As an employer, the hiring of a third-country citizen in Portugal is only possible if the following are not available for the job: Portuguese citizens, EU citizens; EEA citizens; citizens from a third country with which the EU has a free movement agreement; or third-country nationals who have legal residency in Portugal. This priority principle is also applicable in other EU and EEA states. Annually, a resolution is approved by the Portuguese Government defining an indicative number of employment opportunities for immigrants. As such, if an employer is interested in hiring, in Portugal, a third-country citizen, who does not fit into any of the above-mentioned cases, he should place on the website of the Institute for Employment and Professional Training, I.P., and a job advertisement for a period of 30 days. The employer will have to wait for any of the abovementioned candidates to fulfill the requirements set out in the advertisement. After 30 days, if none of the abovementioned candidates answers the advertisement or those who answered are unfit for the job position, I.E.F.P., I.P. shall issue a statement in order to grant a Visa by the Portuguese Embassy. In addition to obtaining a title to provide a subordinate activity, the worker once in Portugal must ensure to communicate with Foreigners and Border Services (S.E.F.), observing the legal entry and exit periods, in order to regularize his situation and be able to apply for a residence permit.
