A serious recruitment agency for Lisbon can be recognised by three things. It is free for the candidate, because the employer pays the agency: that is the rule across Europe, and an agency that charges you a fee is the number one warning sign. It puts the gross salary, the housing conditions and the contract length in writing before any interview. And it connects you directly with the employer, who runs the interview and signs the contract. If any of these three points is missing, walk away. This guide gives you 8 criteria, 7 red flags and the questions to ask on the first call, so you can compare every agency on equal terms.
What a recruitment agency actually does
For customer advisor and content moderator roles in Lisbon and Porto, the agency is an intermediary, not your future employer. Its work comes down to four steps: it pre-selects applications (native language, right to work in the EU, availability), it informs you about the role and the real conditions, it prepares you for the tests and the interview, and it introduces you to the employer. The employer then interviews you by video call, sends you the offer and signs the employment contract with you. You never sign a contract with the agency itself for this type of role, and you never pay it anything. Its job ends with the introduction and the follow-up until you arrive.
A good agency saves you time: it knows which positions are open this week, the training dates and the traps to avoid. A bad one wastes your time, or worse, costs you money. We recruit French, German and Dutch speakers for these roles, and the criteria below apply to any agency you may compare us with. To see what the jobs look like before contacting anyone, read our guide on how to get a job in Portugal.
The 8 criteria of a serious agency
Here is a checklist you can apply to any agency in ten minutes, from its website and its first message.
| Criterion | Good sign | Bad sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Free of charge | Zero fees, stated on the website and confirmed on the phone | Registration, file, placement or training fees |
| 2. Gross salary | Monthly gross amount and number of payments (14 in Portugal) stated | A “net” figure with no gross, or a vague range |
| 3. Housing | Written conditions: type, duration, who pays what | “Help with housing” with no detail |
| 4. Employer’s name | Shared before the interview, with a description of the project | Employer kept secret until signature |
| 5. Timeline | Stated duration from application to departure (usually 3 to 6 weeks) | “Very fast” or “it depends”, with no number |
| 6. Reachable recruiter | A named person, in your language, by phone or video call | Only a form or a chatbot |
| 7. Verifiable reviews | Recent, detailed reviews on independent platforms | No reviews, or only testimonials on the agency’s own site |
| 8. Presence on the ground | An address in Lisbon or Porto, a team that knows the offices and neighbourhoods | No address, no identifiable person |
No agency is perfect on all eight points, but a serious one ticks at least seven, and the first three without exception.
Red flags that should make you walk away
Some signals are not up for debate. If you spot even one, end the conversation.
- Fees of any kind: file, registration, deposit, compulsory paid training. Job placement is paid by the employer, never by you.
- A “net salary” with no gross: only the gross appears on the contract. A net figure quoted on its own often hides a gross that is lower than you think.
- “Assisted” housing with nothing in writing: who pays the rent, the bills, the internet, and until when? If nobody can write it down, it is not guaranteed.
- The promise of an immediate permanent contract: in Portugal these roles almost always start with a renewable 12 month fixed term contract. A permanent contract promised on the first call is unrealistic.
- Pressure to sign quickly: “one seat left, decide tonight”. A serious employer gives you a few days to think.
- No address, no identifiable person: a website with no legal notice, messages signed with a first name only, no phone number.
- Identity documents requested before any conversation: your ID is used to check your right to work, after the interview, never in the first message.
Questions to ask on the first call
A first call usually lasts 15 minutes. Ask these questions in order and write down the answers: a serious agency answers them without hesitation.
| Question | Expected answer |
|---|---|
| How much does your service cost me? | Nothing, at any stage. The employer pays the agency. |
| What is the monthly gross salary and how many payments? | A precise figure, for example about 1,060 euros gross, paid 14 times a year. |
| Is housing provided, by whom, and for how long? | By the employer, for the whole duration of the contract, rent, bills and internet paid, including on renewal. |
| Is the flight covered? | Yes, reimbursed or paid directly, with the exact conditions. |
| Who is the employer and what is the project? | Name and description are shared before the interview. |
| How long are the contract and the probation period? | Renewable 12 month fixed term contract, legal probation of 90 days. |
| How long between today and my first day? | Usually 3 to 6 weeks, with each step explained. |
| Who signs my contract? | The employer, directly with you. |
Reading an offer: gross, net, housing, flight
A clear offer can be read in six lines. The gross salary is the only contractual figure: in Portugal it is paid 14 times a year (12 months plus holiday and Christmas allowances). On a gross of about 1,060 euros a month, the social security deduction is 11 percent (about 117 euros), plus an income tax (IRS) withholding that varies with your situation: expect an estimate of 850 to 900 euros net, bonuses on top. Because housing is paid at 100 percent, the real disposable amount is around 900 to 1,000 euros a month. The full calculation is in our guide to salary in Portugal.
| Element of the offer | What a clear offer states |
|---|---|
| Salary | Monthly gross, 14 payments, any bonuses listed separately |
| Housing | Shared flat provided for the whole contract, rent, bills and internet paid |
| Flight | Reimbursed after arrival or paid directly by the company |
| Contract | Renewable 12 month fixed term contract, 90 day probation |
| Hours | 40 hours a week, fixed or rotating shifts specified, 25 percent night supplement |
| Leave | 22 working days a year, plus 13 public holidays |
If an offer leaves out one of these six elements, ask for it in writing before the interview. Fixed term contracts, probation and notice periods are explained in our article on the employment contract in Portugal.
Comparing agencies and checking the legal framework
You do not need to contact ten agencies. Apply to two or three in the same week, with the same CV, and compare their answers point by point using the 8 criteria. The one that replies fastest, in writing, with the most precise figures is usually the one that knows the positions best. Then check offers against official sources: the EURES network, the European employment service, publishes verified vacancies across the EU, and the Your Europe portal sets out your rights when you work in another EU country.
On the legal side, job placement is a regulated activity in Portugal as in the rest of the EU: placement agencies fall under labour law, and the service must be free for the worker, since the employer funds it. If you have doubts about a practice, the Portuguese labour inspectorate, the ACT, is the competent authority. Your basic rights do not change from one agency to another: the Portuguese minimum wage of 920 euros gross in 2026, 40 hours a week, 22 working days of leave and 13 public holidays apply to everyone.
Expat-U: the 8 criteria applied
To illustrate the checklist, here is how Expat-U, an agency based in Lisbon, answers the eight criteria. The service is free at every stage. The salary is in writing before the interview: about 1,060 euros gross a month, paid 14 times. Housing is a shared flat provided by the employer for the whole duration of the contract, rent, bills and internet paid. The flight is reimbursed for French speaking candidates and paid directly by the company for German and Dutch speaking candidates. The employer’s name and the project are shared before the interview, which takes place by video call directly with the employer. The first contact is a 15 minute call, in your language, with a named recruiter, and the stated timeline is 3 to 6 weeks from application to departure. This week’s open positions are on our page of jobs in Portugal with housing included. Apply the same checklist to us as to everyone else: that is exactly what we recommend.
FAQ
Is a recruitment agency allowed to charge me?
Not for this type of role. In Europe, job placement is paid by the employer. File, registration or compulsory training fees asked of the candidate are the first warning sign: refuse and look elsewhere.
Who signs my employment contract, the agency or the employer?
The employer, directly with you. The agency pre-selects, informs and prepares you, then introduces you. The contract, usually a renewable 12 month fixed term contract with 90 days of probation, is signed with the company that employs you in Lisbon or Porto.
How can I check that an offer is real?
Ask in writing for the gross salary, the housing conditions, the employer’s name and the training date. Compare with the verified vacancies published on the EURES network. A real offer withstands these four questions without difficulty.
Should I send my ID to an agency?
Not at the first contact. Your valid EU identity document is used to check your right to work, after the interview with the employer, when the offer is made. A request for a scan in the first message is a red flag.
How many agencies should I contact?
Two or three are enough. Apply in the same week, compare the answers with the 8 criteria, then continue with the one that gives you the most precise figures in writing. The full process then takes 3 to 6 weeks.
Last updated on 21 October 2026.
