All about the working holiday in Portugal!

WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.

Young adults from the following countries can apply for the Working Holiday Visa to Portugal:

Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, and the US*.

*US applicants must be enrolled in a US accredited post-secondary institution or be recent graduates (within 12 months of graduation).

The general visa application fee is €80. See source.

The exact list of documents may vary by nationality (confirm with your Portuguese consulate or embassy), but the standard items include:

• Completed application form
• Passport
• ID photo(s)
• Sufficient savings
• Adequate health insurance
• Proof of education level attained
• Background check

Other items:

• Proof of proficiency in Portuguese (Australians only)
• Proof of enrolment or recent graduation (Americans only)

The Working Holiday Visa allows holders to stay up to one year in Portugal.

Additional requirements apply to certain nationalities:

• Americans: US applicants must be enrolled in a US accredited post-secondary institution or be recent graduates (within 12 months of graduation)
• Argentinians: must have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate university studies
• Australians: must have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate university studies, and be functionally proficient in Portuguese
• Peruvians: must hold a graduate degree or have completed 2 years of graduate studies

For all other nationalities, these do not apply.

Yes. WHV applicants are required to buy health insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.

Yes, the following nationalities cannot work for more than 6 months:

• Americans
• Argentinians
• Australians
• Chileans
• Peruvians

New Zealanders cannot work for the same employer for over 3 months

For all other nationalities, these restrictions do not apply.

We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Portugal and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.

We don't ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.

The application will consist of three main steps:

• 1. Download the application form from this website and complete it. The WHV is considered a national visa, not a Schengen visa. For box 23 on the form, check Youth mobility.
• 2. Gather your supporting documents, listed here by nationality.
• 3. Contact the Portuguese consulate or embassy of your jurisdiction (find it here) to request instructions for submission of application. They can also answer any questions you have.