Have you been thinking of how to Work and Study in Portugal? We’ve got you.
In this article, you will find enough information on how you can both work and study in Portugal without much stress.
You will almost certainly need to apply for a Portugal student visa if you are accepted into a Portuguese higher education institution.
Studying in Portugal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as you will have the opportunity to visit a beautiful sunny country rich in culture and history, meet new people, and receive a high-quality education.
Portugal also has one of the most affordable living costs in Western Europe.
Learn if a student visa is required for Portugal, as well as the requirements and application process.
Portugal Student Visa Requirements
You must submit the following documents when applying for a student visa in Portugal:
- Your passport must be valid (or travel document).
- Your university’s acceptance letter.
- Proof of tuition payment.
- A recently taken two passport-size photos. They must adhere to the Schengen image guidelines.
- Student application form
- Evidence of Financial capacity to support of period of study.
- Proof of residence. This could be a letter of ignoring an invitation from a family member or friend, rental agreement, or university
- housing.
- Criminal certificate records
- A certificate of Schengen travel health travel.
How to Apply for a Portugal Student Visa?
You must contact the Portuguese Embassy in your place of residence to apply for a Portugal student visa.
Your university’s Letter of Acceptance must already be in your possession.
Below is a summary of the student visa application process:
- Obtain your university’s Letter of Acceptance.
- Determine where you should send your application. Get to know more by visiting the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Interview appointment with the Embassy.
- Fill out the student visa application in Portugal.
- All documents for application are to be ready.
- Pay the requisite fee for a student visa. This can be paid either by transfer, online, or cash payment.
- Submission of relevant documentation on your appointment day.
- Give time for the visa to be processed.
- You can travel to Portugal once you receive the visa.
- Make an appointment with the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) to obtain a residence permit on arrival to the country.
Processing Time for a Portugal Student Visa
A student visa process takes about a few weeks to three months depending on the country of residence, Embassy.
Once you receive your Admission letter, start the application process.
How Much Does the Portugal Student Visa Cost?
You must pay a visa fee at the Embassy as well as a residency permit from the SEF when applying for a student visa:
- €90 embassy fee
- The fee for submitting a resident permit application at the SEF is €83.
- The cost of Residence permit from the SEF is €72
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Note that the costs shown are estimates and may vary from nation to country. In Portugal, the duration of a student visa is one year.
On arrival to Portugal, you should apply for a residence permit at the SEF.
The student residence permit is valid for one year and can be renewed annually until the end of your studies.
The student visa is only valid for three months and it can be used to travel to Portugal.
Within the three months, make sure you sort out your residence permit after which the permit replaces the visa.
Make sure you renew your visa at least 30 days before expiry.
Can I work and study in Portugal with my students visa?
Yes, you can work and study in Portugal up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during semester breaks and holidays if you hold a residency visa for studying in Portugal.
You cannot work if you are enrolled in a short course (up to three months) and only have a Schengen visa.
Students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are free to work in Portugal.
Student Jobs in Portugal
Foreign students from the EU/EEA can work and study in Portugal with no restrictions or limitations imposed by the government.
Other students from outside the EU/EEA can work part-time in Portugal during the holidays and summer months for up to 40 hours or more.
Picking up a part-time job in Portugal is convenient and beneficial for many students.
The work environment is fairly laid-back, and students have plenty of time for their academics as well as personal hobbies.
In big cities, a lot of people speak English, and the residents are always so nice.
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As of 2019, the best pay in Portugal is €600 while the minimum wage for unskilled jobs is between €5 and €6.
When it comes to working in Portugal, companies, and establishments do not discriminate based on country or ethnicity.
Jobs are freely given to deserving people based on merit or the needs of the company.
Work and study in Portugal doing these:
Many foreign students find jobs as waiters or waitresses in restaurants or bars, as customer service representatives in international corporations, or as cashiers in supermarkets and grocery shops.
Bartenders, interpreters, customer service representatives, translators, IT and tech specialists, project managers, mobile developers, and a variety of other positions are available.
Occupations requiring communication and interaction are not exclusively reserved for English-speaking foreigners in Portugal; jobs requiring other languages such as German, Arabic, French, Russian, Italian, and Spanish are in high demand as well.
Students can also find part-time work tutoring subjects in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and medicine). Language schools and foreign outlets are also looking for students to teach English in Portugal.
Students have recently switched their talent to innovative techniques of earning money while they study.
Photographic, fashion design, and tailoring skills, as well as creative art and music, are now lucrative in the country.
In Portugal, freelancing and social media gigs are also quite popular work possibilities for students.
Internships, studentships, student association roles, dormitory keepers, campus security and environmental sanitation, faculty assistants and department secretaries, library assistants, and foreign student representatives are all available on campus.
In their respective departments, post-graduate students are primarily considered for teaching assistant and research assistant positions.
Can I Stay in Portugal After My Studies?
Yes! You can permanently stay in Portugal once you’re done with your studies if only you have a job.
You and your employer must meet the requirements for a Portugal work visa for you to switch from a student residence permit to a working residence permit.
When you find work, you’ll need to apply for a work visa before your student visa ends then submit your application in less than 30 days before your student visa expires, the SEF will reject it.
If your visa expires, you must return home and apply for a work visa through your home country.
10 Reasons to Study in Portugal
The Excellent Universities
Universities with a strong track record and reputation can be found all over the country.
To name a few, the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa was ranked among the world’s top 50 universities under 50 years old by QS.
The Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) offers a world-class Masters in Management.
The University of Porto’s Faculty of Architecture (FAUP) has been a leading European architecture school for decades.
The Low Cost of Living
Portugal is by far the most affordable country in Western Europe, and Lisbon is one of Europe’s most affordable metropolitan cities.
This means that if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be OK, and if you’re not, you’ll be able to live rather nicely.
The Portuguese are Kind and Welcoming.
The villagers will greet you with open arms, and after a brief introduction, it’ll be all hugs, kisses, food, and beer.
This country treats all visitors as welcome guests, regardless of whether they are tourists, laborers, Erasmus students, or postgraduate researchers.
It’s a Small Country with a Big Heart!
Do you have a short buddy who always tells you how wonderful it is to be short?
Portugal, on the other hand, is that smaller buddy of yours who continues to demonstrate why being a little country has its merits.
The beach, for example, is always close by – in Porto or Lisbon, you’re never more than 20/30 minutes from the shore.
Learn Portuguese – a Global Language
Even though Portugal is one of the few nations in Europe where people actively try to understand you on the street, whether you speak to them in English, Spanish, or even Russian, you will learn some basic Portuguese if you study there.
If you learn Portuguese, you’ll be speaking the world’s sixth most spoken language, which will help you develop connections with individuals from four continents once you graduate (South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia).
The Weather
Although the rain in Spain tends to stay in the plains, Portugal likes its sunshine. In most years, the country — and particularly the southern portions of Portugal – receives just about 90 wet days.
The Atlantic Ocean
The Portuguese are enamored with the ocean that laps at the country’s shores.
This ocean is ideal for learning or practicing a variety of water sports: we have world-class scuba diving sites, world-class waves to surf or body board on, and a long history of yachting.
Even if you’re not interested in water sports, it’s beautiful to look at and enjoyable to swim in.
It’s a lot of fun.
What does it mean to you to have a good time? Drinks at hip bars, a loud street party, and late-night clubbing? Or do you prefer quieter pleasures such as a delicious meal shared with wonderful company and conversation, as well as an afternoon at the beach?
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Are you a mountain biker, a skateboarder, or a paint baller? Every day, the Portuguese love to have a good time in any manner they can.
The Great Portuguese Food
You will never, ever go hungry if you study in Portugal… unless you are a vegan. Meat, fish, and eggs are used in the majority of our recipes.
However, even if you aren’t vegan, the cuisine is delicious.
The food is hot and heavy, but sharing dinners’ and ‘Portuguese tapas’ are now popular, so you don’t have to leave the restaurant feeling like you’ve been stuffed by your grandmother.
Traditional Portuguese desserts are typically sweet, based on various mixes of egg, sugar, and cinnamon.
It Opens up Doors for your Future
Everything you’ve heard about the devastating financial crisis and sky-high jobless rates is accurate.
But the truth is that if you study in Portugal, you will have access to opportunities in the United States.
Hundreds of start-ups and small businesses would love to have you join their team while you finish your degree.
Whatever language you speak, it is a language that will be important to these businesses as they attempt to expand globally.
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If you achieve strong marks, network hard, and learn Portuguese after your degree, doors will open for you in the local start-up sector as well as major multinational enterprises in some of the new world’s monster economies, such as Brazil and Angola.
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Conclusion
The idea to Work and Study in Portugal is indeed amazing! You get to make extra cash to pay your debts, buy books, start up a business, save up for interesting trips, and many more.
This post is a guide to how you can apply to study in Portugal as well as get a job while still schooling.
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