☕ Finding work quickly

Cafés, restaurants, hotels, cleaning, shops, deliveries, construction and agriculture often hire quickly, including people still learning Portuguese.

Prepare a one-page CV in Portuguese (and English). Walk in between the lunch and dinner rush, roughly 3 to 6 pm, and ask for the manager: “Boa tarde, estou à procura de trabalho. Tenho disponibilidade imediata.”

Register at your local IEFP employment centre (Centro de Emprego). It's free and offers job offers, training and Portuguese classes. Job websites, LinkedIn and your community's associations, churches and mosques are also good places to ask.

Red flags: never pay to get a job, never hand over your passport, and ask for a written contract.

Official links

IEFP

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More from the guide

🧭 First steps in Lisbon 🧾 NIF: your tax number 🛡️ Social Security (NISS)🏥 Health 🪪 Living here legally ⚖️ Your rights at work 🎓 Towards a job that fits your skills 🏠 Finding a room safely

General information to help you get started, written in October 2026. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so always check the official links.