Currently Suspended, Here's What's Next
Portugal Job Seeker Visa
The Portugal Job Seeker Visa is currently unavailable. The old route was suspended in October 2025, and its replacement hasn't opened yet. Here's exactly where things stand, and what you can do in the meantime.
CURRENT STATUS
The Portugal Job Seeker Visa Is Currently Unavailable
We'd rather tell you this clearly upfront than have you waste time on a route that isn't open. Some guides online still describe this visa as if you can apply today, with fees, timelines, and step-by-step processes laid out as though it were active. It isn't. Here's the actual, current status.
What Changed on 23 October 2025
Under Lei n.º 61/2025, which amended Article 57-A of the Foreigners' Law (Lei n.º 23/2007), Portugal's general job seeker visa was discontinued. From 23 October 2025, consulates and visa application centres, including VFS Global, stopped accepting applications for it, and every appointment already scheduled from that date onward was cancelled.
Why the New Skilled Job Seeker Visa Isn't Open Yet
The law creates a replacement, a Skilled Job Seeker Visa, but it exists on paper only for now. It's waiting on secondary regulation, the government order that will define exactly which professions and qualifications count. Until that's published, no consulate can accept applications for it, no matter what any website tells you.
WHAT'S COMING
What to Expect From Portugal's New Skilled Job Seeker Visa
We won't invent numbers the law hasn't confirmed yet. Based on the text of the law itself, here's what's reasonably expected, not guaranteed.
Who It's Expected to Target
Unlike the old visa, which was open to almost any non-EU applicant, the new version is expected to target highly qualified professionals, likely those with a recognised higher-education degree or specialised technical expertise in fields such as IT, engineering, or healthcare. General job seekers without these qualifications are expected to no longer be eligible.
Expected Job Seeker Visa Requirements
Likely a stay of around 120 days, with a possible 60-day extension, proof of financial means, a clean criminal record, and valid health insurance. The exact financial threshold hasn't been confirmed and won't be until the implementing regulation is published, so we're not going to quote you a number we can't stand behind.
DON'T WAIT
Don't Want to Wait? Routes Already Available Today
If you already know how you'd support yourself in Portugal, you may not need to wait for this visa at all. If your income is passive, pensions, rental income, dividends, the D7 is available now. If you work remotely for a foreign employer or clients, the D8 is available now. If you already have a job offer from a Portuguese company, the D1 is available now. We'll help you work out honestly whether one of these already fits your situation.
STAY INFORMED
Get Notified the Moment This Visa Opens
Leave your details and we'll email you the moment the regulation is published and applications open, nothing more, no unrelated marketing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Portugal's Job Seeker Visa
Is the Portugal Job Seeker Visa still available?
No. The general job seeker visa was discontinued on 23 October 2025 under Lei n.º 61/2025. Its replacement, the Skilled Job Seeker Visa, exists in law but isn't yet open for applications.
When will the Skilled Job Seeker Visa open?
There's no confirmed date. It depends on the government publishing the regulation that defines eligible professions and qualifications. We're not going to guess a date, and we'd be cautious of anyone who does.
What should I do if I want to look for work in Portugal now?
It depends on your situation. If you have passive income, remote work for a foreign employer, or an existing job offer, a different visa may already fit, D7, D8, or D1 respectively. Book a free consultation and we'll tell you honestly what's actually available to you today.