Can I Move to Portugal as a Nurse? Registration and Visas 2026

Short answer: It depends

Yes, once your qualification is recognised by a Portuguese public higher-education institution, you reach C1 Portuguese and the Ordem dos Enfermeiros admits you. You then move on Portugal's residence visa for subordinate work, with an employer. That visa is not in Transita's database, and the Job Seeker Visa is not currently being issued.

The programmes that apply to nurses in Portugal

Fees, salary floors and processing times below come from the official sources in Transita's visa database. Processing is an estimate from the published figure, not a promise.

Programme	Fee	Salary floor	Processing	Job offer	PR after
Job Seeker VisaNot currently issued	$95	None set	1–3 months	No	5 years
Student Visa	$95	None set	1–3 months	No	5 years

Job Seeker Visa: Would let you look for a nursing job in Portugal, but consulates are not accepting applications at the moment. Portuguese consulates are not currently accepting applications for this visa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists it as "NOT YET AVAILABLE AT PORTUGUESE CONSULAR OFFICES", pending regulation of Article 57-A of the Foreigners' Law. Do not plan a move around this route until that regulation lands.
Student Visa: Only relevant if you choose to study in Portugal before practising.

What the Ordem dos Enfermeiros requires

Under the Ordem's registration regulation (Regulamento n.º 371/2025), nationals of countries outside the EU who qualified outside Portugal can be admitted once their qualification is recognised. The proof is a specific recognition certificate (certificado de reconhecimento específico) issued by a Portuguese public higher-education institution.

The same regulation requires Portuguese at C1. If you do not speak Portuguese yet, plan the language work first.

The visa: subordinate work

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists a residency visa for subordinate work purposes among Portugal's national visas. It is the route for an employed nurse, but it is not one of the programmes in our database, so we do not quote its fee or processing time.

The job seeker visa ($95, about 1–3 months when issued) is suspended at consulates, as the note under the table explains. Do not build a plan around it until that changes.

If Portugal is one option among several

If you do not already speak Portuguese, the C1 requirement is a long road. Compare it with other routes in the best countries for nurses.

Who sponsors nurses in Portugal

Transita does not hold a Portuguese sponsor register. For the subordinate work visa the employer provides the contract, so the hospital or clinic that hires you is the one to ask about timing once your Ordem registration is in progress.

The Transita sponsor register collects the official sponsor lists we hold, so you can check an employer before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign nurse work in Portugal?

Yes, after recognition by a Portuguese public higher-education institution, C1 Portuguese and registration with the Ordem dos Enfermeiros.

What level of Portuguese do nurses need in Portugal?

C1, according to the Ordem dos Enfermeiros registration regulation (Regulamento n.º 371/2025).

What visa do nurses use to move to Portugal?

The residency visa for subordinate work purposes, with a Portuguese employer. It is listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but is not in Transita's database.

Can I use Portugal's job seeker visa to find a nursing job?

Not at the moment. Portuguese consulates are not accepting applications for the job seeker visa, pending regulation.

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official sources: Visto de Procura de Trabalho · vistos.mne.gov.pt