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Are you interested in seasonal work? Then, the Portugal seasonal work visa is perfect for you. Portugal issues seasonal work visas solely to individuals wanting to undertake seasonal work like agricultural work, or working in the tourism sector. There are two types of seasonal work visas. Depending on the duration of your stay you can apply. As a seasonal worker, you can gain work experience, earn income in Euros, and gain cultural experience. This blog covers everything you need to know about applying for a Portugal Seasonal Work Visa as an Indian.
Types of Portugal Seasonal Work Visa
Seasonal Work Visas are of two types. They are as follows-
- Short-term Visa (less than 90 days of stay)– Portugal issues a seasonal work visa for less than 90 days of stay. It is a type of Schengen visa (C-visa). You can stay for less than 90 days within 180 days.
- Long-Term Visa (more than 90 days of stay)– Portugal issues a National visa (called the E8- Seasonal work visa. It is available to seasonal workers wanting to work for more than 90 days but less than 270 days.
What is Counted as Seasonal Work in Portugal?
Before applying for a seasonal work visa it is important to ensure that your work qualifies as a seasonal work. The following are the types of seasonal work you can take up in Portugal.
- Housing, restaurant, and hotel industries.
- Agriculture, hunting, livestock, forestry and fishing.
- Food, tobacco, and drinks industries.
- Construction industries.
- Wholesale and Retail commerce.
- Land transports (drivers with international driving license)
Basic Eligibility for Portugal Seasonal Work Visa
The basic eligibility criteria to apply for seasonal work in Portugal are as follows:
- You must have applied for a seasonal job in Portugal and received a job offer letter/employment contract.
- Applied for a seasonal work permit, and got the same (employer starts the application for a work permit on your behalf). The work permit application has to be submitted to the Portuguese Labor Authorities or the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service.
- You have sufficient funds & income to travel to Portugal
- You have applied for health insurance (at least EUR 30,000) valid in all Schengen countries.
- You have the necessary documents to apply for a short-term or long-term seasonal visa.
How Can I Apply for a Portugal Job Seeker Visa Online?
Requirements to Apply for a Portugal Seasonal Work Visa.
The requirements of the two types of Portugal Work Visa are provided below. Ensure that all documents are in English/Portuguese or translated into these languages before submission.
Short Term Seasonal Work Visa Requirements
The following are the short-term Portugal seasonal work visa requirements.
| S.No | Documents |
| 1 | Download the short-term seasonal work visa application form and complete the same |
| 2 | Two recent passport size (3.5cm / 4.5cm) photos, passport (valid for 3 months beyond the duration of your stay), and copies of the previous passport must be submitted |
| 3 | Police clearance certificate to prove you have no criminal record |
| 4 | An Accommodation proof like a hotel booking & and round trip flight ticket |
| 5 | Proof of medical insurance (of at least EUR 30,000), and proof of insurance provided by your employer |
| 6 | Employment contract copy signed by both parties |
| 7 | Proof of all your professional, technical, and educational qualifications. |
Download the detailed documents checklist for a short-term seasonal work visa.
Long Term Seasonal Work Visa Requirements
The following are the long-term Portugal seasonal work visa requirements.
| S.No | Documents |
| 1 | Download the E-8 (temporary stay visa) for seasonal work application form |
| 2 | Two photos of size 35-40 mm inWidth, a passport (valid for 3 months beyond the duration of stay), and previous passport copies |
| 3 | Proof that you are a legal resident of India |
| 4 | Proof that you have finances for at least 12 months to sustain yourself (it can be waived off if a Portuguese citizen/company hiring you takes the responsibility to provide food and accommodation). You also need travel insurance of at least EUR 30,000 |
| 5 | Proof of an employment contract signed by both parties |
| 6 | Proof that you have arranged your accommodation in Portugal. For example, booking, rental contract/agreement |
| 7 | Police clearance certificate from India |
Download the detailed documents checklist for a long-term seasonal work visa.
When to Apply for a Portugal Seasonal Work Visa?
The visa applications must be sent within the period specified. Otherviews and applications submitted are not viewed.
| Visa | Deadline for Submission |
| Short term seasonal work visa | Until 15 working days before the date of travel (excluding the time taken by the Visa Facilitation agency) |
| Long-term seasonal work visa | Until 30 working days before the date of intended travel (excluding the time taken by the Visa Facilitation agency) |
How to Apply for a Portugal Seasonal Work Visa?
Decided which seasonal visa you want to apply for? Follow these instructions to apply. The application process remains the same irrespective of the visa. The VFS application process is provided below as they are the official partner of Portugal.
| S.No | Application Process |
| 1 | Decide which seasonal work visa you want to apply for. |
| 2 | Download the relevant visa application form, and complete the same |
| 3 | Gather the relevant documents and ensure that you haven’t missed any |
| 4 | Schedule your visa appointment at a visa application centre |
| 5 | At this stage, you will have to submit your biometric information and pay the visa fees. This has to be done on the date of the visa appointment |
| 6 | Long-stay visa applicants will have to attend the interview. Short-stay applications may not require a visa interview. After the interview stage, visa processing takes place |
| 7 | After a decision has been made you can collect your passport from the visa application centre. |
Learn the steps to download a Portugal work visa application form
Portugal Seasonal Work Visa Fees
The visa application fees for a seasonal work visa are provided below:
| Visa | Fees |
| Short term seasonal work visa | EUR 90 (for adults) |
| Long-term seasonal work visa | EUR 90 |
Portugal Seasonal Work Visa Processing Time
The processing time taken for a seasonal work visa is provided below:
| Visa | Processing Time |
| Short term seasonal work visa | 15 days (may be extended up to 45 days in exceptional cases) |
| Long-term seasonal work visa | 30 days |
How Much Bank Balance is Required for a Portugal Visa?
The minimum bank balance you require for a Portugal seasonal work visa is provided below: You must have this fund with you, and show your bank statement to demonstrate the same.
| Visa | Minimum Bank Balance/Means of Subsistence |
| Short term seasonal work visa | EUR 75 for each entry & EUR 40 for each day |
| Long-term seasonal work visa | Minimum monthly salary of EUR 820 |
Is a Portugal Visa Easy for Indians?
Yes. The Portugal seasonal work visa is easy to get for Indian nationals. The schengen visa approval rate for Portugal is around 84% for Indian nationals. However, the visa approval rate for long-term seasonal work visa applications is not available.
Nevertheless, one thing is for sure as long as you meet the visa requirements you have a higher chance of visa approval. To have a higher chance of visa approval ensure that you have filled out the relevant visa application form. Moreover, all documents must be submitted. Your intention to travel must also be clear. You should also not take part in fraudulent activities.
Want to learn more about the Portugal seasonal work visa? Watch this video:
Rights of a Seasonal Worker
The following are the rights of a seasonal worker as per the European Union.
- You can enter Portugal and engage in seasonal work for the time specified in your visa.
- You are guaranteed equal treatment like a national worker. The labour rights will also be equal like the right to access seasonal employment counselling services, vocational training, and education.
- When an employer is providing you an accommodation (whether for a fee or free of cost) must ensure that the safety, and health rules are in place.
- In case, the accommodation is provided against the salary, the employer must pay you an income proportion to the conditions and remuneration of the accommodation. The amount cannot be greater than 20%. Moreover, it cannot be automatically deducted from your salary.
Simple Process for Returning Workers
Those who have previously received a seasonal work visa (in the last 5 years), and have the visa requirements regarding entry and stay are eligible for simplified visa processing. That is when they apply for a temporary stay visa (long-term seasonal visa).
A simplified process means you do not have to produce certain documents as proof. For example, proof of return ticket to India, proof of accommodation in Portugal, professional certificate, etc. Additionally, your visa application is kept on priority visa processing. In such cases, the visa application is processed within 15 days.
Popular Portugal Seasonal Work Visa Jobs
These are some of the most popular seasonal jobs currently available in Portugal
- Housekeeping Supervisor
- People & Culture Manager
- Client Services Associate
- Head chef
- Graduate Studies Office Coordinator
- Sales Executive
- People & Operations Partner
- Business Analyst
FAQs
To know the latest job updates register with the IEFP Job Centre. You can also register with an employment service in Portugal. To register you will have to present your identity card/passport. Thereafter, you can apply for a job and get a job offer.
No. The Portugal short-stay visa only lets you stay for less than 90 days (less than 3 months). If you want to stay for a longer period you need to apply for a National visa/temporary stay visa. For example, E-8 seasonal work visa. This will permit you to stay for longer than 90 days. Some of the temporary stay visa allows you to stay for up to a year!
If you are an English teacher you do not need to learn Portuguese. Those wanting to work in the hospitality or tourism sector require Spanish, German or French. For all jobs without a working knowledge of Portuguese, it can be difficult to find a job.
Technical skills are the most in demand in Portugal. You can easily get a job if you have a working knowledge of SQL, Python, Flutter, JavaScript, AWS, cybersecurity, or machine learning.
We hope you now understand all about the Portugal seasonal work visa. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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