A temporary work agency operating in Portugal needs a licence from the IEFP, unless it already holds a recognised authorisation from another EU or EEA country.
What it is
The IEFP (the public employment institute, which also licenses temporary work agencies) issues a licence to companies that place temporary workers with client businesses for a fee. This licence, sometimes called an ETT licence (empresa de trabalho temporário, meaning temporary work agency), confirms that the agency meets Portugal's legal requirements for this activity, including its financial standing.
What it is for
Placing workers temporarily with another company is a regulated activity in Portugal, not something any business can do without approval. The licence exists to make sure agencies are reliable, financially sound, and follow labour rules correctly, so that temporary workers are properly protected. Without it, an agency cannot legally place workers with another business, including on construction sites.
Who needs it
Any company that operates as a temporary work agency in Portugal, placing workers with client businesses, needs this licence. An agency established in another European Union or European Economic Area country does not need a separate Portuguese licence. Its home country's own authorisation for this activity is recognised instead in Portugal, based on the mutual recognition of agencies across the EU and EEA.
Where to get it and how long it is valid
The IEFP issues the licence to agencies established in Portugal, and lists which agencies currently hold a valid one in its public register. For an EU or EEA agency relying on its home-country authorisation, that authorisation stays the reference document, rather than a separate Portuguese one, for as long as it remains valid at home.
What to watch out for
It is easy to assume every foreign agency needs its own Portuguese licence. In fact, an agency from the EU or the wider EEA can rely on its existing home authorisation, as long as it can show that authorisation is genuinely valid.
An EU or EEA temporary work agency does not need a separate Portuguese licence - its home-country authorisation is recognised instead.