Portugal Job Seeker Visa From Nepal

No Need for a Job Offer

You can apply for this Portugal Job Seeker visa without already having a contract with a Portuguese employer. All you have to do is fill in Portugal in your form and look for jobs that fit your experience requirements.

Application for Extension

Generally, you are allowed to enter and remain in Portugal for 120 days in order to look for work on a Job Seeker visa. However, you can request to stay in Portugal for an extra 60 days to continue looking for work if you are unable to obtain employment during the allotted 120 days.

Availability of Resources

There are several resources you can access throughout your Job Seeker visa programme as a Nepalese citizen while seeking job opportunities in Portugal. Job boards, networking events, career fairs are some of those resources you can access throughout the programme.

Employment Opportunities

With the Job Seeker visa opening up new opportunities for its candidates, Nepalese nationals might have a new chance to land their dream job in a country with considerable economic success.

You are also free to explore the Portuguese labour market. It is better to stay in Portugal on a Job Seeker visa than to go elsewhere and apply for a job. Hiring a non-EU individual who is already in Portugal will be easier for Portuguese employers than hiring a person who is not already in the country.

Non-EU Citizen

The Portugal Job Seeker visa is specifically designed for non-EU citizens. Therefore, before your application is considered for this visa, you must be a non-EU national. Because there’s no need for EU citizens to obtain a Job Seeker visa as they are allowed to enter Portugal and stay for up to 90 days visa-free.

Valid Passport Requirement

You are required to present your Nepalese international passport or an alternative travel document while applying for a Portugal Job Seeker visa. The passport has to be valid for up to an additional 3 months after your visa has expired.

Passport-Size Photographs

Get your 2 passport-sized photographs that were recently taken. These two photographs must be identical and must meet the photo requirements of Portugal visa application.

Application Form of a National Visa

All Nepalese applicants for the Job Seeker visa are required to provide the National visa application form. The reason is that the form is normally used to complete the needed details for a Portugal Job Seeker visa application, and it must be signed accordingly.

Cover Letter

Generally, your cover letter must convince the Portuguese authorities that you are a genuine visitor in Portugal and that you have ties to Nepal. In your cover letter, you must explain the reason you want to visit Portugal and look for jobs.

You can also tell your travel plans in Portugal, or other reasons you wish to enter the country. Additionally, you may also explain how financially prepared you are to embark on the journey.

Regular Status

You must present proof of regular status as a citizen of Nepal, and it must be valid longer than the anticipated due date of your Job Seeker visa. If you are applying from a country other than the country where you hold citizenship status, you will usually need a regular status.

Financial Requirement

You must show that you have the resources necessary to support yourself while you search for work in Portugal. You have to show that you make at least the minimum wage in Portugal, which is presently €760 per month, or roughly 3 months’ worth of income in order to prove this.

Therefore, before you are approved for the Job Seeker visa, you need to have saved at least €2,280. Your payslips, bank statements, and other documentation must be provided as proof. Another proof that you have enough money to pay for your expenditures while in Portugal is a letter of sponsorship from a friend or relative who lives there.

Health Insurance Requirement

You must have health insurance as you are not yet qualified to access Portuguese public healthcare. The reason is that you are not yet a tax resident in Portugal, and consequently not authorised to pay into the Social Security System.

The health insurance you must pay is a minimum of €30,000. That being said, the Portuguese embassy must ensure you are covered by health insurance while you search for jobs in Portugal.

SEF Criminal Record Inquiry

The SEF will ask for your permission to verify your background during your application for the Job Seeker visa. Your visa will be denied if their inquiry into your criminal history reveals anything questionable, therefore, it is crucial that it doesn’t.

Flight Itinerary

Nepalese applicants for a Job Seeker visa must show a flight ticket to Portugal and a return flight ticket back to Nepal. This will help to prove that they will depart Portugal immediately if their visa expires (if they do not find work or obtain a residence permit in the country).

Completed and Approved IEFP Form

The Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) form must be obtained and completed by all applicants for a Portugal Job Seeker visa. It must also be approved. This form shows that you have signed up or intend to sign with the IEFP once you arrive in Portugal.

Proof of Accommodation

Before you are granted a Portugal Job Seeker visa, you are required to prove that you have a place to stay when you enter Portugal. You must prove to the Portuguese authorities that you have a hotel reservation, rental agreement, or Airbnb.

Your Resume

You are required to add a copy of your resume in your Portugal Job Seeker visa application file. Your resume must emphasise your training, experience, and professional background. It needs to be updated and written in either Portuguese or English.

No Criminal Record

If you have ever been convicted of a serious crime or have other criminal records, your chances of getting a visa are very low. The Portuguese authorities take seriously its obligation to look into visitors’ criminal histories. The rationale is that they do not want migrants who could undermine law and order to be permitted to enter the nation.

Keep in mind that you must translate your Nepali documents into Portuguese or English. Ensure your translated documents are notarised as well. Additionally, the Portuguese government must have granted your translator a licence.

Register with the IEFP

Express your desire to apply for a Job Seeker visa by registering with the IEFP. You will be required to fill out the form with your details and the type of job you will do in Portugal.

If your submission is accepted, the IEFP will forward you an email confirming your acceptance before you proceed to the next stage. Note that being approved by IEFP does not guarantee you entry into Portugal. It is essentially a permission to apply for a visa.

Bring Your Documents

For your Portugal Job Seeker visa, you are required to provide all the required documents. Ensure that all your supporting documents are gathered and arranged properly, such as your travel document, passport-size photos, criminal record certificate, cover letter, round-trip flight ticket, and so on.

Complete Your Application

Starting your application is the next action you should take. Apply online at the Portuguese embassy’s website where you will fill out your details to obtain the Portugal Job Seeker visa. After deciding which kind of visa you need, complete the online application form that appears and submit the form.

Organise an Appointment

Keep in mind that your Portugal Job Seeker visa application cannot be completed online. That being said, you are required to fix an appointment at your nearest Portuguese embassy. You can fix the appointment with the embassy by email or call.

Attend the interview with all your supporting documents and have your biometric details (fingerprints and photographs) taken. Your documents will be assessed at the embassy and you will be asked questions regarding those documents to confirm their authenticity.

Get a Decision

A decision will be made regarding your visa application at the Portuguese embassy by the immigration officers after reviewing your documents. They will forward the decision within 30 to 90 days after your application. However, this depends on the workload at the Portuguese embassy.

If you need assistance in getting the required documents for your Portugal Job Seeker visa application, or preparing for your visa interview, Total Law can help. Call us on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.