Can you change employer on a Portugal residence permit for work?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Yes. Portugal's immigration law says the holder of a residence permit for professional activity can change employer by notifying AIMA, without a new residence card being issued. If you hold a permit for employed work and want to work as self-employed, you can do so by replacing your residence card, applying the self-employment rules.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Changing employer	Allowed by notifying AIMA; no new residence card needed	Lei 23/2007, art. 88.8
Becoming self-employed	Allowed by replacing the residence card, applying the self-employment rules with adaptations	Lei 23/2007, art. 88.5
Right to work	Residence permit holders may work as employees or self-employed without special authorisation, subject to special provisions	Lei 23/2007, art. 83.1(b)–(c)
Who else is told	When the permit is granted, AIMA informs the labour inspectorate, the tax administration and social security	Lei 23/2007, art. 88.4

Changing employer

The law says the holder of a residence permit for professional activity “may change employer by communicating it to AIMA”, without a new residence card being issued.

Switching to self-employment

If your permit is for employed work, you can also work as self-employed. The law says this happens by replacing the residence card, applying the rules of the next article (on self-employment) with the necessary adaptations.

Your general right to work

Separately, the law lists the rights of every residence permit holder. These include employed and self-employed professional activity, without a special authorisation linked to being a foreign national, unless a special provision says otherwise (art. 83.1).

What the first work permit needs: on top of the general conditions, an employment contract made under the law and registration with social security (Lei 23/2007, art. 88.1).

Sources

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (immigration law), arts. 83 and 88 (consolidated text as amended up to Lei n.º 62/2026, PGDL Lisboa) checked 2026-10-25

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

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