Portugal has proclaimed a significant alteration in its immigration policy by instituting the
Portugal Work-Seeking Visa. This new visa will be issued instead of the general
Work-seeking visa that existed before and will cater only to skilled, qualified and experienced
professionals. The new regulations that are going to come out are for the professionals in
the earlier visa category whose applications and appointments were canceled with the
coming of this update.
Overview of New Skilled Portugal Work-Seeking Visa
Portugal has legally recognized the discontinuance of the last job-seeking visa through the
implementation of Law No. 61/2025. The Ministry of State and Foreign Affairs made it known
that the entire process of bookings and applications under the old system became invalid on
the 23rd of October, 2025.
Highlights of the Key Points
● The previous general job-seeking visa has been completely wiped off.
● Every single appointment made under the previous category got canceled on
October 23, 2025.
●Issuance of the new skilled visa will be after the government publishes detailed
regulations.
● Visa services related to job-seeking applications are temporarily suspended (VFS
Global, BLS International, TLScontact).
● The new system favors skilled workers with recognized qualifications or industry
experience.
● The reform marks Portugal’s commitment to keeping up with modern immigration
practices and bringing in talent that benefits its economy.
Reasons Behind Portugal’s Switch to a Skills-Based Visa System
The old visa system marked all applicants as the same and consequently created
bottlenecks and surpluses where the demands of the country’s labor market were not met.
With the installation of the Skilled Portugal Work-Seeking Visa, the target has been set to bring in seasoned workers in sectors that have the most need. The list of such sectors includes, but is not limited to –
● IT & Engineering
● Healthcare & Life Sciences
● Construction & Manufacturing
● Tourism & Hospitality
● Renewable Energy & Environmental Technology
In 2024, Portugal was reported to have granted more than 100,000 work and residence permits, which is a 15% upsurge from last year, indicating that the country is on track to attract more skilled workers through flexible pathways like the Portugal Work-Seeking Visa.
Effect on Applicants from All Over the World
The skilled visa coming into force will have a direct impact on the thousands of applicants
worldwide who had already lodged their applications or were waiting for appointments under
the previous system.
Updates That Are Very Important for Applicants
● All the previous appointments have now been cancelled.
● Only the qualified, skilled, and experienced professionals will be given priority.
● Job-seeking visa services are still suspended but only temporarily.
● The new visa will follow the EU’s way of drawing high-skilled workers.
● Once the application process is reopened, quicker processing and better-structured
evaluation will be done.
The applicants are recommended to have their documents, proofs of qualifications and
records of experience ready in order to enhance their chances of being selected.
Why Indian Professionals Should
This visa is a big chance for Indian job seekers to step into the growing European market of
the jobs, mainly in the areas where Indian skills are already appreciated.
Benefits for Applicants from India
● High-skilled workers’ demand unemployment rate below 7%.
● In the major cities of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, the English language is spoken by a
wide range of people.
● The cost of living is less than that in Western Europe.
● The holders of residence permits have the privilege to travel without restrictions to all
27 Schengen countries.
● After five years, permanent residency can be applied for.
● There are lots of Indian professionals working in IT, Engineering, healthcare, and
Hospitality.
● The foreign workforce in Portugal has already surpassed the 9% mark and among
The skilled group to which Indians belong is the one that is fastest growing.
Portugal to Publish Detailed Regulations Very Soon
The Portuguese authorities are going to issue the complete rules for the portugal Work-Seeker
Visa very shortly. The details that will be provided include –
● Criteria for eligibility and the levels of skills required
● How to apply along with the period for reopening
● A list of documents that need to be supported and how they will be verified
● The period for which the visa will be valid, how long one can stay and rules for
extension
The applicants are recommended not to change the dates of their previous appointments or
Plan any trips related to the visa, which is no longer in use until the regulations are out.
You May Like: How to improve your CRS score fast in 2025