All About Employee Leave & PTO in Portugal
Learn about leave requirements in Portugal and how Justworks EOR can help you streamline hiring in Portugal.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO in Portugal
Different countries have different leave requirements and norms around vacation time. When hiring in Portugal, Justworks EOR can help you understand these differences with localized guidance so your leave policies align with legal requirements and prospective employees’ expectations.
Save time, money, and effort by minimizing the risks of hiring in an unfamiliar talent market like Portugal. We’ll help you hire more quickly and manage HR tasks like running payroll, filing taxes, accessing benefits, staying on top of compliance, and more.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Portugal
Portuguese labor laws aim to balance work and personal time to create a healthy work-life balance for employees.
Vacation Leave
In Portugal, vacation leave, known as "férias," is a fundamental aspect of employment rights and plays a significant role in promoting work-life balance. Employees get at least 22 paid days off per year, though some employers offer additional time off.
Sick Leave
In Portugal, employees can get sick leave benefits for up to 1,095 days. To qualify, employees need a doctor's note and must have worked six consecutive months. Employers cover the first three days at 89% of the daily wage, then social security takes over. Here's how that breaks down:
The first 3 days of sick leave are not paid
55% of average daily earnings from day 4 to day 30
60% from day 31 to day 90
70% from day 91 to day 365
75% for each day after that
Maternity & Paternity Leave
Initial parental leave may be 150 days. New mothers are entitled to 30 days of maternity leave at full pay from social security before birth and at least 42 days after. Biological or adoptive new fathers are entitled to 28 mandatory days of leave taken 42 days after birth. In cases of twins, employees are entitled to an additional 30 days after birth. Employees may also apply for extended parental leave, for 90 additional days.
Childcare Leave
New parents can take leave to care for a child for up to two years, or three years if it's a third child or more. Employees must inform their employer in writing with 30 days' notice.
Care for Children with Disabilities Leave
Parents can take up to six months of leave to care for a child with a disability, chronic illness, or cancer for up to four years. If their child is under one year old, parents can request a five-hour reduction in their weekly working hours or other special working conditions to care for the child. After leave ends, parents can request training and refresher courses organized by the employer.
Bereavement Leave
Employees are entitled to two, three (in cases of miscarriage), five, or 20 days of bereavement leave but must provide the employer with the applicable documents.
Public Holidays in Portugal
Portugal has 13 national holidays where employees are entitled to holiday pay and time off regardless of how long they’ve worked.
Public holidays in Portugal:
New Year's Day - January 1
Carnival/Shrove Tuesday - Day before Ash Wednesday
Good Friday - Friday before Easter
Easter Sunday - 1st Sunday after the full moon
Freedom Day - April 25
Labour Day - May 1
Azores Day - May 16
Corpus Christi - 2nd Thursday after Whitsun
National Day - June 10
Madeira Day - July 1
Assumption Day - August 15
Republic Day - October 5
All Saints Day - November 1
Restoration of Independence - December 1
Immaculate Conception - December 8
Christmas Day - December 25
St. Stephen’s Day - December 26
Ready to Hire Confidently in Portugal?
Justworks EOR makes building your global team seamless by offering local expertise to help you understand the nuances of the talent market in Portugal. Save yourself the time and hassle of international hiring today.
