Got that business idea sitting in a drawer for months, waiting on courage (and money)? It’s worth knowing StartUp Portugal, the state programme that backs people trying to get an innovative idea off the ground.

What’s on the table

Under this umbrella there are several measures, but one stands out: the Startup Voucher, aimed at early-stage projects. Participants can access funding — reportedly up to €200,000 — plus mentorship and access to a network of contacts that’s often worth as much as the cheque.

The programme is organised around three fronts: building the ecosystem, securing financing and helping companies go international. In other words: it’s not just hand over money and disappear, it’s support through growth.

Who it’s for

It’s mainly for entrepreneurs with ideas that have innovation and scale potential — it doesn’t have to be the next multinational, but it has to stand out. Lisbon and Porto have the best-known hubs (Startup Lisboa, UPTEC), but there’s structure spread across the country.

The first step

Check the official StartUp Portugal site, look at the open calls and each measure’s criteria — they shift through the year. Prepare a clear pitch: what problem you solve, for whom, and why your solution is different. Those who arrive organised get further.

Grants and serious mentorship don’t show up every day. If the idea is good, don’t let it gather dust.

For years, leaving money sitting in the bank was an exercise in frustration: deposits earned practically nothing and inflation ate away at what little was left. With the ECB raising rates again and Euribor at an 18-month high, that picture has changed — and it is worth taking advantage of.

The good news is that term deposits are paying noticeable interest again, and state savings products have regained their appeal too. For anyone with a safety cushion asleep in a current account, this is the moment to put it to work.

Where to start

First, separate the money you can genuinely lock away for a few months from what you need to keep at hand. For what you can lock away, compare term-deposit offers between banks — rates vary more than you would think — and look at the terms of savings and Treasury certificates.

Second, read the small print: term, early-withdrawal penalty and whether the rate is fixed or indexed. And do not forget the tax on interest when comparing returns.

It is not about getting rich, it is about no longer losing. At a time when credit is getting more expensive, making your savings work is the other half of the same equation.

See also: the ECB lines up another rate hike. Official reference rates are at the Bank of Portugal.

Good news if you invested in Portugal in search of residence: renewing the golden visa no longer means in-person appointments and endless queues. AIMA now accepts renewal applications through a dedicated portal, online from start to finish. For a permit you renew every few years, that’s one less headache.

The fund route still rules

Since real estate stopped counting towards the programme, the most-used way in has become qualifying investment funds. Instead of buying an apartment, the investor places capital in an eligible fund and meets the holding requirements. It’s the option that now dominates new applications.

It’s worth keeping the pieces straight, though. The golden visa grants residence; after five years it can open the door to permanent residence. Citizenship is a separate stage, with its own timelines — recently changed.

Before you jump in

Processing times remain long, with the gap between submission and biometrics running close to a year in many cases. Anyone weighing it up should pack patience and take advice on the costs and risks of each fund before signing anything. Official information on the programme is at AIMA.

See also: the new nationality law and its timelines and summer jobs in tourism.

If you’re job-hunting for the months ahead, summer is your friend. With hotels full and restaurants packed, tourism is the sector that hires most at this time of year, and in 2026 there’s an organised way in: the tourism employment fairs.

Where and how

The fairs, run as a partnership between Turismo de Portugal, the IEFP and job exchanges, pass through five cities this year: Vilamoura, Évora, Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra. The idea is simple and effective — instead of firing off dozens of CVs into the void, you speak face to face with recruiters, often with interviews on the spot.

The most sought-after roles are the usual high-season ones: receptionists, waiting and bar staff, kitchen crew, cleaning and entertainment. Many don’t need long experience; what counts is willingness, a friendly manner and, in plenty of cases, some languages — English nearly always opens doors, and French or Spanish are a bonus.

Before you go

It’s worth preparing a short, up-to-date CV, bringing several copies and, if possible, having your IEFP registration in order. You can also browse the openings on the IEFP online portal and apply before showing up. For anyone needing extra help, the IEFP helpline answers on working days.

It’s seasonal work, yes, but for many it’s the way to put some money aside, gain experience and sometimes land a contract that lasts beyond the summer.

See also: the IEFP Iniciar internships and the hiring incentives. Official openings are at IEFP.

This one is for employers, especially small businesses that so often hesitate to hire because of the costs. In 2026, IEFP keeps in place a set of hiring supports worth knowing before you sign a new contract.

The logic of these supports is simple: the state covers part of the cost of hiring, especially when it involves people in a tougher spot in the labour market, such as the long-term unemployed, young people seeking a first job, or those with a disability. The idea is to give a push to those who need it most and, at the same time, lower the risk for the company.

Where to start

The route runs through the iefponline portal, where the available measures, conditions and application deadlines are listed. It is worth setting aside a little time to read carefully, because each measure has its own rules, different amounts and requirements to keep the job in place.

A common-sense warning: these supports usually have limited budgets and deadlines that close when the money runs out. Anyone thinking of strengthening their team gains by sorting this early, not on the day they need the person to start.

For Portugal’s smaller businesses, which are the overwhelming majority, these mechanisms can make the difference between postponing a hire and finally taking the step.

See also: Public-sector jobs and state competitions on BEP. Official details at IEFP.

Alongside the +Talento internships, there is another IEFP door worth knowing: the INICIAR measure. Applications are open and run until July 30, or until the available budget runs out, which tends to happen before the deadline.

As the name suggests, this measure is aimed at those starting their professional path who need that first opportunity to gain practical experience in a company or institution. It is the bridge between finishing a course and proving yourself on the ground, which so often makes all the difference on a CV that is still blank.

Worth not leaving it for later

The practical advice is direct: do not wait for the last day. Since the budget is limited and can run out early, applying ahead of time plays to your advantage. Before proceeding, confirm you meet the measure’s requirements and have your CV ready.

The best place to see the conditions, the supports and to handle the application is the iefponline portal, which also lists the other employment and internship measures in force. It is worth comparing to see which fits your case.

For anyone hunting for that first door-opening experience, this is a real chance. First opportunities are the hardest to find, and measures like this exist precisely for that.

See also: The +Talento internships, for qualified graduates. Apply at the iefponline portal.

The numbers tell an interesting story for anyone investing with an eye on the golden visa. Between January and May 2026, investors redeemed around 94.7 million euros from funds tied to the programme, more than double what left in all of 2025. When money moves like that, there’s always a reason.

The main one has a name: the new citizenship rules. With the timelines to apply for the Portuguese passport stretching out, many investors reassessed what they held and decided to cash out part of the investment. It’s not an abandonment of the programme, it’s a repositioning.

For anyone thinking of entering

The fund route remains the most used, and today accounts for the large majority of applications. The model stands: invest 500,000 euros or more in an approved fund, regulated by the CMVM, with a maturity of at least five years and a slice invested in Portuguese companies.

The lesson from these redemptions isn’t to flee, it’s to do the maths calmly. A fund like this is a multi-year commitment, and the choice to enter or exit should weigh the residence side, the tax side and the end goal. Changes in the law change the calculation, and this year proved it.

Anyone weighing the step should talk to people who know funds and immigration, and read everything at the source before signing.

See also: Public-sector jobs: how to find state competitions on BEP.

Some look for work in the private sector, others want the stability of the public sector, and for the latter there’s one address worth bookmarking: the Bolsa de Emprego Público, or BEP. That’s where the State, municipalities and agencies publish their open competitions, north to south.

The advantage is having it all in one place, with filters by field, location and type of contract. Instead of hopping from site to site, you can tailor the search and even get alerts for the roles that matter to you.

Tips so you don’t miss deadlines

Public competitions live by deadlines and the right documents. Read the opening notice carefully, prepare the required proofs and submit with time to spare, because there’s always someone who leaves it to the last minute and trips on a detail.

For those who value security and a clear path of progression, the public sector remains a concrete door, and BEP is the most direct way to find it.

See also: IEFP’s Estágios +Talento. Updated competitions at the Bolsa de Emprego Público.

If you’ve just finished a degree and you’re hunting for that first way into the job market, here’s one. The first 2026 edition of Estágios +Talento, from IEFP, is open for applications until 30 July, or until the available budget runs out, which often happens before the deadline.

The programme is aimed at people with a level 6 qualification or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, meaning a bachelor’s, master’s or equivalent, who want practical experience with an employer. It’s that bridge between university theory and the day-to-day of a company.

Worth getting yourself ready

Since the budget can run out early, the advice is simple: don’t leave it to the last minute. Pull together your CV, check you meet the requirements and read the conditions on the official portal before you apply.

For those starting out, a well-used internship opens doors that a job ad alone rarely does.

See also: the StartUp Voucher for self-employment. Applications and rules at IEFP.

If you’re looking for work — or a summer gig to pad your wallet over the holidays — this is the time of year when the doors open widest. With the tourist peak at hand, companies are reinforcing teams at a brisk pace so they aren’t left short during the busiest months.

The sectors hiring most

The pressure concentrates on tourism, hospitality, restaurants, retail and logistics — all needing extra hands from June to September. But it doesn’t stop there: technology, healthcare, renewable energy, engineering and shared-service centres keep hiring levels high all year, and summer doesn’t slow that.

For those after something seasonal, hospitality and restaurants are the easiest way in; for those building a career, it’s worth looking at the skilled fields, where the shortage of professionals gives applicants bargaining power.

Where the jobs are

The geography is clear: Lisbon and Porto lead the job offer by a distance. Next come Setúbal, Braga, Aveiro, Faro and Leiria, plus industrial and tech hubs like Oeiras and Maia. The Algarve, as you’d expect, boils over in summer with hospitality and restaurant openings.

Practical advice

In a market short of labour, applicants have more leverage than they think. Negotiate: many employers offer bonuses, performance rewards, and even the chance to go permanent after the season. Have your CV ready, apply early (ideally weeks ahead), and don’t be afraid to ask about the terms.

Summer brings the heat — and, this year, jobs too for those who go looking.

If you work in tech — or want to break into it — Portugal is still a place with openings and energy. Lisbon and Porto remain the big hubs, with startups hiring engineers, product managers, data analysts and sales profiles.

Where the jobs are

Startups feed most of the market. Lisbon has hundreds of open roles, many at well-funded companies (including names tied to international accelerators). Porto is heating up too, with development, test automation and business-development roles. And a good chunk already offer remote or hybrid — which widens the field for people who don’t live in the two big cities.

The D8 visa, the digital nomad magnet

For newcomers who already work remotely, the D8 visa (digital nomad) keeps Portugal near the top of European preferences: a pleasant climate, a cost of living still competitive against other capitals, and a large international community, especially in Lisbon. It’s a hard combination to beat.

How to move

Job boards like Startup Jobs, Wellfound or accelerator listings are good starting points. Keep a sharp English CV (most tech here works in English) and an up-to-date online profile. If you’re coming from abroad, sort your NIF and visa paperwork early — that’s what usually delays arrival.

The market isn’t in 2021-style euphoria, but it’s healthy. People with in-demand skills find a door.

Portugal’s golden visa isn’t what it used to be — and for many people, that’s an improvement. The big change came with the Mais Habitação (“More Housing”) law in 2023, which scrapped property purchases as a route in, aiming to take pressure off house prices. The money simply moved elsewhere.

The star: investment funds

Today the most-used path is CMVM-regulated funds. The ground rules: invest at least €500,000 in a fund with a minimum five-year maturity that puts at least 60% of its capital into Portuguese companies. Funds with any direct or indirect tie to real estate are out.

You can split the investment across more than one fund, as long as the total reaches €500,000. And there’s a real perk: the golden visa asks for only a minimum stay of seven days a year in Portugal — handy if you’re not ready to move yet.

The other doors

Beyond funds, you can still qualify through support for culture and the arts, scientific research, job creation and business investment. Less popular, but still on the table.

The catch

Between 2019 and 2024, eligible funds drew roughly €260.85 million — proof the model caught on. The hard part isn’t getting in, it’s waiting: golden visa files sit at the back of AIMA’s queue. Anyone investing now should budget patience. Right funds, realistic expectations — and independent advice before you sign anything.

See also: Moving to Portugal in 2026: which visa is right

Good news if you’re on the minimum wage: since 1 January 2026, Portugal’s national minimum wage has risen to €920 a month. That’s €50 more than the €870 of 2025 — not life-changing, but welcome at the end of the month.

What it actually adds up to

In Portugal, salaries are paid 14 times a year (twelve months plus holiday and Christmas bonuses). So €920 times 14 comes to €12,880 a year. On a 40-hour week, that’s roughly €5.75 an hour.

And from here?

The government has already drawn the map: the goal is to reach €1,020 a month by 2028. Gradual, year-by-year rises rather than one big jump.

The context that matters

It isn’t only the floor that’s moving. The tech sector has been pulling wages up in Lisbon and Porto, and the arrival of international companies has lifted demand for skilled professionals. If you’re entering the market or thinking of switching fields, it’s worth looking at where demand runs hottest.

The practical takeaway: the floor went up, but the cost of living isn’t taking a holiday either. If you’re negotiating pay, use the numbers — and always remember the 14 payments, because they change the whole sum.

See also: The 2026 golden visa: the funds route