Guide to temporary entry into Portugal under CETA

This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to Portugal to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry and stay requirements for business people under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and under Portuguese law. This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into Portugal for the purposes of exploring, entering and expanding operations in the Portuguese market. You will find relevant links and summaries of main steps for work permit and visa applications, including costs and lengths, for the categories of business people covered in CETA.

Text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – Chapter 10: Temporary entry and stay of natural persons for business purposes

CETA entered into force provisionally in 2017, which means that Portugal is bound by the Temporary Entry Chapter. However, there are still significant differences between CETA requirements and the national Portuguese laws regulating temporary entry. As such, some of the paths for entry identified in this guide do not fully overlap with the categories of business people covered in CETA.

For any questions regarding Portugal's temporary entry commitments under CETA, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca

Under CETA, a short-term business visitor is a Canadian travelling to Portugal for one of the following activities:  

• meetings and consultations
• research and design
• marketing research
• training seminars
• trade fairs and exhibitions
• sales (negotiations or taking orders, cannot deliver goods or services themselves)
• purchasing
• after-sales or after-lease service
• commercial transactions as an employee of a Canadian enterprise (management and supervisory or financial services personnel only)
• tourism/travel operations as an employee of a Canadian enterprise
• translation and interpretation

The detailed list of activities can be found under Annex 10B of CETA.

A short-term business visitor cannot:

• sell a good or a service to the general public
• receive payment from a source located in Portugal
• provide any other service to a consumer in Portugal that is not listed under activities of a business visitor

Under CETA a Canadian short-term business visitor can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Under CETA, an eligible short-term business visitor does not need a work permit but may need a visa.

Under Portuguese law, Canadian nationals do not require a Schengen C visa to enter the EU. They are entitled to stay within the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period (rolling period).

Canadian companies can also send non-Canadian nationals locally hired in Canada for short-term business travel in Portugal. In this case, a Schengen C visa may be required, if they are not nationals of a visa-exempt country. Applications for Schengen C visas must be filed with the relevant Portuguese Consulate/Embassy. The processing time is approximately two weeks.

Schengen area

Schengen calculator

Schengen C Visa exempt countries (Annex II)

Visa information

Work permit exemption information (in Portuguese only)

Under Portuguese law, a short-term business visitor does not need a work permit so long as they are travelling to Portugal for one of the following work permit exempt activities: 

• attending internal meetings, discussions, or conferences
• attending client meetings
• attending or participating in a conference, seminar, or exposition
• negotiating contracts
• negotiating business deals​

Under Portuguese law, short-term business visitors cannot have a main residence or be under the direct control of an entity in Portugal.

No work permit application process is required as these are work permit-exempted activities. For more information, consult Portugal’s webpage on the EU Immigration Portal.

Note: The business visitors for investment purposes category is covered under CETA, but does not exist under Portugal law. A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes may qualify under the short-term business visitor category.

Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes is a Canadian manager or specialist responsible for setting up an enterprise in Portugal.

A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes cannot:

• Work directly with the general public in Portugal
• Receive compensation from a source located within Portugal

Canadian business visitors for investment purposes can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes does not need a work permit.

There are no specific provisions for business visitor for investment purposes in Portugal, but business visitors may perform general activities such as: attending internal and client meetings which may be suitable for business visitors for investment purposes. In addition, they can benefit from the short-term work permit exemption mentioned above. Their stay must be limited to a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.

Under CETA, an investor is a Canadian supervisor or executive, responsible for establishing, developing, or operating an investment, that they or their employing enterprise have committed, or are in the process of committing, a substantial amount of capital to.

Under CETA, Canadian investors can stay in Portugal for up to one year. Extensions are possible at the discretion of Portuguese officials.

Under CETA, you may need a work permit and may need a visa.

Under Portuguese law, Canadian investors benefit from the residence permit for investment purposes.

Under Portuguese law, investors must comply with one or more of the following eligibility requirements:

• Capital transfer with a value to or above EUR 1.5 million
• The creation of, at least, 10 job positions
• The purchase of real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing, for a total value equal to or above EUR 350,000
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above EUR 500,000 for investing in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technologic system
• Capital transfer with a value equal to or above EUR 250,000 for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage
• Capital transfer of the amount of EUR 500,000, or higher, for the acquisition of units of investment funds or venture capital fund of funds dedicated to the capitalisation of companies, capital injected under the Portuguese legislation, whose maturity, at the moment of the investment, is, at least, of five years and, at least, 60% of the investments is realized in commercial companies with head office in national territory
• Capital transfer of the amount of EUR 500,000, or higher, for constitution of a commercial society with head office in the national territory, combined with the creation of five permanent working jobs, or for the reinforcement of the share capital of a commercial society with head office in national territory, already existing, with the creation or keeping of working jobs, with a minimum of five permanent jobs, and for a minimum period of three years
• Family reunification

For more information on each of these routes and how to apply, see the Article 90-A – Residence Permit for Investment Purposes webpage of the Portuguese Immigration Portal.

Each of the eligibility criteria listed above has different application steps and different required documentation, to see how to apply for each of the above streams, see the see the Article 90-A – Residence Permit for Investment Purposes webpage of the Portuguese Immigration Portal.

To complete your application for Residence Permit for Investment Purposes, create an account on the Portal ARI website.

There are no standard processing times for this permit.

Application cost: EUR 5,860.

More information on the immigration route for Investors can be found on the Applying for Residence in Portugal – Residence Permit for Investment Purposes webpage.

Under CETA, a contractual services supplier is a Canadian service supplier employed by an enterprise in Canada with a contract to provide a service to a consumer in Portugal in an eligible service sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian contractual service supplier must also:

• have provided services as an employee of the contracted Canadian enterprise for at least one year before the date of their application for entry into Portugal
• have a university degree or an equivalent qualification
• have at least three years of professional experience since the age of 18 in the sector of the contracted activity
• have any professional qualifications required to practice the activity according to the laws or requirements in Portugal

For engineering technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a three-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a three-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

A Canadian contractual service supplier cannot get paid for their services during their stay in Portugal other than what is paid to them by their Canadian employers.

The Canadian enterprise that employs a Canadian contractual service supplier cannot have any establishment in Portugal.

Fulfilment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the Canadian contractual service supplier in Portugal. Extensions are possible at the discretion of Portuguese officials.

Under CETA, a Canadian contractual services supplier can stay in Portugal for up to 12 consecutive months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is shorter.

Portuguese legislation does not provide for an entry route specifically for contractual service suppliers. However, an alternative immigration route for contractual service suppliers exists: the Temporary stay visa.

The maximum duration of Temporary stay visa is one year, and it is non-renewable. It will not confer the holder a right to a Portuguese residence card.

Under Portuguese law, a Temporary stay visa can be obtained if the following conditions are met:

• The employee stays on their home contract (in Canada) and payroll throughout the work period in Portugal
• ​The employee has specialised skills and knowledge
• A service agreement between the employer and the Portuguese client, for employees who will work at the client site

The process for obtaining the Temporary stay visa permit consist of the following steps:

Step 1: Submission of the application at the relevant Portuguese Embassy/Consulate

Step 2: Examination of the application by the Portuguese Immigration Service

Step 3: Once in Portugal: Filing of Statement of Entrance

Average processing times are estimated to be between 3 to 4 months.

Application cost: EUR 75 residence permit fee.

More information about the application process and eligibility conditions can be found on the Legal Regime of Entry, Stay, Exit, and Removal of Foreigners from the National Territory of Portugal webpage (in Portuguese only).

A Posted Worker Notification (PWN) must also be submitted within the first day of work. More information on Posted Worker Notification can be found on the Posting of Workers to EU countries webpage.

Under CETA, an independent professional is a self-employed Canadian service supplier with a contract to supply a service to a consumer in Portugal in an eligible sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian independent professional must also have:

• at least six years of professional experience in the sector of the contracted activity at the date of application of entry;
• a university degree or equivalent qualification;
• any professional qualifications required to practice the activity, according to the laws or requirements in Portugal.

For engineering technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a three-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a three-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

Other requirements:

• a Canadian independent professional must not have established an enterprise in Portugal;
• fulfilment of the contract must require the temporary presence of an independent professional in Portugal.

Under CETA, a Canadian independent professional can stay in Portugal for up to 12 consecutive months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is shorter.

Under Portuguese law, for stays up to 12 months the candidate may apply for the Temporary stay visa. The maximum duration of Temporary stay visa is one year, and it is non-renewable. It will not confer the holder a right to a Portuguese residence card.

Under Portuguese law, a Temporary stay visa can be obtained if the following conditions are met:

• The employee stays on their home contract (in Canada) and payroll throughout the work period in Portugal;
• ​The employee has specialised skills and knowledge;
• A service agreement between the employer and the Portuguese client, for employees who will work at the client site.

The process for obtaining the Temporary stay visa permit consist of the following steps:

Step 1: Submission of the application at the relevant Portuguese Embassy/Consulate

Step 2: Examination of the application by the Portuguese Immigration Service

Step 3: Once in Portugal: Filing of Statement of Entrance

Average processing times for a Temporary stay visa ist estimated to be between 3 to 4 months.

Application cost: EUR 75 residence permit fee.

More information about the application process and eligibility conditions can be found on the Legal Regime of Entry, Stay, Exit, and Removal of Foreigners from the National Territory of Portugal webpage (in Portuguese only).

A Posted Worker Notification (PWN) must also be submitted within the first day of work. More information on Posted Worker Notification can be found on the Posting of Workers to EU countries webpage.

Under CETA, Canadian intra-corporate transferees are senior personnel, specialists, or graduate trainees at a Canadian enterprise who are being temporarily transferred to a subsidiary, branch, or head company of the Canadian enterprise in Portugal.

Senior personnel are Canadian business people in a senior position within an enterprise who:

• primarily direct the management of the enterprise or a department or sub-division of the enterprise
• make a wide range of decisions, including recruitment, promotions and dismissals
• receives general supervision or direction from higher-level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the business or their equivalent or supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations

Specialists are Canadian business people who have:

• uncommon knowledge of the enterprise's products or services and its application in international markets, or
• an advanced level of expertise or knowledge of the enterprise's processes and procedures such as its production, research equipment, techniques, or management

In assessing this, Portuguese officials will consider abilities that are unusual and different from those generally found in a particular industry and that cannot be easily transferred to another business person in the short term. These abilities would have been obtained through specific academic qualifications or extensive experience with the enterprise.

Graduate trainees are Canadian business people who:

• have a university degree
• are being temporarily transferred to an enterprise in Portugal for career development purposes, or to obtain training in business techniques or methods

The training delivered to a graduate trainee must be linked to their university degree.

Under CETA, Canadian senior personnel and specialists can stay in Portugal for whichever is shorter, three years or the length of the contract, with a possible extension of up to 18 months at the discretion of Portuguese officials.

Canadian graduate trainees can stay in Portugal for whichever is shorter, one year or the length of the contract.

Under Portuguese law, Canadian companies can transfer highly skilled managers, specialists and graduate trainees to an entity in Portugal belonging to the same group by obtaining an EU Intra-Corporate Transferees permit (EU ICT permit) for the employees. This permit also grants the employees the right to work at a client site.

The maximum duration of this work and/or residence authorisation is three years (for managers and specialists) and one year (for graduate trainees). Canadian citizens holder of an EU ICT Permit can apply for an extension of stay, in country, if their initial permit was not granted for the maximum validity. After this period, a six-month cooling-off period outside the EU is required.

The following criteria must be met to be eligible for an EU ICT permit:

• The employee’s main residence and employment contract are located outside the European Union (in this case, Canada)
• The employee is a manager, specialist, or trainee
• Managers manage the Portuguese entity, a (sub)division or department
• Specialists have essential skills, high qualifications, specific technical knowledge, and professional experience
• Trainees have a university degree
• The employee has 3 months of uninterrupted professional experience in the sending company or 12 months within companies belonging to the same group. For trainees, the professional period of 3 months (sending company) or 6 months (within the company group) is required
• The home employer (Canadian company) and host entity in Portugal are part of the same corporate group

The process for obtaining a EU Intra-Corporate Transferee permit:

Step 1: Submission of Posted Worker Notification (PWN) by the employer

Step 2: Once in Portugal: Submission of an ICT permit application

Step 3: Filling of Statement of Entrance

Step 4: Scheduling an appointment for the submission of an ICT Permit

The legal processing times are of 90 days from the submission of the application, however, in practice, these processing times are often surpassed.

Application cost: between EUR 270 and EUR 300.

More information on the EU ICT permit can be found on the EU Immigration Portal for Portugal.

Entry into Portugal for Canadian business people not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CETA is subject to Portuguese acts and regulations governing entry and stay.

To explore other paths for entry into Portugal, please consult the Portuguese immigration portal.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is current as of March 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and  change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.