Portugal has officially ended its traditional job-seeking work visa, replacing it with a new category designed to attract skilled professionals. The change took effect on October 23, 2025, following the publication of Law No. 61/2025 in the Official Gazette.
The country continues to introduce new and stricter immigration rules. This shows a new shift towards the overall impact of immigration in recent times. The end of the job seeker visa is a shock for many who have already seen changes in seven other big immigration regulations in the past few months.
All Existing Appointments Canceled
The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all appointments for the previous job-seeking visa have been canceled starting Thursday, October 23. As a result, Portuguese consulates and visa centers — including VFS Global, BLS International, and TLScontact — will no longer accept applications under the old visa type.
Introduction of the Skilled Work-Seeking Visa
In place of the general job-seeking visa, Portugal will soon introduce a Skilled Work-Seeking Visa. However, applications for this new category can only begin once the necessary regulations are finalized, in accordance with the updated Foreigners Law. This means applicants must wait until the government defines the full criteria and procedures.
Focus on Qualified and Technical Professions
The revised law limits work-seeking opportunities to individuals with qualified or specialized technical skills. Although these “specialized skills” have yet to be officially defined, the upcoming executive order is expected to clarify the qualifications required to apply for the new visa type.
Broader Immigration Policy Changes
Law No. 61/2025 not only reshapes Portugal’s work visa framework but also updates several key immigration policies. It restricts family reunification for some foreign residents (excluding refugees) and modifies the rules for granting residence permits to citizens from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).
What This Means for Applicants
For now, anyone planning to move to Portugal for job opportunities must wait for the new Skilled Work-Seeking Visa regulations to be published. Until then, no new job-seeking visa applications will be processed.
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