Updated November 2026
Most startups hiring their first employee in Portugal without a local company use an employer of record (EOR) provider, which employs the person on a Portuguese contract while you manage the work. A contractor agreement suits someone who already runs their own independent business, and your own entity makes sense once Portugal becomes a hub. Before choosing, ask the candidate which arrangement they want.
That question is what makes Portugal different. Many tech professionals in Lisbon and Porto have spent years as a trabalhador independente (independent worker), invoicing companies abroad on what everyone calls recibos verdes, or green receipts. Some want to stay that way and others want a contract, and the answer changes your cost, paperwork and risk.
Start with the arrangement, then talk money
Put one question ahead of salary on the first call: how do you work today, and how do you want to work next?
The detail founders tend to miss is how Portuguese pay is quoted. Employees usually think in annual gross terms, paid as monthly salary plus a holiday allowance and a Christmas allowance. A monthly figure from a US offer template multiplied by twelve will not match how the candidate compares offers, so ask your EOR provider for the full annual picture first.
Entity, EOR or independent worker in Portugal
It depends on how many people you will hire there and how they want to work.
The independent route is where startups get into trouble. Portuguese labour law looks at how the relationship works in practice, whatever the contract calls it. If your "contractor" keeps your hours, reports to your manager, uses your laptop and bills you the same amount each month as their only customer, that looks like employment, and you can face back pay and social security claims.
Rules change and every situation is different, so confirm your set-up with a Portuguese employment lawyer, an accountant or your EOR provider before you hire. See also contractor or full-time for your first hire.
Running the search in Lisbon and Porto
English is the working language in many Portuguese tech teams, especially those serving international customers, so you can usually interview and run the job in English. Test for the languages the role needs, which for a customer-facing hire may be German or French rather than Portuguese.
Portugal also has a visa for remote workers who work for companies abroad, and some candidates will hold it. A Portuguese employment contract may change the basis of their stay, so check before the offer.
Employees resigning from a Portuguese job commonly serve longer notice than US founders are used to, and independents often need to finish work for existing customers. Plan backwards with our hiring timeline estimator.
Worked example: a US startup's first customer success manager in Lisbon
Illustrative. A US Series A SaaS company has European customers whose tickets wait overnight. The founder, Sam, wants a customer success manager in Lisbon to cover European hours, with no Portuguese entity planned.
Two of three shortlisted candidates were independent workers. Sam hired one who had invoiced foreign companies for years and wanted employment, so the EOR route fitted. The other wanted to keep several customers, which suits a project rather than a full-time seat.
Where Funded.club fits
We are a fixed-fee recruiting partner for funded startups and fast-growing teams across North America, Europe and APAC. Since 2019 we've helped 500+ startups from Seed to Series D. One dedicated recruiter runs each search end to end, with first screened candidates within 7 days and 33 days on average from kick-off to hire. We run the search, and your EOR or entity handles the employment.
We agree a low fixed fee upfront, averaging 6 to 9% of salary against the 20 to 25% typical of contingency recruiters. If Sam's agreed salary sits in our band up to $70,000, the fee is $4,900. Part is an advance at the start, the balance on acceptance, and if we don't deliver a shortlist of at least 3 qualified candidates within 30 days, you can claim the advance back in full. See our pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign startup hire an employee in Portugal without a Portuguese company?
Yes. An employer of record (EOR) provider can employ the person on a Portuguese contract and run payroll and social security while you manage the work.
What are recibos verdes?
Recibos verdes, or green receipts, is the everyday name for invoicing as an independent worker (trabalhador independente) in Portugal. The worker handles their own tax and social security.
Can I hire someone in Portugal as a full-time contractor?
You can contract with an independent worker, but if it works like a job, with your hours, equipment and management, Portuguese law may treat it as employment. Check with a local employment lawyer or your EOR provider first.
Do I need to speak Portuguese to hire in Portugal?
Usually not for interviews, as English is common in Portuguese tech teams, though an EOR provider or local adviser helps with Portuguese contracts and payroll documents.
Worth a brief chat about your next hire? Book a free call.
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