Yes, it is possible to find a job in Portugal without speaking Portuguese — but your options depend heavily on your profession.
English is much more likely to be enough in international technology companies, shared-service centres and some tourism businesses than in jobs serving mainly Portuguese customers. EURES, the EU employment network, specifically lists job portals for non-Portuguese speakers and identifies foreign-language skills as relevant in Portugal's contact-centre and shared-services sector. (eures.europa.eu)
There is another important distinction: “English-speaking job” does not always mean “English-only job.” Many current customer-service vacancies in Portugal ask candidates to speak German, French, Dutch, Spanish or another language alongside English. (pt.jooble.org)
So the best strategy is not simply searching for jobs containing the word “English”. Start with sectors where international teams and foreign customers make English genuinely useful.
Which jobs are most realistic for English speakers?
Technology and software
Technology is one of the strongest options.
EURES identified ICT professionals as one of the occupational groups with the highest incidence of shortages in Portugal in 2024. In the Lisbon metropolitan area specifically, reported shortages include systems designers, network specialists, software and application analysts, programmers and web and multimedia developers. (eures.europa.eu)
Current job listings also show a substantial market for software and engineering positions in Lisbon and Porto, including international companies advertising roles in English. (englishjobs.pt)
Developers, DevOps engineers, data professionals, product specialists and other technical candidates therefore have one of the clearest routes into an English-speaking workplace.
Customer support and shared services
Lisbon has a significant contact-centre and shared-services market, and EURES specifically identifies opportunities for workers with foreign-language skills. It also notes that third-country nationals working in Portugal are frequently employed in customer service and shared-service centres. (eures.europa.eu)
There is a catch.
Many employers are not recruiting English speakers as such. They are recruiting, for example, German + English, French + English or Dutch + English speakers. Current vacancies illustrate this pattern. (pt.jooble.org)
If English is your only language, read the language requirements carefully before applying.
Tourism and hospitality
Tourism can also provide opportunities, particularly in Lisbon and the Algarve.
The Algarve's economy is strongly dependent on tourism, and EURES reports demand for workers across hotels, restaurants and tourism. Employment there is also highly seasonal, with temporary recruitment particularly important in accommodation, restaurants and commerce. (eures.europa.eu)
English is valuable in businesses dealing with international guests, but speaking English should not be assumed to replace Portuguese for every receptionist, restaurant, management or customer-facing position.
International business services
Portugal also attracts international operations serving customers or offices across several countries. EURES notes that larger Portuguese employers are more likely than smaller businesses to recruit internationally, although this varies significantly by sector. (eures.europa.eu)
Search terms such as shared services, operations, customer experience, international support, account management and business services can therefore uncover roles that a generic “English jobs Portugal” search misses.
Where are English-speaking jobs easiest to find?
Lisbon
For most English-speaking jobseekers, Lisbon is the first place to search.
EURES describes Lisbon as Portugal's main financial, commercial and services centre and says it has the country's highest concentration of jobs. Its economy includes finance, consulting, IT, tourism and international services. EURES also specifically identifies foreign-language opportunities in contact centres and shared-service centres. (eures.europa.eu)
That combination makes Lisbon particularly relevant for technology, customer support and international business roles.
Porto
Porto is another strong option, especially for technology and international services.
EURES maintains a dedicated recommendation for Jobs in Porto, a portal focused on opportunities in northern Portugal for non-Portuguese speakers, while current English-language job listings show a considerable software market in the city. (eures.europa.eu)
It is worth searching Porto separately rather than assuming every international vacancy will appear under a nationwide search.
Algarve
The Algarve is different.
Its biggest opportunity for international workers is tourism and hospitality rather than corporate employment. EURES describes tourism as the region's most important economic sector and reports labour needs across hotels, restaurants and tourism. (eures.europa.eu)
For seasonal work, search before the main tourism periods rather than waiting until the summer is already under way.
Where to search for English-speaking jobs in Portugal
A good starting point is to combine official employment services with specialist private portals.
EURES recommends the Portuguese public employment service IEFP and lists Jobs in Lisbon and Jobs in Porto specifically for non-Portuguese speakers. It also points jobseekers towards ITJobs for technology positions and tourism-focused platforms such as Turijobs. (eures.europa.eu)
Useful starting points include:
- EURES — useful for EU-wide vacancies and mobility information.
- IEFP / IEFP Online — Portugal's public employment service.
- Jobs in Lisbon — targeted at non-Portuguese speakers in Lisbon and southern Portugal.
- Jobs in Porto — similar focus for Porto and northern Portugal.
- LinkedIn — especially useful for international and professional roles.
- ITJobs — useful for technology positions.
- Indeed Portugal — broader Portuguese job market.
If you are applying from outside the EU, IEFP also has a dedicated section containing vacancies open to non-EU citizens who are not yet resident in Portugal. (iefponline.iefp.pt)
What salaries should you expect?
There is no single useful salary figure for “English-speaking jobs”. A software engineer and a hotel receptionist are competing in completely different markets.
There is, however, one useful reference point. In 2026 the statutory minimum monthly wage in mainland Portugal is €920 gross. Madeira has a regional minimum of €980, while the Azores apply €966. (diariodarepublica.pt)
Portugal also commonly operates with holiday and Christmas bonuses, effectively producing 14 salary payments under the standard structure. Large international employers may instead discuss compensation as an annual package. (eures.europa.eu)
That means you should always check whether a job offer is quoting:
- gross or net salary;
- monthly or annual compensation;
- 12 or 14 salary payments;
- meal allowance;
- performance or language bonuses;
- relocation assistance, if any.
Comparing only the headline monthly number can be misleading.
Do you need a visa to work in Portugal?
Your nationality matters.
EU citizens can live in Portugal for up to three months with a valid ID card or passport. Those remaining longer while employed or self-employed can qualify for residence and must complete the applicable registration requirements. (eportugal.gov.pt)
For citizens outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, working in Portugal normally requires the appropriate immigration status. Portugal has a residence-visa route for employed work, and the government directs applicants to the competent Portuguese consulate. (gov.pt)
There is an important 2026 update: Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently states that the qualified job-seeker visa is not yet available at Portuguese consulates, pending the necessary regulation. Anyone planning to move to Portugal specifically to look for work should therefore verify the latest position with the official visa portal before making travel plans. (vistos.mne.gov.pt)
This is one area where older articles about Portugal can now be misleading.
How to improve your chances of getting hired
You do not need to translate your CV into Portuguese simply because the job is located in Portugal. EURES explicitly says that candidates who do not speak Portuguese can submit a CV in English. It recommends a concise CV, normally one or two pages, with recent experience first and your most important achievements visible early. (eures.europa.eu)
When applying:
- State your location and right-to-work status clearly. Employers need to know whether you are already in Portugal or require an immigration process.
- Search by skill, not just language. “Software engineer Lisbon English” is generally more useful than simply “English jobs Portugal”.
- Mention other languages prominently. In shared services, an additional European language can materially change the jobs available to you.
- Target international employers. They are more likely to operate teams where English is already the working language.
- Learn some Portuguese even if the job does not require it. Your professional role may be in English while everyday administration and life outside the office are not.
A practical way to start
If you are looking today, start with Lisbon and Porto for professional or technology roles, and include the Algarve if you are targeting tourism or seasonal hospitality.
Create searches for your actual profession plus Portugal, Lisbon or Porto, then separately search the English-speaker portals recommended by EURES. If you are outside the EU, verify whether the employer can hire someone who needs a Portuguese residence visa before investing heavily in the application.
There are real English-speaking opportunities in Portugal. The key is recognising that the English-speaking labour market is a subset of the Portuguese labour market, not a separate market where Portuguese never matters.
Comments
Sign in to join the discussion. Sign in