Steps to apply for E8 Seasonal Work Purpose

For companies seeking opportunities to expand in the global market, Portugal is one of many enticing options. If your company is planning to extend operations in Portugal, many of your employees will need to obtain visas and work permits.

 E8 -Seasonal Work Visa

or a visa application for seasonal work purposes, the following documentation is required: 

• Formal petition application;
• Passport or additional valid travel document, for the duration of the travel;
• Passport photograph;
• Return ticket;
• Valid travel insurance, including necessary medical expenses, medical emergency and medical repatriation;
• Certificate of being in a regular situation when the applicant is from a different nationality than that of the country where the visa is being requested;
• Proof of means of subsistence, in compliance with legal requirements set by the competent Government entity;
• Work contract or valid work offer for seasonal work purposes, with a temporary work company or an employer established in Portuguese territory, identifying the location, time, type of work, as well as duration, salary and paid vacation;
• In the case of regulated professions, compliance with national legal requirements for that profession is mandatory;
• Adequate medical protection, in similar terms to national citizens, or medical insurance for the periods that may not be covered by medical protection; as well as work accidents insurance provided for the employer;
• Dignified accommodation, through a rental lease or equivalent. Accommodation can also be provided by the employer, in compliance with existing legal requirements.

The work activity must be registered in the list of work sectors for which seasonal work is available, defined by competent authorities. The current sectors, defined by Order n.º 745/2018 of 17 January, are:

• Agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry and fishing;
• Hospitality, restaurants and similar;
• Food industry, liquor and tobacco industries;
• Gross and Retail commerce;
• Construction;
• Land transport.

Short Stay Visa

For applying for a short-stay Schengen visa, the following documentation is required:

• Duly filled form and signed (For minors and incapacitated forms should be signed the legal guardian);

• Passport Photograph;

• Authentic and Valid (over 3 months after the date of exit) Travel Document; a photocopy of prior passport and visas.

• Certificate of being in a regular situation when the applicant is from a different nationality than that of the country where the visa is being requested;

• Travel reservation (return ticket);

• Travel medical insurance. Shall a multiple visa be granted, applicants shall sign the statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent stays.

• Economic and work conditions: work certificate and salary, as well as three last bank transcripts (proof of means of subsistence), covering the entire stay and return to the country of origin.

• Travel authorization for minors or court decision (when applicable);

• Hotel reservation (if applicable) or statement of responsibility.

• If staying with a family member, proof of family relationship is required, and proof of housing conditions may be requested. If the person signing the term of responsibility is not a Portuguese national, proof of being legally in Portugal is required; or,

• For business purposes, an invitation clarifying on the purpose of travelling and date of arrival and departure, as well as host organization and person responsible; or,

• For participation in political, economic, scientific, cultural, sport or religious events, proof of attendance is required, registration or entry ticket; or, 

• For journeys undertaken for medical reasons: an official document of the medical institution confirming necessity for medical care in that institution and proof of sufficient financial means to pay for the medical treatment; or,

• Entry visa for the destination country (if applicable).

If the application is lodged in a country where a harmonized table, with general and specific documentation requirements, the chart should be consulted in order to avoid any missing document when filing the application.

Refer to the harmonized documents table concerning required documents for visa application lodging in specific countries or territories:

Type of visas in Portugal 

The Schengen Visa is an authorization issued by a Member State for the purpose of airport transit or short stays in the territory of one or more Member States, allowing the holder to present himself at the external border.

A short-stay visa does not automatically confer the right to enter the Schengen area, it only entitles its holder to present himself at a border post and apply for entry into the country [Article 30 of the Visa Code, article 5 of the Convention for the Application of the Schengen Agreement and article 6 of the Borders Code].

At the border, you may be required to present documentation related to the conditions of stay, for example, relating to the availability of sufficient means of subsistence to cover your stay and return trip, accommodation conditions and valid travel medical insurance.

The Schengen visa is intended for short stays of up to 90 days in each 180-day period and can be granted for the purposes of tourism, family visit, business, seasonal work, transit, among others.

 Short stay visa

Visas issued to allow for transit and short-term stays in the Schengen area. Those visas have a maximum validity of 90 during any 180-days period, allowing one or multiple entries.

 Short stay visa

Visas issued to allow for transit and short-term stays in the Schengen area. Those visas have a maximum validity of 90 during any 180-days period, allowing one or multiple entries.

 Airport transit visa

Airport Transit Visas are granted to allow a person to transit within the international area of an airport, from one flight to another, without entering the Schengen area.

The applicant shall appear in person at the consular post of the applicant´s area of residency.

The visa request instruction should provide justification regarding the objective and conditions of stay. If necessary, the consular post may schedule an interview, in person, with the applicant, to be held within two weeks of the date of application. All documents are to be produced in their original form, including copies.

Necessary documents being considered admissible as well as the payment of the visa fee for the administrative processing of the visa application does not entail a visa being granted, nor does it entail a refund in case of refusal.

When collecting your passport always check the data on the visa sticker.

Where should you lodge a visa application

According to your nationality and/or country of residency, if your country of residency is different from that of your nationality, refer to the Portuguese consular post below where to lodge a long-term visa application:

Fhlow  this link :  https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/where-should-you-lodge-a-visa-application