Portugal Seasonal Work Visa From Saudi Arabia

Helps Employees Gain Valuable Experience

If you want to work in Europe as a Saudi, getting a job may be challenging because you do not have European experience. The seasonal work visa offers a valuable experience that can land you a permanent job in Portugal and any other country in the EU.

Means of Earning Money

The seasonal work visa allows you to earn money while you search for permanent employment. In 2023, employees in Portugal earned over €800 as minimum wage per month.

Quality of Life

Employees in Portugal get to enjoy the quality of life and healthcare in Portugal for the duration of their stay. The cost of living in Portugal is affordable, and the healthcare is one of the best in Western Europe.

Job Opportunities

It is often easier to find job opportunities when you are already in the country than when you are outside. If you want a permanent job in Portugal, starting with a seasonal work visa may be a good idea. You can now be on the lookout for other permanent roles that come with work visa sponsorship.

Again, since Portugal is part of the Schengen, you could stand a chance to meet an employer from another country willing to help you apply for a work visa in their home country.

Immersion in Portuguese Culture

The seasonal work visa allows you to experience the beautiful culture of the Portuguese people. You also get to enjoy the pleasant weather, picturesque beaches and the friendliness of the people.

Age

As a Saudi looking to get a seasonal work visa, you must prove that you are at least 18 years old at the time of application.

Nationality

Only non-EU citizens are eligible for the seasonal work visa, so as a Saudi, you can apply.

Clear Criminal Record

It is a mandatory requirement for anyone applying for any Portuguese visa to prove they have not been convicted of any criminal offence. The Portuguese government takes this seriously as it is invested in the well-being and safety of the citizens and residents of Portugal.

When applying for a seasonal work visa, you must show a criminal record certificate from Saudi Arabia and any other country where you have spent at least 3 months in the past 5 years.

Valid Job Offer

The first thing you need to secure in applying for a seasonal work visa is an employment offer. You cannot apply for the visa if you do not have a job offer from an employer in Portugal.

Your offer must show your job details, including location, salary and roles. Your employer will issue you a job offer after getting permission from the labour authorities to employ you from Saudi Arabia.

Skill, Education or Experience

You must prove to the Embassy that you have the needed skills, education or experience for the job you are coming to do. This is necessary to checkmate bogus employment offers.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is another requirement when applying for any Portuguese visa. The value of the medical insurance must be up to €30,000 and has to be valid in every European country.

Proof of Funds

When applying for any Portuguese visa, you must show the Embassy that you have enough money to care for yourself during your stay. This ensures that you can survive in the country without burdening the government. The Embassy does not specify the exact amount you need to show. But it is advised that you show you have between €45 to €75 to spend daily in Portugal.

Evidence of Accommodation

Portugal’s government wants to ensure you have a place to stay before you move to the country. You can show the Embassy that you have rented an apartment or house, bought a property, or booked a hotel or Airbnb where you will stay while working.

Ties to Home Country

Overstaying your visa is an immigration breach that can make the Portuguese government respond with punitive measures. These measures include deportation, imprisonment and a ban on entry into the country. Note that EU countries sometimes share information. So, if you break an immigration rule in one country, you may find it hard to get into another.

To ensure that you will leave once your visa expires, you must show the Embassy that you have something to take you back home to Saudi Arabia. This can be a booked flight ticket to Saudi or marriage and birth certificates showing you have a family to return to.

Saudi Passport

Your passport is one of the most important documents you must present at the point of application. It is both a means of identification and proof of your nationality. Your submitted passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.

It must also be valid for up to 3 months after your seasonal work visa expires. Note that you must have a blank page where your visa will be attached.

Passport Photograph

You have to present two recent digital passport photographs when making your application. The photographs must not have been taken earlier than 6 months from the date you submitted your application.

Note that your photograph must comply with the EU standards. It must show only your face and shoulders, with every part of your face being visible. If you wear medicated glasses, you must ensure the lens does not reflect the light from the camera.

Job Contract

This is another vital document you must submit. You and your employer must sign the contract. It must show details of your location, job duration and terms. It must also spell out how much you will be paid.

Bank Statement

You have to present an official statement from the bank showing you have enough money for your stay in Portugal. The bank must sign and stamp the statement.

Visa Application Form

The visa application form is on the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Download the form from the site, complete the form and sign at the end. Note that if your visa application is not signed, your application will not be processed.

Birth Certificate

This is a document that proves that you are at least 18 years old at the time of applying.

Criminal Record Certificate

You must contact the Saudi Police to issue a criminal record certificate to prove you have never committed a criminal offence. You must also get this from any country you have lived in for 3 months in the past 5 years.

Signed Consent Form

Aside from submitting the criminal record certificate, you have to give the SEF permission to do a background check on you and confirm the certificate you sent to them.

Receipt of Visa Fees

Another necessary document you must submit is the receipt showing you have paid the visa fees. Note that your visa application will not be processed if you do not show this.

Flight Itinerary

This proves you are ready to return to Saudi once your visa expires.

Marriage and Birth Certificates

This shows you have a family to return to when you finish your work.

Medical Insurance Policy Certificate

You present this to prove that you have EU-wide valid medical insurance. The value of the insurance must be at least €30,000.

Property Deed/Rental Contract/Hotel Booking

These show that you have your accommodation sorted before you enter Portugal.

Talk to us at Total Law

Our lawyers can help make a quick application for you. We are experts in Portuguese immigration and employment laws and can help you apply for a visa without hitches.

Find a Job

Since you must show the Embassy a job offer, you must look for seasonal work. Once the work is secured, you can proceed to the next step.

If you want to go to Portugal to look for work, consider getting a Job Seeker visa.

Get Your Employer to Liaise with the Labour Authorities

After securing the job offer, the next step is for your prospective employer to get a work permit for you. The work permit here means getting approval from the Ministry of Labour to employ you. They can only do this after they prove they could not find any EU resident or citizen capable and willing to do the job.

Apply for Visa

If the Labour authorities give your employer approval, you can then apply online with the job contract. You must complete the form online and then schedule your document submission with the Embassy or any visa application centre near you.

Pay Visa Fees

The next step would be for you to pay the visa fees. You can pay the fees via bank transfer, cheque or money order in favour of the Embassy. You can also pay this fee at the Embassy or application centre. But you must ensure you pay and attach the receipt to your other supporting documents.

Submit Documents

You’ll have to go to the Embassy or visa application centre close to you to submit your documents. Note that the Embassy does not accept walk-in submissions. Hence, you must book your document submission in advance. After the officials look into your documents and are satisfied, they will collect your biometrics.

You can visit the Portuguese Embassy at Bldg 56 – 6323 Prince Faisal Ibn Saad Ibn Abdulrahman, Al Woroud District, Riyadh 12251 – 3061, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Pick up Your Visa

If the Portuguese Embassy approves your application, you will be notified by mail where and where to pick up your visa. You can then travel to Portugal after that.

Get a Residence Permit

When you apply for a seasonal work visa from Saudi Arabia, you get a residency visa that allows you to enter Portugal and stay for 120 days. Upon getting to Portugal, you must schedule a meeting with the SEF and obtain your residence permit. After getting the residence permit, you can get a bank account and an NIF number.

Overview

As a seasonal worker in Portugal, certain rules confer rights on and protect you from being maltreated.

Your employer(s) are required by law to abide by these rules.

Below are some of your rights as a seasonal worker in Portugal:

Rights to Fair Compensation

Your employer must pay you at least the minimum wage in Portugal. You must also be compensated fairly when you work beyond agreed work hours.

Right to Safe Working Environment

As a seasonal worker in Portugal, your place of work must be conducive. Your employer must make it a duty to provide a healthy and safe working environment for you. They must also provide safety wear and equipment to ensure you are not harmed while working for them.

This rule does not just protect you from physical harm; it also protects you from emotional abuse and maltreatment. Your employer or colleagues of Portuguese origin must not also discriminate or exploit you in any way.

Comprehensive Work Contract

The work contract must be comprehensive. There must be no bogus terms and unclear references. The employer must spell out every term of the contract. This is to ensure that the process is fair and transparent. The details that must be clarified are wage, working hours, job roles and responsibilities.

It is important to note these things before applying for a visa. This is so you can request an adjustment on any term that does not sit well with you.

Offering Accommodation

Often, people who want to apply for a seasonal worker visa cannot find accommodation while they are outside Portugal. Some employers undertake the responsibility of getting accommodation for their employees.

When this happens, the accommodation is expected to be sound and comply with every safety and health law. If the employer gives you accommodation and wants to deduct the cost from your salary, they must not deduct more than 20% of your salary.

Again, it is advisable that whatever agreement you and your employer reach concerning your work be written down and signed. This will be important in the case of any breach of agreement.

Travel Rights

As a seasonal work visa holder, you can travel within Portugal as much as your job(s) allow. But, if you move into a new city, you must notify the local authorities about where you live.

Travelling out of Portugal while your visa is still valid may be a challenge. This would affect the validity of your visa and the possibility of a renewal.

Right to Different Employers

The seasonal work visa does not tie you to a particular employer. You can work with as many employers as you want. But you have to ensure that the jobs are temporal and seasonal.