Working in Portugal from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Are there real work opportunities in Portugal for Brazilians?

Moving from Brazil to Portugal to work is a realistic goal. Because both countries share the Portuguese language and have historical cultural ties, Portugal is one of the most accessible entry points into Europe for Brazilian nationals. Thousands of Brazilian workers move to Portugal every year to work in construction, agriculture, elder care, and tourism.

However, entering the country legally requires proper planning. You cannot simply arrive as a tourist and legally start working on the spot without facing significant legal risks. Fortunately, specific bilateral agreements between Brazil and Portugal make visa processing simpler compared to other European destinations, provided you follow the correct administrative steps before you pack your bags.

Portugal is actively seeking skilled and manual labor across several key industries right now:

• Construction and trades: Companies across Portugal urgently require carpenters, welders, plumbers, and general laborers for major infrastructure projects and residential renovations.
• Hospitality and tourism: Hotels and restaurants along the Algarve, as well as in Lisbon and Porto, frequently recruit kitchen staff, servers, and housekeepers for seasonal and year-round positions.
• Caregiving and healthcare support: Private homes and elder care facilities across the country regularly hire qualified care assistant personnel to support an aging population.

The main visa routes from Brazil to Portugal

To work legally in Portugal as a Brazilian citizen, you must obtain an official work visa or a specific mobility visa before beginning employment. You apply for these visas in Brazil before you travel. Here are the main routes available for manual and skilled trade workers:

• Visto de Residência D1 (Atividade Subordinada): This is the standard national work visa for individuals who already have a formal employment contract (contrato de trabalho) or a binding job offer (promessa de contrato de trabalho) from an employer operating in Portugal. Your employer issues the offer, and you submit the visa application in Brazil.
• Visto CPLP (Mobilidade CPLP): Thanks to the agreement between the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), citizens of Brazil can apply for a streamlined CPLP mobility visa. This route simplifies the proof of means and administrative requirements for Brazilian nationals seeking residency in Portugal.
• Visto para Procura de Trabalho (Job Seeker Visa): This visa allows you to enter Portugal legally for up to 120 days (renewable for another 60 days) specifically to search for a job in person. Once you sign a formal job contract in Portugal, you can apply for your residence permit directly with the Portuguese migration authorities.

You must submit your visa application in Brazil through official channels. Portugal delegates visa application intake in Brazil to VFS Global service centers located in major cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Salvador, and Belo Horizonte, or directly through the nearest Portuguese Consulate serving your jurisdiction.

Required documents and the Hague Apostille

Preparing your official documentation correctly is the most important part of the application process. Because your documents originate in Brazil, Portuguese authorities require official legal validation to confirm their authenticity.

Here are the standard documents you must prepare for your visa application:

• Valid Brazilian passport: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave Portugal or for the full duration of your initial visa stay.
• Signed employment contract or promise of contract: For a D1 visa, this document must clearly state your salary, working hours, workplace location, and job title.
• Police clearance certificate: You must request a criminal record certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) issued by the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal).
• PB4 / CDAM Certificate: Under the bilateral healthcare treaty between Brazil and Portugal, Brazilian workers can obtain the PB4 document (Certificado de Direito à Assistência Médica) online for free through the Brazilian government portal. This certificate grants you access to the Portuguese public health system (SNS) on equal terms with local residents.
• Proof of accommodation: A signed rental agreement, a letter of invitation, or written proof that your employer provides housing in Portugal.
• Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia): Official Brazilian documents, such as police record certificates and personal certificates, must be legalised at a licensed Brazilian notary office (cartório) with a Hague Apostille stamp. Without this apostille, Portuguese authorities will reject your Brazilian documents.

Realistic costs on the Brazil side

Before moving, you need to budget for the necessary upfront expenses in Brazil. While visa fees are set by the Portuguese government, administrative costs in Brazil can vary depending on your location.

Here is a general breakdown of the estimated costs you will pay on the Brazil side before departure:

• Consular and visa application fees: Expect to pay approximately 500 BRL to 700 BRL (approximately 80 EUR to 110 EUR) paid to the visa processing centre or consulate.
• Document apostilling (Apostila de Haia): Notary fees in Brazil for apostilling required documents generally range from 100 BRL to 200 BRL per document (approximately 15 EUR to 30 EUR per page).
• Police record certificate: Issued free of charge online by the Brazilian Federal Police.
• PB4 Healthcare certificate: Issued free of charge online through the official portal of the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
• Medical certificate: If required by the specific consulate, a basic medical clearance from a local doctor in Brazil typically costs approximately 150 BRL to 300 BRL (approximately 25 EUR to 50 EUR).
• Flight ticket: A one-way economy flight ticket from Brazil to Lisbon or Porto usually ranges from 3,000 BRL to 5,500 BRL (approximately 500 EUR to 900 EUR), depending on the season and departure city.

Processing times for a Portuguese work visa in Brazil generally take approximately 30 to 60 days once all complete documents are submitted to the visa centre.

Avoid recruitment fees and scams

Under Portuguese labor law and European regulations, it is illegal for an agency, recruiter, or employer to charge a job seeker any fee to secure a job or job contract. The employer must carry all recruitment costs.

Be extremely cautious of individuals on social media or messaging apps who demand payment for a guaranteed job offer, a fake work contract, or administrative processing fees in Portugal. Legitimate Portuguese companies will never ask you to transfer money to a private bank account in exchange for an employment agreement. Always verify that the company contacting you is a registered business operating legally in Portugal.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can enter Portugal as a tourist and start working legally on day one.
  Fact: Working on a tourist entry is illegal in Portugal. You must hold a valid work visa, job seeker visa, or proper authorization to work legally.
• Myth: You must pay an agency thousands of reais to get an employment contract for Portugal.
  Fact: Recruitment fees are paid by the employer. Asking a worker for money in exchange for a job contract is illegal under European law.
• Myth: The CPLP visa allows you to move to Portugal without showing any documents or background checks.
  Fact: While the CPLP agreement simplifies requirements, you still need an official criminal record check, a valid passport, and proper visa approval.
• Myth: You need to translate all your Brazilian documents into European Portuguese.
  Fact: Because Portuguese is the official language in both Brazil and Portugal, official Brazilian documents do not require translation, though they must be apostilled.

Before you sign

Before you sign a job offer or pack your bags in Brazil, run through this quick safety checklist:

• Confirm that the employment contract states your exact job role, working hours, and monthly salary in euros.
• Verify that the salary offered meets or exceeds the official Portuguese national minimum wage.
• Ensure the document clearly outlines accommodation arrangements and whether housing costs are deducted from your pay.
• Check that your Federal Police clearance certificate is fully apostilled at a Brazilian notary office.
• Apply for your free PB4 health certificate online before leaving Brazil to ensure immediate access to healthcare.
• Double check that you are dealing directly with the company or an authorized recruitment platform without paying recruitment fees.

Create your Workuro profile today

If you are a Brazilian worker ready to find legal employment in Portugal, make sure your Workuro profile clearly shows your exact trade, your practical work experience, your language abilities, and the legal documents you have ready, such as your passport or apostilled records. Having an accurate profile makes it easy for genuine European employers to evaluate your background and offer you legitimate positions.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.