Portugal has quietly become one of Europe’s rising hubs for remote work and international hiring. With competitive labor costs compared to many Western European countries, it’s particularly appealing for startups and scaleups looking to expand operations quickly without the steep overhead of other European markets.
The country boasts a strong digital infrastructure and a growing tech scene in cities like Lisbon and Porto. And with a talent pool that’s highly adaptable, multilingual, and experienced in working with international teams, it’s no surprise that global companies are turning their attention to Portugal.
Of course, hiring remote workers in Portugal is not without complexity. Portuguese labor law has detailed rules that companies must follow regarding contracts, employee benefits, social security, and termination. For businesses new to the market, navigating these requirements can be overwhelming and risky.
That’s where an Employer of Record (EOR) comes in. By partnering with an EOR, you can compliantly hire in Portugal without setting up a local entity, giving you a faster, safer way to build your team and focus on growth.
Not sure which EOR is right for you? We’ll walk you through six of the top options for hiring in Portugal.
Key takeaways:
- Portugal is home to a highly skilled workforce, many of whom speak English, making it an appealing option for global companies seeking remote talent, especially ones that align with European time zones.
- Portuguese labor laws are complicated, especially for a company hiring in the country for the first time, which is why many businesses partner with an EOR.
- RemoFirst is a popular choice for many companies hiring remote workers in Portugal for several reasons, including its competitive pricing.
Why Portugal Is a Rising Star for Global Remote Hiring
Portugal is gaining recognition as a prime location for international hiring, not only for its affordability but also for the stability it offers employers. Its time zone overlaps with the Americas and the rest of Europe, making it especially convenient for distributed teams.
The country also stands out for its pro-business initiatives — from startup-friendly visa programs to government-backed incentives designed to attract foreign investment and talent.
Ready to make your first hire in Portugal? Here are some of the top EORs that can help you build your global team there.
RemoFirst
RemoFirst stands out as a cost-effective solution for companies hiring in Portugal and worldwide. With plans starting at $199 per full-time employee per month (and $25 for contractors), it’s one of the most affordable EOR providers on the market. Pricing is transparent with no hidden fees, helping businesses avoid unexpected costs.
Although RemoFirst is a popular choice for startups and small businesses, it also supports mid-sized companies and large enterprises looking to scale their international workforce.
Its platform covers a wide range of HR and compliance needs, such as:
- Preparing locally compliant employment contracts
- Managing global payroll
- Onboarding new hires
- Providing support with visa and work permit applications
- Shipping work equipment to employees
- Administering employee benefits, including equity and bonuses
Employers can also extend private health coverage to their employees through RemoHealth and RemoHealth Local. In addition, RemoFirst is expanding integrations with tools like ADP Workforce Now and building new features to simplify international hiring and team management.
Unlike some higher-priced competitors, RemoFirst does not own its own entities in Portugal. Instead, it partners with trusted local experts who typically bring 15-20 years of experience. This way, you get local expertise without the extra costs.
Every client gets a dedicated account manager and 24/5 support, so there’s always someone ready to help at each stage of the employee journey.
Want to see how easy managing a global team can be with RemoFirst? Book a demo.
Bridge In
Bridge In is a specialized Employer of Record (EOR) service catering to companies seeking to employ remote talent in Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
Unlike larger, global EOR providers, Bridge In focuses on providing services in just three countries, offering in-depth local expertise and personalized service. This makes them an appealing choice for businesses looking to expand into these Southern European markets without the complexities of setting up a local entity.
Bridge In provides a comprehensive suite of EOR services, including compliant employment contracts, payroll management, tax filings, and benefits administration. Their in-house legal team ensures adherence to national and international regulations, including GDPR compliance, to safeguard sensitive employee information.
Pricing is tiered and based on the number of employees, starting at €270 per employee per month for up to 2 employees and maxing out at €520 per employee per month for teams of any size.
Remote
Remote uses an owned-entity model, meaning they own legal entities in the countries where they provide service. Because of this, they have tighter control over compliance, employment law, and intellectual property.
The company’s IP Guard stands out as a key feature for businesses that make IP security and ownership a top priority. IP Guard ensures that rights to inventions and IP created by remote employees are properly transferred first to Remote’s local entity and then to the client—helping avoid any messy legal gaps.
Remote’s platform is also pretty flexible from a tech perspective. There are strong API capabilities, so Payroll, EOR, or other HR features can embed smoothly into systems businesses already use. It supports integrations with tools like Xero, Workday, and Zapier.
That said, Remote isn’t cheap. Pricing starts at $699 per person per month for employees. Contractor rates start at $29 per person per month and cost $99 for their most robust Contractor Management Plus tier.
While users report that the analytics/reporting tools are helpful, they also say they are not as customizable or as detailed as they’d like, especially across multiple countries. Onboarding is also said to be slower than expected in some countries.
For more information, see how RemoFirst and Remote compare or read Remote’s G2 reviews.
Oyster
Alongside the essentials — payroll, benefits, and legal compliance — Oyster offers extra perks for remote employees, like local benefits tailored to each region and Oyster Academy — their free online learning hub created especially for remote workers.
The Oyster platform is built to scale. It integrates with tools businesses already use for HR, accounting, payroll systems, etc., making them a good match for larger companies trying to bring everything into one streamlined workflow.
That said, there are trade-offs. Oyster’s pricing starts at $699 per person per month and $29 per month per contractor.
Add-ons (like visa sponsorship, premium benefits) can push costs up.
Some customers say support can be slow, especially for more complex issues or in certain countries. Others noted that onboarding sometimes takes longer in places where Oyster doesn’t have its own entity.
Take a look at how RemoFirst and Oyster compare, or check out Oyster’s G2 reviews.
Deel
Like Remote and Oyster, Deel owns legal entities in most countries it serves, which allows companies to hire internationally without relying on third-party intermediaries.
The platform integrates with over 20 popular tools, including QuickBooks, Dropbox, and Slack, making integrating Deel into existing workflows easy. Deel also offers flexible hiring options, covering full-time employees, contractors, and contractor-of-record arrangements, so businesses can scale their global teams in the best way for them.
Pricing starts at $599 per employee per month and $49 per contractor, though certain services, such as offboarding, may incur additional fees. While the platform is powerful, some users have noted that navigating it can be tricky, and customer support may be slower during peak times.
Learn how RemoFirst stacks up against Deel, or check out Deel’s G2 reviews.
Pebl
Formerly Velocity Global, Pebl emphasizes its commitment to compliance, employing in-country specialists to help navigate labor laws.
The company offers customized packages in addition to their standard EOR offerings, as well as immigration support when needed. It also features integrations for major HRIS platforms such as HiBob, Workable, and Greenhouse.
Pebl's pricing structure isn’t transparent; companies must contact the company to obtain a quote. Although the company doesn’t impose termination fees, its mandatory 30-day notice period for employee offboarding may pose challenges.
Check out Pebl’s G2 profile for more pros and cons about the company.
Compliant and Cost-Effective Hiring in Portugal
Navigating local employment laws, payroll processing, and statutory benefits in the Portuguese market can get complicated fast. That’s why companies hiring internationally turn to EORs to help with their global hiring needs.
RemoFirst makes it affordable and straightforward to build compliant remote teams. We take care of everything — from onboarding and employment contracts to global payroll, taxes, and mandatory benefits — so you can focus on growing your business.
And we don’t just support hiring in Portugal. With coverage in 185+ countries, we’ll be there to support you, wherever your next hire takes you.
Schedule a demo to learn more.
