IEFP

Published 5 November 2026, 15:07

Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional

The state employment service: registering the unemployed, job vacancies, free courses, including Portuguese. You need to register there to claim unemployment benefit and for the job-seeker visa. Appointments are given for set times.

Where you come across it. Losing a job, looking for work, language courses.

Missing an IEFP appointment can cost you your benefit.

Official website: iefp.pt

Guides

Moving inland bonus: the Emprego Interior MAIS programme How to learn Portuguese for free: PLA and IEFP courses, the CIPLE exam Working in Portugal: what jobs pay, which occupations are in demand and where to look Segurança Social benefits: unemployment, sickness, children — who gets them, how much and when they are paid Leaving a job in Portugal: how to resign, when you can be dismissed and what you are owed on leaving Where to keep your savings in Portugal: a bank deposit or government savings certificates Domestic violence in Portugal: where to go and what happens to your residence permit Mortgages in Portugal: what makes up the interest rate and what a foreigner will be asked for Right to work and employment contracts: which documents you need and what to check before you sign Working in Portugal from abroad: where to find an employer and which visa to get