See tips for living in Portugal and learn how to make this option a reality for your future professional.
Excited about your professional career? Have you considered starting one in Portugal?
Because of our history descent, the language is already a great facilitator for this goal. Not to mention that Portugal is located in one of the most considered continents to live on the planet, Europe. Perhaps because of this and its beautiful landscapes, the country has been one of the most chosen destinations by Brazilians who are migrating in search of well-being, quality of life and job opportunities abroad. By the way who wouldn’t want to start their professional career in Portugal?
But how is life there? Is the weather nice? And the visa for travel and housing, you must take them, if yes how to do so? How does the Portuguese professional market work? Do you have job openings in Portugal for Brazilians? What will be the remuneration in Portugal, living? Is it worth it? And so on…
Working in another country means adequately preparing for a set of challenges and expectations that come with transition and cultural differences.
So if you are interested in starting your international career in Portugal , we have brought some fundamental tips and care to make this an option for your future professional! Get ready for change!
Where to start?
First, make an analysis of the vacancies available in the Portugal market and a complete checklist of the requirements, main differentials and challenges. Then, if you don’t have a Linkedin account yet – business social networking and professional relationships – this is one of the first steps to giving visibility to your resume on the internet. Here’s how to create professional profile on LinkedIn here .
Know a little about the country and its culture
With 10.55 million inhabitants, Portuguese is not the only official language of the country. Mirandese, spoken by a small minority of inhabitants, is the other language that divides the official Lusitanian language post. And the Euro is the official currency of Portugal!
Despite being located in one of the continents that suffer most from the climate changes of the seasons, in general, Portugal offers plenty of sunshine due to the temperate maritime climate. In summer temperatures are between 35 ° C and 40 ° C.
The Portuguese cuisine is famous for the quality of the wines, exquisite sweets and the excellent and traditional Portuguese dish: codfish! Despite being one of the main delicacies of Portuguese cuisine, the cod served in the country is imported from Norway and Canada.
The l economy is mainly heated due to the local agriculture: the country exports excellent wines, olive oils and fruit. But more than a third of the country is forested, where about half of the world’s cork production is produced!
Job Opportunities in Portugal
According to the last census of the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in 2011, Portugal is the fifth oldest country in the world. On average, 20% of the population is over 65 years old.
In contrast, due to the shortage of skilled labor, this scenario is extremely promising for young people who have been warming up the labor market in Portugal. According to updated data from IEFP – Portuguese Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, in November 2018 the country received 18,231 job offers.
Rising Professions, Average Salary and Cost of Living
The minimum wage in Portugal is 600 €, above the average wage in Brazil. Adding the monthly costs on meals € 225, rent € 500, household expenses (water, electricity) € 90.96, public transport passes € 35 (bus / subway) and € 1.53 liter of gasoline, the cost life in Portugal is around € 1,450 / average.
The rising professions in Portugal vary with each region of the country. In the Central region, for example, there is a greater search for engineering professionals. In the South, the demand for graduates in Marketing and Communication is higher than in other regions and surpass the search for engineering professionals. In northern Portugal, careers related to technology (IT), logistics and engineering have more opportunities.
Visa for Portugal and documentation
All non-Portuguese citizens need visas to enter Portugal. With the exception of sightseeing tours, business trips, journalistic coverage and cultural mission, Brazilian citizens do not need a Portuguese visa for up to 90 days. For any other situation the visa is required. Without proper documentation, it is impossible for Brazilian immigrants to make use of the country’s services, such as legal access to the labor market and health care. So it is worth paying attention to the necessary documentation!
Work visa in Portugal
The visa to work in Portugal D1 intended for stays longer than one year. And the D2 visa grants residence permit to foreigners wishing to work in Portugal as service providers (lawyers, doctors, etc.).
To withdraw the visa, you have to go personally to the Portuguese Consulate, which, on average, takes 90 days to obtain an opinion from the Aliens and Borders Service, subject to an interview that may take place at the beginning or end of the visa process. See the necessary documentation for work visa in Portugal:
1. Employer’s employment contract in Portugal;
2. Letter from the company explaining why hiring a visa applicant is essential;
3. Proof of academic and professional specialty;
4. Opinion delivered by IEFP on your employment contract;
5. Proof of housing and income;
6. International travel medical insurance or document from the Portuguese public health system, PB4 (remember that in Portugal the public health system is not free)
7. Passport;
8. SEF authorization: authorization for the Aliens and Borders Service;
9. Payment of bank slip, among others;
Best cities economically
Portugal is such a charming country for its magnificent landscapes and excellent quality of life that it is difficult to choose which of its beautiful cities to live in.
With a growth of 2.52% in GDP in 2017, the capital Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and Braga are among the best options to live in Portugal. Although they are cities with high cost of living, there are the best professional opportunities, sights, leisure spaces, safety and mild climate.
Best universitys in Portugal and admission form
Choosing a university to enter higher education is already a challenge, especially in Europe, where the largest centers of study on the planet are concentrated.
According to the eighth edition QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017, Portugal was among the top 100 places. These are the University of Lisbon, University of Coimbra and the University of Porto. With emphasis on Architecture and Urbanism course, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Sport.
Because of the summer holidays (from July to September), quite different from Brazil, the first semester of the school year begins in mid-September. And the second and second semester runs from February until June.
Already the entrance exam of Portugal is very similar to that of Brazilians, being applied in July, the national exam for those who want to study in an undergraduate course in Portugal . And just like the public health system, the public education system is not free either, so even though it is cheaper than private universities, costs for international students range from € 6,000 / average per year. € 1,200 for the Master and € 2,750 for the Doctorate.
Visa for study purposes
The study visa in Portugal works in two ways. Temporary for a period of less than one year or for a period of one year. And the residence visa for a period exceeding one year. Scholarship recipients have exemptions from some administrative fees and costs.
The documentation for each case is different and follows a list of requirements:
1. Attend the consulate for an interview, which may take place at the beginning or end of the visa process;
2. Letter of acceptance for studies;
3. Proof of housing;
4. International travel medical insurance;
5. passport;
6. Visa application form and bank slip payment, among others;
By the way, is working in Portugal worth it?
In general, living in Portugal is an extremely advantageous opportunity, both professionally and personally. In addition to gain experience in a foreign country, get a career, especially in Europe, it is a bonus and both the curriculum of any professional, regardless of specialty or area of expertise. Despite the visa bureaucracy and cost of living, this change is more than a new experience; it is an investment in your career. When we look at this point, every possibility must be viewed as a challenge. By the way, get out of your comfort zone, try it!
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