:
- You need to have a bachelor’s degree
- There is as such no requirement for ILETS
- You should have a health insurance and evidence of having sufficient funds
- Evidence of having booked accommodation in Portugal and authenticated airplane reservations.
Documentation required:
- Firstly, you need to have a passport with a validity of at least 3 months with two recent passport-sized photographs
- A completed National visa application signed by the candidate
- An applicable travel insurance that covers your medical expenditures like emergency medical aid.
- A travel document that indicates the arrival and departure
- Evidence of your financial assets that are equivalent to a minimum of three assured monthly minimum earnings which is about 750 euros.
- A criminal record certificate
- Proof of presentation of a declaration of expression of interest for registration in the IEFP (EN)/ (PT)/ (FR)/ (ES).
(Here IEFP is the Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional which is Portugal’s public employment service. It is a document that shows you are interested in registering for job seeking support in any of these languages- English (EN), Portuguese (PT), French (FR), or Spanish (ES).
Conclusion
Portugal is by far the safest country in Europe and has a thriving economy that offers multiple job opportunities in diverse sectors. If you are someone planning to work in Portugal, applying for the job seeker visa can be a gateway to residency for you. This is because securing a job also lets you obtain a work permit and gradually permanent residency. Not only a good work-life balance but you get to earn well and grow in your chosen career path.
So, if you have any doubts or concerns regarding the Portugal job seeker visa, we at Immivoyage Consultants are here to guide you at every step. Contact us today to learn more!
