Do you need Portuguese to get hired
This is the first question candidates ask, and the answer usually surprises them. No, you do not need Portuguese to land a role in Lisbon or Porto. International teams run on English internally, and your job is to speak to customers in your own native language. Portuguese is never a hiring criterion.
To be clear about who these roles are for: we recruit French, German and Dutch speakers. English matters as the working and training language, but the positions themselves exist because companies need people who speak one of those three languages fluently.
That said, learning Portuguese completely changes your experience once you arrive. People who make the effort find housing more easily, make local friends, understand their payslip and never feel stuck at the doctor or the bank. It is the difference between living in Portugal and living next to Portugal.
How long does it actually take
The Common European Framework of Reference gives reliable benchmarks. Portuguese is a Romance language, so it comes faster to French speakers than to German or Dutch speakers, though everyone finds the pronunciation harder than the writing.
| Level | Cumulative study hours | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 60 to 80 hours | Greet people, order food, handle simple shopping |
| A2 | 180 to 200 hours | Book appointments, chat about daily life, manage alone |
| B1 | 350 to 400 hours | Hold a conversation, deal with an administrative call |
| B2 | 500 to 600 hours | Work in Portuguese, follow a meeting |
In practice, thirty minutes a day for six months takes you to A2, which is plenty for everyday life. Nobody expects B2 from you, least of all your employer.
The free courses funded by the Portuguese state
Portugal funds a public programme called Português Lingua de Acolhimento, usually shortened to PLA, open to foreign residents. The classes are free, delivered in vocational training centres and some public schools, and they lead to a recognised certificate. You simply need to be registered as a resident, which means having your NIF and your social security number. Enrolment details are published on the official ePortugal portal.
Waiting times vary by city, and in Lisbon you should expect one to two months before a place opens. That is why most newcomers start with an app in parallel while they wait.
What a course costs in Lisbon
If you would rather not wait, private options are plentiful and far cheaper than in France, Germany or the Netherlands. These are the going rates in Lisbon.
| Option | Cost | Pace |
|---|---|---|
| Public PLA course | 0 € | Around 150 hours spread over several months |
| Language school, group class | 150 to 250 € for 30 hours | Two evenings a week |
| Private one to one tutor | 15 to 25 € per hour | Once or twice a week |
| App such as Duolingo or Babbel | 0 to 10 € per month | 10 to 20 minutes a day |
| Language exchange, tandem | 0 € | One evening a week |
On a net salary of roughly 1 060 € paid fourteen times a year, with accommodation covered for the whole contract, a 200 € group course is entirely affordable. Our article on salary in Portugal puts that spending into a full budget.
A realistic three month plan
Most people fail because they aim too high at the start. A gradual plan works far better, especially when you are settling into a new job and have little energy left in the evening.
| Period | What you do | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 15 minutes of app practice a day, 50 everyday words | Order, thank, ask a price |
| Month 2 | Group class twice a week | Introduce yourself, understand a simple question |
| Month 3 | Weekly tandem, subtitled series in Portuguese | Follow a slow conversation and reply |
Habits that genuinely work once you are there
- Switch your phone to Portuguese, it costs nothing and you see the words a hundred times a day.
- Shop at the small local store rather than the supermarket, because it forces you to speak.
- Watch series you already know by heart dubbed in Portuguese, your brain fills the gaps.
- Accept speaking badly for six months, that is the only real shortcut.
- Avoid spending every evening only with people from your own country, the classic first year trap.
On the administrative side, you can record your qualifications and language levels for free with the European Union Europass language passport. For your rights as an EU worker, the EURES portal remains the official reference.
European Portuguese is not Brazilian Portuguese
This detail catches many people out. Most apps teach the Brazilian variant, which is more melodic and easier to follow. European Portuguese swallows its vowels, which is disorienting at first. You will still be understood if you learn Brazilian, but train your ear on European Portuguese content as soon as you can.
Frequently asked questions
Is Portuguese required to be recruited?
Never. The roles are for French, German and Dutch speakers, with English as the internal working language. Learning Portuguese is a personal bonus, not a condition of employment.
How long before I can manage daily life?
About six months at thirty minutes a day, which corresponds to A2. That is enough for the bank, the doctor, the market and your neighbours.
Can I join the free courses as soon as I arrive?
You need to be registered as a resident, so you need your NIF and social security number first. Expect one to two months before a place opens in Lisbon. In the meantime your daily commute is already good practice, as our guide to public transport in Lisbon explains.
Still preparing your application? Start with our guide to writing a CV for jobs in Portugal, then check the current openings on our jobs in Portugal page.
