A Brazilian national has complained of facing bureaucratic hurdles in Portugal when wanting to secure a residence permit despite holding a job-seeking visa.
According to Brun Miranda, a Brazilian national who has been issued a job-seeking visa, the Portuguese immigration agency (AIMA) has failed to meet the rules by requiring her to present a work contract only 29 days after arriving in Portugal, Schengen.News reports.
Under Portugal’s job-seeking visa, the holders of the document are given 120 days to search for employment in the country.
However, as Miranda explained, she was one of the many Brazilians who were issued a visa without an appointment at AIMA for the permit.
Since the appointment at AIMA was not included with the visa, the immigration agency contacted her 19 days after arriving in Portugal and requested that she present an employment contract within ten days or have the process denied, Portugal Giro notes.
I was one of the many Brazilians who received the job-seeking visa at the consulate without an interview appointment at AIMA, which should have been included with the visa. Because I didn’t have an employment contract just 19 days after arriving, in March, the officer gave me ten days to present one, under threat of having the process denied.
According to Miranda, AIMA ignored the guidelines of the job-seeking visa and thus hired a lawyer. Her lawyer has sent a formal notice, demanding a response from the immigration body on the matter.
At the same time, Miranda has also expressed concern about other Brazilians who are in the same situation and do not have the financial means to hire a lawyer.
Brazilians Urged to Apply for Portugal Visa While Still in Brazil
Nationals of Brazil who want to relocate to Portugal have been urged to apply for a Portuguese visa before leaving their country.
According to immigration lawyer Wilson Bicalho, those who start the application process in Brazil have a better chance of being granted a residence permit when in Portugal.
In contrast, those who submit their applications while in Portugal risk having a “very remote” chance of obtaining the documentation.
Nationals of Brazil are permitted visa-free entry to Portugal for short stays, but they need to obtain national visas for long-term stays.
Recent figures show that Brazilians filed 11,497 applications for Portuguese national visas in the first four months of 2025which represents a 56 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
It is estimated that Portuguese authorities handle around 95 requests daily, but there are still processing delays, partially due to the employer strikes.