Portugal is a developed country, and has a high Human Development Index. Even though Portugal has the lowest GDP per capita of Western European countries, it is the 14th most peaceful and the 13th most globalized country in the world, and has the world's 19th highest quality of life. With such attractive achievements, who wouldn't want to move there?
Like other Southern European countries, Portugal has its own strong tradition of emigration; immigration, and social and political responses to it, are comparably recent.
Portugal only became a migration destination in the 1970s, with the fall of the dictatorship & the independence of its former African colonies (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde & São Tomé e Príncipe) that also brought back hundreds of thousands of Portuguese who were living in the colonies (retornados).
Most immigrants & retornados ended up settling in the Lisbon Metro Area, a trend that continues today for most immigrants (except EU citizens & those involved in the agricultural sector), & other urban areas throughout the country (though to a lesser extent).
Eastern European immigrants, although they have relatively high educational and professional qualifications, they are employed in low-paying and socially-undervalued jobs, such as construction (men) and industrial cleaning and domestic work (women).
However, there is a significant percentage of Eastern Europeans working in agriculture, especially in the Alentejo, Ribatejo and Oeste Regions, as well as in some types of more work-intensive industries in the Northern Region.
The recent massive increase of immigration to Portugal, especially the new migratory wave coming from Eastern Europe, has made waves in the media and has prompted a great national debate about immigration policy.
The new “immigration law”, published on 25 February 2003, brings some new issues into the immigration debate.
The coalition government of Social Democrats and Christian-Democrats that took office in April 2002 has drawn a more complex and elaborate law based on three arguments.
The promotion of legal immigration according to the country’s labour market needs;
The effective or real integration of immigrants;
The fight against illegal immigration.
The Government establishes a maximum annual limit for entries of third country nationals onto the national territory, and workers coming to Portugal must hold a labour visa or a residence permit. The term “quota” is not mentioned in the law, but the quota principle is used. A new kind of work visa, for scientific and research activities, was created with the goal of keeping scientists and highly skilled people in Portugal.
Most of the institutions which opinion is taken into account for the elaboration of the report on labour import are closely related to the labour market rather than to the immigrant field.
Immigrant associations and NGOs are only represented by the ACIME, and in its new and more complex structure, through the Consultative Council for Immigration Issues (COCAI).
SEF now has more power and less bureaucratic procedures to follow when removing undocumented foreigners from the country.
The reference to the geographical unit “distritos” as hosting areas is also remarkable because there had never been a reference to the settlement regions – until now, immigrants were absolutely free to choose their areas of residence.
European Union (EU) nationals with a valid passport or identity card are permitted to work in Portugal without a visa and are entitled to the same rights as Portuguese nationals with regard to pay, working conditions and social security.
If entering to study, you may need to show proof that you are a student and have the means to support yourself.
If entering to work, you may be asked to prove that you have adequate means to support yourself during your stay and that the cost of your return journey is secured.
An identity card (bilhete de identidade) must be carried at all times. Application forms are available from the Portuguese Consulate General. Contact the Consulate well in advance of departure to confirm requirements.
Employees must register at the Treasury to get a CIF number, without which their employer will not be able to pay them. More information (in Portuguese) is available from the Portuguese Ministry of Finance.
EURES - European Job Mobility Portal has a before and after moving to Portugal checklist that will help you to make sure you have completed all the essential tasks.
EU nationals do not need a visa for Portugal.
If you are from a non-EU country, check with the Portuguese embassy in the country where you are (find a list of embassies at Embassies Worldwide) to enquire about visa requirements. The Schengen Office also has useful visa information.
Non-EU nationals will not be permitted to work without first obtaining a work visa.
You may also wish to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy, if you are not in your home country) to find out whether there are any issues to be considered if you are planning to visit Portugal to study or work.
EU nationals who intend to stay in Portugal for longer than three months must apply to the Portuguese Immigration Service (Servicio do Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) (helpful website in Portuguese and English) for a ‘registration certificate’.
This certificate is initially valid for five years, or for the period of intended residence if this is less than five years. After living in Portugal for five years, you can apply to the immigration authorities for a certificate of permanent residence.
Be sure to have the proper documents prepared in advance for your application processes in Portugal!
Source: Prospects, Metropolis
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