Portugal

When traveling to Portugal, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Portugal, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

• » Attend business or sales meetings
• » Buy goods for sale outside the country
• » Tour a company facility
• » Sign contracts
• » Attend a trade show or seminar convention

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Portugal?

Nationals of the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter and conduct business activities in Portugal.

Portugal is a member of the Schengen Area, a free-travel zone comprised of 26 European countries. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver in the Schengen Area, you will be required to obtain a Schengen C Visa prior to travel. Visa-waivered nationals, as well as those who are required to obtain a visa, are authorized to travel to Portugal and throughout the Schengen Area. Please note that travelers may not spend more than 90 days within any 180-day period inside the Schengen Area.

What types of activities require work authorization?

The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Portuguese law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Portugal, even if conducted for a short duration.

• » Project implementation
• » Conducting repairs
• » Consulting

If I am traveling to Portugal for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Portugal. The most common types of work authorization for Portugal are:

• » Temporary Stay Visa (short-term work authorization for assignments and local hires)
• » Residence Visa and Residence Permit (long-term work authorization for local hires and assignees)
• » Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) Permit (work authorization for managers, specialists, and trainees transferred from a company based outside the EU to a host entity in Portugal that belongs to the same company or group of companies)
• » EU Blue Card (work authorization for highly-skilled direct hires)

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

Nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland are not required to obtain a work permit in order to work in Portugal. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in Portugal.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which governs post-Brexit relations between the EU and the U.K., has altered immigration regulations in the affected countries. Please be sure to contact your immigration representative for full details regarding the TCA's impact in Portugal.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.