Portugal has made its Skilled Job Seeker Visa official, which has taken over the prior
general work-seeking visa according to the new Foreigners Law. The Ministry of State and
Foreign Affairs has publicly stated that the old visa category is no longer in existence and all
previously scheduled appointments are now considered to be cancelled. People applying
from all corners of the world will have to bide their time till the new regulations are released
before the revised skilled-focused visa system is completely in place.
Main Points of Portugal Skilled Job Seeker Visa
● The Portugal Skilled Job Seeker Visa has replaced the old general work-seeking visa
as part of the new Foreigners Law (Law No. 61/2025) in Portugal.
● The cancellation of all appointments and applications for the old visa category was
done on October 23, 2025.
● The new visa will only be available when the government publishes the implementing
regulations.
● The government will focus on skilled professionals who have either recognized
qualifications or experience in sectors facing a shortage of skilled workers.
● Services related to work-seeking visas are temporarily suspended globally,
including VFS Global, BLS International and TLScontact.
Portugal Launches New Skilled Job Seeker Visa, Replaces Old Category
The Portuguese government has officially abolished the previous general work-seeking visa
and at the same time, legalized the Skilled Job Seeker Visa which came under Law No.
61/2025, announced on October 22, 2025 in the Official Gazette of the country.
The Ministry of State and Foreign Affairs has announced the complete closure of the old visa
category. The day after the announcement October 23, 2025, the Portuguese embassies
and authorized visa centers will cease to accept and process any application that falls under the old visa category.
Implementation of the new visa category relies on the government’s publication of detailed
implementing regulations and hence it will not take effect until then. As a result, all services
related to work-seeking visas are globally suspended until further notice, including those
provided by VFS Global, BLS International and TLScontact.
Why Portugal Shifted to a Skilled Job Seeker Visa
The adoption of the Portugal Skilled Job Seeker Visa indicates the country’s ambition to
attract highly educated and skilled professionals who can facilitate its economic growth. The
previous visa category was appealing to a lot of applicants even if they did not have the right professional background, which made the government to tighten the criteria.
Portugal aims to nurture the talent in such critical sectors where talent is scarce –
● IT & Engineering
● Healthcare & Life Sciences
● Construction & Manufacturing
● Tourism & Hospitality
● Renewable Energy & Environmental Technologies
The call for skilled workers is still on and Portugal already handed out more than 100,000
work and residence permits in 2024, which is a 15% increase compared to the prior year.
The new visa turns the selection process more precise and based on skills.
How the New Visa Impacts Applicants
The new Portugal Skilled Job Seeker Visa has a direct impact on foreign nationals, mainly
thanks to the new law, especially those who would have given their application under the old
scheme.
What Applicants Need to Know
● None of the previously arranged appointments are still valid.
● Only those having certain educational or professional qualifications will be the ones
receiving the visa.
● Visa services, based on Portugal’s decision to release new regulatory guidelines, will
be suspended till then.
● The alteration corresponds to the European Union’s (EU) view that they should
attract skilled migrants rather than general applicants.
● The new structure can promise a faster and more efficient processing practice once it
kicks off.
This modification shifts Portugal toward the European countries like Germany and the
Netherlands which make high-skilled labor migration their priority.
What the New Visa Means for Indian Professionals
For Indian job seekers, the Portugal Skilled Job Seeker Visa is a great opportunity as it is a
way to connect with high-demand sectors in Europe.
Reasons Indian professionals should think about Portugal
● Definite demand for skilled workers; unemployment rate below 7%
● Communicative in English in the most important cities like Lisbon and Porto
● The cost of living in Portugal is lower than in other Western European nations
● The holder of a Portuguese residence permit can travel to 27 Schengen countries
● Possibility of applying for Permanent Residence after five years
Statistics from Eurostat indicate that employees from abroad constitute more than 9% of
Portugal’s total workforce, and Indian professionals are quickly gaining ground in those
sectors, IT, engineering and healthcare, where their expertise is most needed.
Portugal to Disclose Comprehensive Visa Regulations Soon
The official regulations for the Portugal Skilled Job Seeker Visa are soon to be made public
by the Portuguese government which will encompass the following aspects –
● Who can apply & what level of skills is necessary
● The steps for application and when the appointment slots will be reopened
● List of the documents required to confirm the qualifications
● The lifespan of the visa, its duration and conditions for renewal
Interim, applicants are advised against rescheduling already booked appointments or
booking travel related to the visa category that is being phased out.
FAQs
- What is the new Skilled Work-Seeking Visa of Portugal?
It is a visa category which is newly introduced that allows highly qualified and skilled professionals to come to Portugal in order to find a job, thus replacing the previous general work-seeking visa.
- Is the former Portugal work-seeking visa still in operation?
No, one of the invasions of 2025 was Portugal’s decision to cancel the old general work-seeking visa and, consequently, to cancel all appointments made under that category on October 23, 2025.
- Will the visa centers such as VFS Global take applications for the job seeker visa?
No, all work-seeking visa services worldwide, including that of VFS Global, BLS International and TLScontact, are temporarily closed until further notice.
- Who are the people who will benefit from the new Skilled Job Seeker Visa?
Only people with recognized qualifications, considerable experience, or specific skills in the fields of countries that are in need of labor will be able to apply and be considered.
- Is this visa a good thing for Indian professionals?
Indeed, with the new skill-based system, Indian applicants in the sectors of IT, engineering, healthcare, construction, and hospitality which are in high demand will have a better chance of obtaining a visa.