People from outside the EU or the EEA need both a residence permit and a work authorisation before working on a Portuguese construction site.
What it means
A third-country national is someone who is not a citizen of an EU or EEA (European Economic Area) country. To work legally in Portugal, this person needs two separate things: a valid residence permit, issued by AIMA (the agency that handles residence and work authorisation for people from outside the EU), and a specific authorisation to work.
Who needs it
Any third-country national working on a Portuguese construction site needs both documents, no matter how short the assignment is. This applies both to people employed directly by a company and to people working as self-employed.
How it works
The requirements split depending on how the person actually works. An employee needs a residence permit that covers paid work for an employer. A self-employed worker needs a different residence permit, one that covers independent professional activity instead. A permit for one route does not cover the other: a permit issued for employment does not allow someone to work as self-employed, and a permit issued for self-employment does not cover paid employment. Anyone switching from one way of working to the other must apply again for the matching permit.
What happens if it is not in order
Working without the correct permit and authorisation is illegal, both for the worker and for whoever engages them. It can lead to fines, and it can stop the person from continuing to work on the site until the paperwork is corrected.
What to watch out for
Always check which route a permit was actually issued for. A valid-looking residence permit is not enough on its own if it was issued for employment while the person is really working as self-employed, or the other way round.
A residence permit for employees and one for self-employed workers are not interchangeable. Always match the permit to how the person actually works on site.