Hey everyone in the Schengen Visas forum! I’m from Singapore and dreaming of working in Portugal. I’ve been researching the Job Seeker Visa, but I keep hearing about recent changes. What are the latest updates to it? Like, is it now only for highly qualified people? Also, can I still apply for it while I’m already inside Portugal on a tourist visa, or do I have to do it from abroad? I have a trip planned soon, so this is super urgent! Any advice would be awesome. 
Hi Adrian! Yeah, Portugal overhauled the Job Seeker Visa recently. It’s now limited to highly qualified applicants only – think STEM degrees or advanced skills. No more open applications for everyone. Check the official SEF site for details. Good luck! 
On your second question, nope, you can’t apply in-country anymore. You have to submit from your home country or consulate abroad. They tightened that up to prevent overstays. If you’re already there on tourist, you might need to leave and reapply. Bummer, I know!
Who qualifies? Basically, if you have a bachelor’s or higher in a relevant field, or proven experience in high-demand sectors like tech or healthcare. But the window is short – only 120 days to find a job once approved. Have you checked if your qualifications match?
Adrian, follow up:Have you looked into other visas like the D7 for passive income or the tech visa? Might be alternatives if job seeker doesn’t fit. The changes are part of EU immigration reforms, so things might evolve. Keep us posted on what you decide! 