Can I Work While Studying in Portugal?

This is one of the most common questions among international students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD, or another higher education programme in Portugal.

The answer is yes. Holders of a residence permit for higher education studies may engage in employed or self-employed professional activity. This possibility is provided for under Article 97 of Law No. 23/2007.

Which students are allowed to work?

Students holding a residence permit for higher education studies may work in Portugal, including, as a general rule:

• bachelor’s degree students;
• master’s degree students;
• PhD students;
• students enrolled in other higher education programmes covered by Article 91 of Law No. 23/2007.

The residence permit allows students to engage in:

• employed work under an employment contract;
• self-employed professional activity, provided they register their activity and comply with the applicable tax and Social Security obligations.

It is important not to assume that this rule applies to every type of residence permit issued for study purposes.

Different rules apply to secondary education students, trainees, and volunteers, and these categories should not be confused with the regime applicable to higher education students.

Is there a limit on the number of hours I can work?

Portuguese immigration law does not establish a specific maximum number of working hours per week for higher education students.

However, Article 97 provides that professional activity must be carried out as a complementary activity to the purpose for which the visa was granted.

In other words, employment cannot undermine the primary purpose of the residence permit, which remains studying in Portugal.

Students must also comply with:

• the general limits established under Portuguese labour law;
• attendance requirements imposed by their educational institution;
• academic progress requirements;
• the conditions required for renewal of their residence permit.

Do I need to change my residence permit if I start working?

No.

A higher education student who starts working does not need to immediately replace their student residence permit with a residence permit based on employment.

Article 97 expressly allows students to engage in employed or self-employed professional activity alongside their studies.

However, if the student permanently abandons their course, no longer meets the academic requirements, or begins residing in Portugal primarily for employment purposes, it may be necessary to change the legal basis of the residence permit.

Do I need to notify AIMA when I start working?

The current wording of Article 97 does not establish a general requirement for higher education students to notify AIMA in advance simply because they have started working.

Nevertheless, students must ensure that all obligations relating to their professional activity are properly fulfilled, including:

• having a valid employment contract in the case of employed work;
• registration with Portuguese Social Security, where applicable;
• registering the commencement of self-employed activity with the Portuguese Tax Authority;
• issuing the appropriate invoices or receipts;
• complying with tax and Social Security obligations.

Professional documentation may also become relevant in future immigration procedures, including the renewal or amendment of the residence permit.

Can working affect my residence permit?

Working, by itself, does not negatively affect a student residence permit.

Problems may arise when the student no longer complies with the requirements that justified the granting of the residence permit.

When renewing the permit, the student must continue to demonstrate, where applicable:

• active enrolment;
• payment of tuition fees;
• satisfactory academic progress;
• sufficient means of subsistence;
• health insurance or registration with Portugal’s National Health Service.

Portuguese immigration law provides that renewal may be refused where the holder is residing in Portugal for purposes other than those for which the residence permit was granted, engages in professional activity in breach of Article 97, or fails to make satisfactory progress in their studies.

Can I work full-time?

Portuguese immigration law does not expressly prohibit higher education students from having a full-time employment contract.

However, the greater the workload, the more important it may become to demonstrate that employment remains complementary to the student’s studies and that academic obligations continue to be effectively fulfilled.

Therefore, the key issue is not simply the number of working hours, but whether the student continues to attend the course, remains enrolled, and maintains satisfactory academic progress.

Can I work as self-employed?

Yes.

Article 97 allows both employed and self-employed professional activity.

In the case of self-employment, the student should:

• obtain a Portuguese tax identification number (NIF), if they do not already have one;
• register the commencement of activity with the Portuguese Tax Authority;
• issue the appropriate invoices or receipts;
• comply with applicable tax obligations;
• register with and make contributions to Portuguese Social Security, where applicable.

What are the most common mistakes?

Some of the most common misconceptions and mistakes include:

• believing that a student residence permit prevents the holder from working;
• confusing the rules applicable to higher education students with those applicable to secondary education students;
• abandoning the course after finding a job;
• failing to comply with enrolment, attendance, or academic progress requirements;
• working without a valid contract or without properly registering self-employed activity;
• assuming that an employment contract automatically replaces the requirement to continue studying;
• continuing to rely on a student residence permit when studying is no longer the main purpose of residence in Portugal.

Conclusion

Foreign nationals holding a residence permit for higher education studies may work in Portugal, either as employees or as self-employed professionals, provided that their professional activity remains complementary to their studies.

Portuguese immigration law does not establish a specific maximum number of working hours for these students. However, they must remain enrolled, comply with their academic obligations, and continue to meet the requirements applicable to their residence permit.

Before abandoning a course, accepting professional activity that may be incompatible with academic attendance, or substantially changing their professional circumstances, it is advisable to assess whether the residence permit should be changed to another category.

Rafaela Barbosa Advocacia Internacional
Specialists in immigration, Italian and Portuguese citizenship, and international mobility.

📍 Portugal | Brazil | Italy
📞 +351 913 158 360
📩 advocacia.rafaelabarbosa@gmail.com
🌐 www.rafaelabarbosaadv.com

If you have any questions, our team is available to assist you.

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