All about the working holiday in Portugal!

With its rugged coastline, golden beaches, and rolling hills, Portugal is dubbed by some as the California of Europe. But once you try its scrumptious desserts and visit its majestic palaces, you might decide that it's even better...
Wherever you are in the process of working holiday preparation, pvtistes.net provides free information and resources to help with your planning and big move.
Working Holiday Visa travel insurance.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalization, repatriation…).

1 Eligibility requirements
Age limit

Between 18 and 34 years old (with exceptions)

Read more

Valid passport

A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday

Read more

Sufficient funds

Must cover initial period of stay

Read more

First participation

This must be your first participation

Read more

Mandatory health insurance

Must cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation

Read more

Beat the quota

Apply before the annual quota is reached

Read more

Contents
2 FAQ

01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?

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.

02. Which nationalities are eligible?

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).

03. What is the application fee?

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

04. What documents are required for the application?

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)

05. How long is the visa good for?

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

06. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of?

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.

07. Do I need to buy health insurance?

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

08. Are there any work restrictions?

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.

09. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?

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.

10. Where can I apply?

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.
Contents
3 Buying health insurance

As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers must buy private health insurance for the duration of their WHV.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.

Learn more about Globe WHV
Useful links
Contents
4 Opening a euro account

Portugal’s currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.

If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in Portugal, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Portugal. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Portugal. Learn more about Wise.

There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Portugal.

Learn more about Wise
Contents
5 Finding housing in Portugal

Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Portugal before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.

For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.

Find a hostel on Hostelworld
Useful links
Contents
6 Getting ready for departure

After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!

Useful links
Contents
7 Read up on other important topics

As you prepare for your working holiday in Portugal, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.

Library of free articles and guides on the working holiday
Useful links
Contents
8 Check out language courses and other deals

This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on Portuguese. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our some other deals for working holiday makers.

Learn more about Babbel (-20%)
Our special offers
Take advantage of our special offers for flights, banking, money transfers, and language courses.
Read more
Contents
Age limit

All applicants must be at least 18, but the maximum age varies by nationality:
– Argentina: 34
– Australia: 30*
– Canada: 35
– Chile: 30
– Japan: 30
– New Zealand: 30
– Peru: 31
– South Korea: 34
– United States: no age limit**
*Must not have turned 31 yet, as specified by the Portuguese government.
**US applicants must be enrolled in a US accredited post-secondary institution or be recent graduates (within 12 months)

Valid passport

You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday. It must be valid for at least 12 months.

Sufficient funds

You must have sufficient savings to cover at least the initial period of your stay. The Portuguese authorities do not provide a specific figure for WHV applicants, however we recommend having at least the equivalent of three months of Portugal’s monthly minimum salary, which is €820 in 2024 (source).

See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.

First participation

This must be your first participation. If you have already been in Portugal on a working holiday, then you cannot apply again.

Mandatory health insurance

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

Beat the quota

Apply before the annual quota is reached. Portugal sets an annual quota by nationality for the number of Working Holiday Visas issued.
– Argentina: 100
– Australia: 500
– Canada: 400
– New Zealand: 50
– Peru: 400
– South Korea: 200
– United States: 400
Quotas may change slightly year to year. See source.