Agriculture Jobs in Portugal

Portugal has become one of Europe's fastest-growing berry producers, and the Alentejo now grows soft fruit at a scale it did not a decade ago. Much of that workforce comes from Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Thailand.

EU Helpers connects farm and food production workers with employers in Portugal. We check your work history, any licences you hold and what you can do. Then we match you to open roles. We also help with the paperwork and the move. Browse our wider agriculture hiring landscape across Europe to see how Portugal fits in.

Quick facts:

• The Alentejo has become a major berry-growing region.

• Much of the workforce comes from South and Southeast Asia.

• Portuguese workers help but aren't needed for picking.

• Living costs are lower than in Northern Europe.

• Entry-level farm work needs no training anywhere in Europe.

Why Portugal's Farms Are Hiring

Berry growing is the growth story. Raspberries and blueberries in the Alentejo have expanded rapidly, and the workforce has followed.

That workforce is largely from Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Thailand, so the recruitment routes are well established.

Wine and olive harvests add autumn work, and the Algarve grows citrus and vegetables.

Two Ways to Work

Portuguese speakers from Brazil, Angola and Mozambique have a natural advantage in this market.

What Does a Farm Job in Portugal Involve?

Farm and food work splits into four areas. Here is how each one looks.

Picking and harvesting. Picking, cutting, and field work through the Portuguese season. No training needed, and employers train you on arrival.

Growing under cover. Greenhouse and tunnel work in Portugal runs longer than field work, often year-round, in controlled conditions.

Animals and dairy. Livestock and dairy work in Portugal is year-round and needs people who are steady and reliable with animals.

Food production. Food plants in Portugal run year-round on shifts, with hygiene training provided on arrival.

Farm Roles in Demand in Portugal

• Berry picker: Alentejo raspberry and blueberry farms, a fast-growing sector.

• Fruit and vegetable picker: Algarve and central Portugal through the seasons.

• Greenhouse operative: Protected growing running longer than field harvest.

• Food production operative: Shift work in plants across the country.

• Packing shed worker: Sorting and packing produce to retail standards across Portugal.

• Forklift driver: Moving pallets in Portugal packing sheds and food plants. A licence helps a great deal.

• Team leader: Running a picking or line crew on Portuguese farms and in food plants.

The berry season runs longer than most European harvests, so contracts here last longer than a few weeks.

How Much You Can Earn

The national minimum wage sets Portuguese farm pay and is below Northern Europe, though living costs are lower. Berry farms often provide room and board because sites are rural.

Things Worth Knowing Before You Apply

• The berry season runs longer than most harvests.

• Recruitment routes from South Asia are well established.

• Berry farms often provide room and board.

• Living costs are lower than in Northern Europe.

• Always get room and board terms and deductions in writing before you accept.

Skills and Experience You Need

These points apply to Portuguese nationals and foreign applicants alike. Employers care about what you can do.

Starting (Picker, Farm Hand)

• No training needed. Employers train you on arrival.

• You are fit enough for long days on your feet, often outdoors.

• You work steadily, because picking is paid on what you get done.

Skilled (Machinery, Livestock, Food Line)

• One or more seasons of farm or food work you can describe

• A tractor or forklift licence, if you have one

• Basic understanding of hygiene rules, which employers explain on arrival

Supervisory (Team Leader, Farm Manager)

• Two or more years, including running a picking or line team

• You can keep daily records and hit a target without being watched.

• Enough of the local language for safety briefings and instructions

No Portuguese is needed for picking. Speakers from Brazil, Angola and Mozambique have a natural advantage for other roles.

No training is needed for picking. A tractor or forklift licence pays more in packing and field roles.

Papers You Need

If You're a Portuguese National

• National ID card or passport

• Any licences you hold, such as tractor or forklift

• A list of the farms or plants you have worked on

• Reference contacts from past employers

• Health declaration confirming you are fit for the work.

If You're a Foreign Candidate

• A valid passport

• A signed job offer from a Portugal-based farm or food producer

• Any licences you hold, translated if asked.

• Criminal record certificate from your home country

• Health declaration confirming you are fit for the work.

• Written proof of room and board and what is deducted from your pay

EU Helpers is not a government body. We do not issue work permits or residence permits. We help you get your papers ready. Non-EU candidates usually apply through a national work permit, and many countries run a separate seasonal route. The authority always makes the final call.

How EU Helpers Helps You

• We know the berry season here runs longer than most European harvests.

• We get room and board terms and any deductions in writing before you accept.

• We tell you how long the season really runs, so a short contract never comes as a surprise.

• We help you prepare your papers for hiring and the move.

• After you start, we check in to see how things are going.

Why Choose EU Helpers in Portugal

• We understand the South Asian recruitment routes here are well established.

• We check every candidate well before we send them to an employer.

• Our network reaches Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. That gives employers a wider pool than local hiring.

• If Portugal isn't the right fit for what you want, we'll tell you and look at other markets with you.

Get Started

Job Seekers

Sign up, share your work history, and tell us whether you want seasonal or year-round work. Register as a job seeker to start.

Farms and Food Producers

Get access to checked farm and food workers for your Portugal sites. We handle the papers and the move. Start an employer partnership to tell us what you need.

Recruiters

Work with EU Helpers to place farm workers into Portuguese berry, fruit and food production work. Apply to join our recruiter network to get started.

Close to this field: see green economy jobs in Portugal and hospitality jobs in Portugal, which also hire seasonally. Looking at something else? See construction jobs in Portugal, elderly care jobs in Portugal, renewable energy jobs in Portugal, civil engineering jobs in Portugal, real estate jobs in Portugal, finance jobs in Portugal, legal services jobs in Portugal, data science jobs in Portugal, education jobs in Portugal, architecture jobs in Portugal, urban planning jobs in Portugal and customer service jobs in Portugal, or see every sector on our industries hub. Thinking about the move? Read our Portugal relocation guide, or browse open farm roles across Europe; for anything else, contact our team.