Seasonal work visa: up to nine months in agriculture, hospitality, construction

Which jobs count as seasonal

Seasonal work is an activity tied to a time of year, for no more than nine months in any period of twelve, in a sector listed by the Government:

• agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry and fishing (CAE divisions 1–3);
• accommodation, restaurants and similar (55–56);
• food, beverage and tobacco industries (10–12);
• wholesale and retail trade (46–47);
• construction (41–43);
• land transport (49).

Stays of up to 90 days use a short-stay (Schengen) visa for seasonal work; from 91 to 270 days the temporary-stay visa described here applies.

• 91–270 days covered by this visa; 9 months maximum in 12
• Housing must be proven — lease, loan-for-use or the employer's guarantee with its conditions
• 15 days decision for workers admitted once in the last five years
• No return ticket required, unlike other temporary-stay visas

Documents specific to seasonal work

1. Contract or promise of contract with a temporary-work agency or an employer established in Portugal, stating the place, hours, type of work, duration, pay and paid holidays;
2. where the profession requires special qualifications, the competent body’s declaration;
3. proof of housing: a lease, a contrato de comodato (loan for use) or the employer’s termo de responsabilidade describing the accommodation and its conditions, unless these are already in the contract;
4. health insurance or proof of adequate cover;
5. work-accident insurance, provided by the employer.

Common documents: form, passport valid three months beyond the stay, two photos, proof of legal status if applying outside your country, travel insurance, criminal record certificate (apostilled), and means of subsistence — the contract’s pay, at least the 920 € minimum wage in 2026 pro rata, does that job.

Returning workers: the simplified procedure

A third-country national admitted for seasonal work at least once in the last five years, who respected the rules of entry and stay, benefits from a simplified procedure for a new seasonal visa — several documents are dispensed with — and the request is treated as a priority: the decision may not exceed 15 days.

Rights during the season

Seasonal workers are entitled to equal treatment with Portuguese workers in pay, working time, holidays, health and safety, social security and the collective agreement of the sector (Foreigners Act, art. 83.º n.º 2 as applied by the seasonal-work provisions). Wages are paid to a bank account — the NIF and a basic bank account are opened on arrival — and social contributions are due from the first day (11 % worker, 23,75 % employer).

Family members cannot accompany a seasonal worker on the “accompanying” temporary-stay visa; the ministry excludes it expressly.

Questions