Information guide for international students, not individual legal, tax or medical advice. Check amounts, forms and deadlines on official sources before acting.
Operational framework
In Portugal, citizenship, course form, duration, address and work determine different procedures. For an Italian the path starts from the Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União (CRUE); for a non-EU citizen from residence visa and residence permit for study at AIMA. The following guides separate the two cases and indicate where the rule varies.
EU
Rule:Italians work without authorization, but NIF, contract and registrations are required.
What to do:Don’t start informal work.
Operational verification:Before closing the «EU» step, connect the current source, the document presented and the receipt; Note the next deadline and who can fix a mistake.
Extra-EU
Rule:The student art. 91 can work in a complementary way.
What to do:Verify current title and report activity when required.
Operational verification:In the “Extra-EU” file, keep the complete version, date and issuing authority. If checks current title and reports activity when required. this is not possible, ask in writing which alternative test is accepted.
Contract
Rule:Distinguish temporary, fixed-term, part-time and service contracts.
What to do:Reality prevails over label.
Operational verification:Check «Contract» before paying or signing: identity of the other party, competent territory, amount, deadline and consequence of non-compliance must be from a verifiable source.
Salary
Rule:Minimum wage, collective agreement and increases change.
What to do:Check ACT and receipt.
Operational verification:For «Salary» a verbal confirmation is not enough. Save the institution’s response, case number and proof of delivery; reevaluate the transition when you change address, course or job.
Hours
Rule:Record hours, breaks, overtime, rest and night/holiday work.
What to do:Compare payslip.
Operational verification:Before closing the «Timetable» step, connect the current source, the presented document and the receipt; Note the next deadline and who can fix a mistake.
Social Security
Rule:The employer registers the employee; the independent worker opens activities and contributions.
What to do:Check NISS and history.
Operational verification:The “Segurança Social” file contains the complete version, date and issuing authority. If you check niss and history. this is not possible, ask in writing which alternative test is accepted.
Green Recipes
Rule:They are self-employed invoices, not an economic employment contract.
What to do:Self-employed fake currency, VAT and withholdings.
Operational verification:Check «Recibos verdes» before paying or signing: identity of the counterparty, competent territory, amount, deadline and consequence of non-compliance must be from a verifiable source.
Holidays
Rule:Férias, subsídio de férias and de Natal follow law/contract.
What to do:Check ripeness and proportion.
Operational verification:For «Holidays» a verbal confirmation is not enough. Save the institution’s response, case number and proof of delivery; reevaluate the transition when you change address, course or job.
Trial period
Rule:Duration depends on the relationship and must be applied correctly.
What to do:Don’t accept free productive trials.
Operational verification:Before closing the «Trial period» step, connect the current source, the presented document and the receipt; Note the next deadline and who can fix a mistake.
Safety
Rule:The giver trains and protects; accidents must be registered and insured.
What to do:Contact ACT if you are at risk.
Operational verification:The complete version, date and issuing authority are kept in the «Security» file. If you contact act in case of risk. this is not possible, ask in writing which alternative test is accepted.
Discrimination
Rule:Nationality and status do not eliminate minimum rights.
What to do:Keep evidence and use ACT/CITE.
Operational verification:Check «Discrimination» before paying or signing: identity of the other party, competent territory, amount, deadline and consequence of non-compliance must be from a verifiable source.
End of relationship
Rule:Notice, fees and certificates change due to cause.
What to do:Don’t sign quitação without understanding it.
Operational verification:For “termination of employment” a verbal confirmation is not enough. Save the institution’s response, case number and proof of delivery; reevaluate the transition when you change address, course or job.
2026 pay and student-work file
The mainland national minimum monthly wage is €920 from 1 January 2026; autonomous regions and collective instruments may set higher amounts. Compare annual gross pay: holiday and Christmas allowances are separate entitlements and may be paid at the statutory time or in lawful twelfths. The payslip should show base, hours, supplements, allowances, IRS, Social Security and net.
Before the first shift confirm employer, category, workplace, daily/weekly schedule, pay, variable items, leave, probation, accident insurer and collective agreement. Normal full-time work is generally eight hours daily and forty weekly, subject to lawful arrangements. An Article 91 student may work employed or independently only alongside the studies; lawful employment does not excuse attendance or progression.
A recibo verde is a self-employed invoice, not a cheap employment contract. Calculate VAT, withholding, contributions, insurance and unpaid leave before opening activity. If the client controls time, place, tools and performance, ask ACT about false self-employment.
Personal payroll audit
Each pay cycle compares rosters, hours started/finished, breaks, classification, base rate, increases, allowances, deductions and net received. Record mandatory training, opening/closing and work requested out of shift separately. Don’t wait months: small repeated errors become difficult to reconstruct and some actions have short deadlines.
Keep evidence in a personal account, not just in the employer’s app. Download agreement, payslip and roster; Photograph timesheets if permitted and save messages about changes. Don’t bring customer data or company secrets: document your relationship without violating other people’s privacy.
Evaluate an offer
Before accepting, ask for the company’s legal name/number, location, duties, employment status, guaranteed hours, rate, pay cycle, proof, notice and responsible person. Compare travel costs and times with study and visa. A seemingly high contractor salary may be lower after tax, insurance, leave and non-billable time.
Refuse payments to obtain shifts, mandatory purchase of sponsorship, refund of cash and withheld documents. Do not sign blank sheets or fake timesheets. If housing and work depend on the same person, prepare an alternative plan: losing both increases the power of blackmail.
Proportionate escalation
For a simple error, send calculation and request with a reasonable deadline. For lack of salary, security, discrimination or migratory threat, immediately use the competent body, union, community legal service or student support. In an emergency, protect the person before the tests. Don’t accept a settlement or resignation without understanding waivers, taxes and visa consequences.
Official sources
Verified: 2026-08-14.