Portugal's job seeker visa is closed: what changed in October 2025 and the routes left

Law 61/2025 was published on 22 October 2025 and amended article 57-A of Law 23/2007, the Portuguese Foreigners Law ^{1 6}. The Foreign Ministry announced the same day that, from 23 October 2025, Portuguese consulates and the visa centres run by VFS Global, BLS International and TLScontact can no longer accept job seeker visa applications, because the visa no longer exists in the form the law used to define ¹. All appointments booked for that visa from 23 October 2025 were cancelled ¹.

The old visa let you enter Portugal to look for work. That option is closed, wherever you apply from.

In place of the old visa the law creates a skilled job seeker visa (visto para procura de trabalho qualificado) ¹. The Foreign Ministry describes it as a visa for holders of specialised technical qualifications ³.

You cannot apply for it yet. The Ministry's visa portal lists it as "NOT YET AVAILABLE AT PORTUGUESE CONSULAR OFFICES" and says it is waiting for the regulation of article 57-A ². The visa type overview marks it as suspended ³. The notice of October 2025 says applications will open only once the new type is regulated ¹. No date has been published on these pages.

The portal does not list requirements, a length of stay or a list of qualifying skills for the new visa ². Treat requirements published on other sites as unconfirmed until the regulation appears.

Several agency pages and blogs that rank well for "Portugal job seeker visa" still describe the old visa as available in 2026, with its old documents list. They were written before October 2025 or never updated.

The official position is on the Foreign Ministry's visa portal: the job seeker visa is not accepted, and its replacement is not available yet ^{1 2}. If a provider offers to book a job seeker visa appointment for you, check the portal first.

Portugal's residence visas for work still exist. They are often called D1, D3 and D8; the Foreign Ministry names them by purpose ³.

Route	What you need
Subordinate work (often called D1)	A work contract, a promise of a work contract or a demonstration of interest from an employer; a professional certificate if the profession is regulated in Portugal 4
Highly qualified activity (often called D3)	A contract or job promise for at least six months, proof of high qualifications for the job, and for a regulated profession proof that you may practise it in Portugal 4
Remote work (often called D8)	A work contract or employer declaration, or contracts with clients if you are self-employed; average monthly income over the last three months of at least four minimum wages; proof of your tax residence 4

With the 2026 minimum wage of 920 EUR a month ⁵, four minimum wages are 3,680 EUR a month (our calculation).

Each residence visa is valid for two entries and four months. Within that time you apply for a residence permit with AIMA, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum ³.

If you planned to use the job seeker visa, the closest substitute is to find the job first and apply for the subordinate work visa or the highly qualified activity visa with the contract or promise. If you already work remotely for clients or an employer outside Portugal, look at the remote work visa.

• Searching from abroad. You need an offer or a promise of a contract before you apply ⁴.
• Already booked an appointment. Appointments for the old visa from 23 October 2025 were cancelled ¹.
• Waiting for the skilled visa. Watch the Foreign Ministry's page for the regulation ².
• Means of subsistence. Portuguese visas use the minimum wage as the yardstick: 100% for the first adult, 50% for each other adult and 30% for each child ⁵.