Working in Portugal

Getting to work where others go on holiday? You can make this dream come true in Portugal. Portugal is an attractive destination for expats. The climate is pleasantly warm, the cost of living is low, and the quality of life is high. We will tell you what you need to know about working in Portugal, which professions are currently in demand, and how to find your dream job.

Working in Portugal will remind you of Germany in many ways. But there are also some aspects that are different. Just as is normal in Germany, it is customary to work a 40-hour week in full-time employment, i.e. eight hours, five days a week.  

You are legally entitled to 20 days of leave but will usually be granted 22 to 25 days. There are also around 13 public holidays in Portugal, but some regions and cities have even more.

The biggest difference in comparison with Germany is the paid sick days: you will only receive sick pay from the fourth day and even then not your full salary. Unlike in Germany, you will receive more money the longer you are sick. This means that you are entitled to 55 percent of your salary if you are sick for less than a month, 70 percent if you are sick for more than three months and 75 percent if you are sick for more than a year.

Another difference is the extended lunch break, which many will know from Spain, but which is also practiced in Portugal. This “siesta” lasts about two hours and is common primarily in small towns and in the countryside. In the larger cities, shops and restaurants are usually open throughout the day.

In Portugal, the primary language of communication in the business world is Portuguese. In the larger cities, however, English is also spoken in international companies. This means that, depending on your company, it will be very important for you to learn the local language. For some jobs in the tourism sector, knowledge of Spanish and French can be an advantage. German is often in demand in call centres and customer support.

Salaries in Portugal are usually significantly lower than in Germany, but this also varies depending on the industry. However, the cost of living in Portugal is also significantly lower – at least in the countryside and in smaller towns. In the cities, rental costs in particular are also rising.  

The minimum wage in Portugal is 870 euros per month. However, you will often receive 14 months’ salary in Portugal, as it is still customary to pay Christmas and holiday bonuses.

Your best chance of landing a job in Portugal is if you are able to work in one of the following industries:

• Tourism & gastronomy
• IT & technology
• Healthcare & nursing care
• Sales & digital marketing
• Customer service

Other important industries in Portugal are the textile, pharmaceutical, automotive and food sectors.

Like in many other countries, in Portugal you easily look for a job online. You can find vacancies across Europe, for example, through the European Union’s official EURES portal.

However, there are also other relevant job portals in Portugal:

• Sapo Emprego
• LinkedIn Portugal
• Indeed Portugal
• Net Empregos

You have found a suitable position? Then you can now go ahead and get your application ready. You should usually submit this in Portuguese, unless the job posting is English or the company specifies that you can submit an application in English.

Currículo (curriculum vitae in tabular form)

The most important document for your application is your CV. Draw this up in such a way that your most recent job comes first. It is also customary in Portugal to insert a photo. Your CV should also include personal information such as name, email address, phone number, and place of residence. You should indicate your language skills too, especially Portuguese and English.

Carta de apresentação (Cover letter)

The cover letter is not always required, but you can use it to describe your motivations – including why you want to emigrate to Portugal. Whether you write it in English or Portuguese, it is best to have your cover letter proofread again by a native speaker.

Referências & certificados (References & certificates)

It is often the case that you will not need your academic reports and certificates until later in the application process, i.e. you do not usually have to send them directly with your application. However, as an applicant from abroad, you may have to submit these right away as proof of your qualifications. If these are in German, you should have them translated into Portuguese (or English if desired) and certified.

More important in Portugal are references and certifications. As references, you can use employment references from previous employers. You should also send certification concerning further training, for example. You should also have these documents translated into Portuguese and certified.

Entrevista de emprego (Interview)

Have you been invited to an interview? Congratulations! We have a few more tips for you on what you should consider during a personal interview:

• Punctuality: Although Portuguese people are often a little more relaxed when it comes to time management, you should still be punctual for a job interview.
• Addressing the interviewers: In traditional companies, people tend to address each other with their surnames, while in young companies and start-ups they tend to be on a first-name basis. The best idea is to pay attention to how you have been addressed in the communication up until now.
• Small talk: It is best not to rush straight into the nitty-gritty, but to engage in some small talk. In Portugal, it is important to build a personal relationship and thus also respond to informal questions (in the context of small talk).
• Salary negotiation: As a general rule, you should avoid being too direct. In Portugal, especially when it comes to salary negotiations, you should hold back a little.

For your job application in Portugal, be sure to have your German documents translated and, in the best case, also certified. This will help your counterpart better assess your qualifications and, in turn, also increases your chances of being invited to an interview and thus getting the job.  

Why a certified translation? Certification confirms the accuracy of the translation by professional sworn translators. This makes a more professional impression than if you were to translate the documents yourself.