How to Find a Job in Portugal in 2026: A Practical Guide

Finding a job in Portugal requires more than sending your CV to recruitment websites. For many people, especially foreigners, the most effective approach is to combine personal contacts, local Facebook groups, OLX, LinkedIn, recruitment agencies and Portugal’s official IEFP employment service.

The Portuguese government also provides an important option for non-EU citizens who are still living abroad: an official IEFP portal where eligible candidates can apply for vacancies from their home countries. Here is how to find real job opportunities, approach employers, prepare your application and understand the documents needed to work legally in Portugal.

Ask friends and people you know before relying only on job websites

One of the most overlooked ways of finding employment in Portugal is through personal contacts. A friend, neighbour, former colleague or someone from your community may know that their company is looking for workers before the vacancy is advertised online.

This is particularly useful for jobs in restaurants, construction, cleaning, warehouses, factories, hotels and supermarkets.

For example, if someone you know works in a restaurant and the owner needs another kitchen assistant, they may be able to introduce you directly to the employer.

What you should do:

• Tell your friends and acquaintances that you are looking for work.
• Share your CV with people who work in your preferred industry.
• Ask former colleagues about vacancies at their companies.
• Keep in touch with people from your local community.
• Be specific about the type of work you want and when you can start.

This does not mean you need personal connections to get a job. It simply means you should not ignore opportunities that come through people rather than advertisements.

Search Facebook groups for local job opportunities

Facebook is worth checking, particularly if you are looking for local jobs or entry-level positions.

Many community groups share recruitment advertisements, restaurant vacancies, construction work, cleaning jobs and warehouse opportunities. Some employers and small businesses also publish vacancies directly in local groups.

Search Facebook using terms such as:

• Jobs in Portugal
• Empregos em Portugal
• Jobs in Lisbon / Empregos Lisboa
• Jobs in Porto / Empregos Porto
• Foreigners in Portugal
• Expats in Portugal
• Indian, Brazilian or Nepalese community groups in Portugal.

A useful trick: Do not just search for job advertisements. Publish a short post explaining that you are looking for work, your experience, your location and the type of job you can do.

However, verify the employer before sending personal documents. Never pay someone who promises to arrange a job for you.

Check OLX Portugal for job advertisements

OLX Portugal

OLX is another place worth checking, especially for local opportunities with smaller businesses.

Open the employment section, select your preferred location and look for recently published advertisements.

Try searching with Portuguese job titles:

Job you want	Search term
Kitchen assistant	Ajudante de cozinha
Cleaner	Limpeza
Warehouse worker	Operador de armazém
Construction worker	Construção civil
Waiter	Empregado de mesa
Factory worker	Operador de produção
Driver	Motorista

OLX is not an official recruitment service, so check the company’s identity, salary and employment conditions before accepting anything.

Use these job websites in Portugal

For professional jobs, office positions and international companies, LinkedIn and Indeed are useful starting points. For local employment, Portuguese job portals can also help you find vacancies that might not appear on international websites.

Here are the main websites worth checking:

1. IEFP Online

Portugal’s official public employment portal. Search vacancies, publish your CV and explore training opportunities.

2. Net-Empregos

Useful for searching vacancies across different sectors and locations.

3. Indeed

Search by profession, location and experience.

4. LinkedIn Jobs

Particularly useful for IT, engineering, finance, administration and international companies.

5. SAPO Emprego

Another Portuguese recruitment website to include in your search.

6. EURES

Official European employment network with opportunities and labour-market information.

The IEFP’s employment guidance, updated on 31 October 2026, specifically recommends using several methods together, including its own portal, LinkedIn, newspapers, company websites, recruitment agencies and direct applications.

Register with recruitment agencies

Another practical method is to register directly with recruitment agencies operating in Portugal.

These companies recruit workers for different employers, including factories, warehouses, hotels, restaurants and offices.

Some agencies you can contact include:

• Randstad Portugal
• Adecco Portugal
• ManpowerGroup Portugal
• Gi Group
• Eurofirms

Visit their websites, create an account, upload your CV and apply for vacancies matching your experience.

You can also visit a local agency office and ask whether it is recruiting for temporary or permanent positions.

Important: Check that a temporary employment agency is licensed through the IEFP official register. You should not have to pay someone an advance fee simply to receive a job offer.

Apply directly to companies

This is particularly useful for people looking for work in restaurants, hotels, cafés, supermarkets, shops and smaller businesses.

Not every employer advertises vacancies online. Some accept CVs directly and contact suitable candidates when a position becomes available.

Try this simple method:

1. Search Google Maps for restaurants, hotels, supermarkets or companies near your home.
2. Make a list of businesses you would like to work for.
3. Visit their websites and check their recruitment pages.
4. Send your CV to their recruitment email address.
5. If appropriate, visit the business and politely ask whether they are hiring.

For example, if you are looking for kitchen work, visit restaurants in your area outside their busiest hours and ask whether they need kitchen assistants.

The IEFP itself recommends contacting companies directly and submitting candidaturas espontâneas (unsolicited applications), even when no vacancy is advertised.

Can you find a job in Portugal without speaking Portuguese?

Yes, but your opportunities may be more limited.

According to the European employment network EURES, finding work in Portugal without Portuguese can be difficult, except in certain areas such as customer service, IT, agriculture and some hotel and restaurant positions.

If you speak English, search for:

• English-speaking customer support.
• International call centres.
• IT and software positions.
• Hotel and tourism support.
• Warehouse and logistics work.
• Kitchen and food preparation jobs.

Do not search only in English. Use Portuguese job titles as well, because many local employers publish advertisements in Portuguese.

My advice: Start learning basic Portuguese even while searching for employment. Being able to understand instructions, communicate with colleagues and speak to customers can open considerably more opportunities.

Prepare your CV before applying

A good CV can make a significant difference.

You do not need a complicated design. Prepare a simple one- or two-page CV containing:

• Full name and contact number.
• Email address.
• Current location in Portugal.
• Previous work experience.
• Education and qualifications.
• Languages and your level of proficiency.
• Relevant skills.
• Availability, if appropriate.

Ideally, prepare both Portuguese and English versions.

For example, if you are applying for restaurant work, highlight previous restaurant experience rather than filling your CV with unrelated information.

Also, make sure your phone number and email address are correct. Employers need to be able to contact you.

Important: Can you sign a job contract without a NISS?

This is particularly important for foreigners who have received a job offer but are still waiting for their Social Security number.

A NISS (Número de Identificação da Segurança Social) is your Portuguese Social Security identification number.

According to an official government announcement published on 24 February 2026, employers can sign employment contracts with foreign workers even if they do not yet have a NISS.

The employment contract can be used as the basis for requesting the number, and the employer must communicate the employment relationship to Social Security after the NISS is assigned.

You can read the official announcement from Gov.pt here.

However, this does not mean everyone can work regardless of immigration status. You must still have the legal right to undertake employment in Portugal.

Can you work in Portugal as a foreigner?

Your right to work depends on your nationality and immigration status.

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: Generally have the right to work in Portugal under European free-movement rules.
• Non-EU citizens already living in Portugal: Must have an immigration status that legally allows them to work.
• People living outside Portugal: Generally need an appropriate Portuguese work visa before starting employment.

There is also a useful official resource for non-EU citizens who are still abroad.

The IEFP launched a dedicated section for job vacancies aimed at non-EU citizens who do not live in Portugal. Updated on 20 October 2026, this portal allows eligible candidates to apply directly to vacancies where Portuguese employers are willing to receive applications from abroad.

If selected, candidates can proceed with the relevant work visa application.

Visit: IEFP – Jobs for non-residents from non-EU countries.

This is particularly useful for people who want to secure employment before travelling to Portugal.

Check the salary before accepting a job

Before accepting an offer, ask the employer about the actual working conditions.

For 2026, the national minimum monthly wage in mainland Portugal is €920 gross, effective from 1 January 2026, under Decree-Law No. 139/2025.

Remember that gross salary is not the same as the amount you receive in your bank account.

Before signing, confirm:

• Monthly gross salary.
• Whether salary is paid over 12 or 14 instalments.
• Working hours and weekly schedule.
• Whether the job is full-time or part-time.
• Contract duration.
• Holiday and Christmas allowances.
• Meal allowance, if applicable.
• Overtime arrangements.

You can also consult Gov.pt’s official guide to working in Portugal to understand employment contracts and worker rights.

What are people saying about finding jobs in Portugal?

Community discussions provide another useful perspective because official websites cannot tell you everything about the actual experience of searching for work.

In discussions on Reddit’s r/Portugal and r/PortugalExpats, several recurring experiences stand out:

• People recommend LinkedIn, Indeed, Net-Empregos and SAPO Emprego.
• Some job seekers say they receive very few responses despite sending many CVs.
• Some users recommend contacting companies directly instead of waiting for online advertisements.
• Others say that personal contacts and recommendations can help secure interviews.
• Job seekers also warn about advertisements that remain online for long periods without producing any visible recruitment results.

In one discussion in November 2025, a Portuguese job seeker described repeatedly finding the same vacancies on Net-Empregos and receiving little response. Other users recommended contacting companies directly and sending targeted applications.

In another discussion on PortugalExpats, users recommended LinkedIn, Net-Empregos, Indeed and recruitment agencies, while also warning about questionable or repeatedly advertised vacancies. Read the discussion.

These are personal experiences, not official statistics, but they highlight an important point: sending applications online should not be your only job-search strategy.

Final advice: Do not depend on just one way of finding work

If you are currently living in Portugal and looking for employment, start with your personal network, check local Facebook groups, search OLX and recruitment websites, register with IEFP and contact companies directly.

Prepare a good CV, search using Portuguese job titles and follow up on applications rather than simply waiting for replies.

Most importantly, remember that finding a job is not only about finding an advertisement. It is about making employers aware that you are available, showing them what you can offer and building connections that may lead to an opportunity.

A good job-search strategy combines online applications, personal contacts and direct communication with employers. Use all three, stay consistent and never pay someone simply for promising you a job in Portugal.