Top Job Agencies in Lisbon — Recruitment and Staffing for Foreigners (2026)

Looking for the best job agency in Lisbon? Whether you’re a foreigner moving to Portugal or already living locally, working with a recruitment agency is one of the fastest ways to find work in the city. Lisbon has a strong network of international and Portuguese job agencies covering everything from entry-level temporary roles to executive search.

Beyond private agencies, the official public employment service in Portugal is IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional), which offers free job placement assistance to all residents.

In Portugal, the terms “job agency”, “work agency”, “recruitment agency” and “employment agency” are often used interchangeably — all refer to firms that connect candidates with employers. This guide covers all major work agencies operating in Lisbon today — with verified addresses, contacts, and what each one specialises in.

10+ Top agencies in Lisbon

Free For candidates (by law)

1-3 weeks Typical time to placement

English OK for most major agencies

How job agencies in Lisbon work

Job agencies in Lisbon connect candidates with employers across most sectors. Most operate under one of three models:

Staffing / temporary work agencies (Empresas de Trabalho Temporário)

Also known as temp agencies, these companies handle high-volume temporary placements — warehouse, factory, hospitality, customer service, retail. You’re technically employed by the agency, who places you with client companies. Best route for entry-level roles, foreigners new to Lisbon, or anyone needing a fast start.

Recruitment / permanent placement agencies

Match candidates with employers for permanent roles. Usually focus on mid-level and senior positions in IT, finance, engineering, marketing, sales and operations. You’re hired directly by the company that takes you on.

Executive search firms

Specialised in senior management and director-level recruitment. Often work on confidential mandates for specific companies. Lisbon hosts several international executive search firms operating across the Iberian Peninsula.

The good news for foreigners: most major agencies in Lisbon work with international candidates and many operate primarily in English.

Best job agencies in Lisbon for foreigners (2026)

Lisbon has dozens of employment agencies, staffing firms, recruitment consultancies and headhunters. Here are the most established agencies operating in Lisbon today, with verified addresses and contacts.

Randstad Portugal

Randstad is the largest staffing and HR services company in Lisbon, with one of the most comprehensive networks for temporary, permanent and specialised recruitment. They place candidates across virtually every sector and skill level — from warehouse operators to senior IT professionals.

• Lisbon headquarters: Avenida da República, 26, 1069-228 Lisboa
• Lisbon branch: Rua Amílcar Cabral, 25, 1750-018 Lisboa
• Phone: 800 244 244
• Website:www.randstad.pt

Best for: All-round staffing, temp-to-perm placements, high-volume hiring, foreign candidates entering the Lisbon job market.

Adecco Portugal

Part of the global Adecco Group, this is one of the world’s largest HR services companies with major operations in Lisbon. Strong in industrial, retail, customer service, and finance — known for fast placement and a large network of client companies across the Lisbon region.

• Lisbon headquarters: Avenida D. João II, Lote 1.06.2.5, 9º, 1990-095 Lisboa (Parque das Nações)
• Phone: 211 156 700
• Website: www.adecco.pt

Best for: Customer service, industrial, retail, contact centre roles, temporary work in Lisbon.

ManpowerGroup Portugal

Part of the international ManpowerGroup, with its headquarters located in Lisbon. Specialises in temporary work, outsourcing, permanent recruitment and executive search across logistics, IT, finance and healthcare.

• Lisbon headquarters: Centro Empresarial Torres de Lisboa, Rua Tomás da Fonseca, Torre G, Piso 14-15, 1600-209 Lisboa
• Website: www.manpower.pt

Best for: Outsourcing solutions, mid-level professional placements, IT recruitment (through Experis brand).

Hays Portugal

A global specialist recruitment firm focused on qualified professionals. Hays operates in Lisbon across IT, finance, engineering, healthcare, accounting and legal. Especially strong for candidates with university-level qualifications.

• Lisbon office: Avenida da República, 90, 1º andar, Fracção 4, 1600-206 Lisboa
• Phone: +351 21 782 6560
• Website: www.hays.pt

Best for: Skilled professionals, IT, finance, engineering, accounting and legal roles in Lisbon.

Michael Page Portugal

A leading global specialist recruitment company, Michael Page opened its first Lisbon office in 2000. Focuses on mid-to-senior level placements in finance, IT, sales, marketing, engineering and human resources. Strong network for candidates with 3+ years of professional experience.

• Lisbon office: Avenida da Liberdade, 180-A, 3º Andar Direito, 1250-146 Lisboa
• Website: www.michaelpage.pt

Best for: Mid-to-senior professional placements, executive recruitment in finance, IT, and commercial functions.

Robert Walters Portugal

A specialist global recruitment consultancy with its Portuguese office in Lisbon since 2016. Focuses on permanent and contract placements for qualified professionals. Particularly strong in finance, technology, sales, marketing, and engineering.

• Lisbon office: Avenida da Liberdade, 110 (Regus building), 1269-046 Lisboa
• Phone: +351 210 403 239
• Website: www.robertwalters.pt

Best for: Specialist professional and executive recruitment in Lisbon, English-speaking professionals.

Eurofirms People First

A leading Iberian staffing and recruitment group with its Portuguese headquarters in Lisbon. Strong in industrial, logistics, retail and customer service placements.

• Lisbon headquarters: Edifício Europa, Avenida José Malhoa, 16, 4º andar B1, 1070-062 Lisboa
• Phone: 219 014 264
• Website: www.eurofirms.com/pt

Best for: Industrial, logistics, factory, warehouse and customer service roles in Lisbon. Strong for foreigners entering blue-collar and service roles.

Synergie Lisbon

An international staffing and recruitment company with strong Lisbon presence across industrial, logistics, construction, IT and administration roles. Offers both temporary and permanent placements.

• Active in: Lisbon
• Website: www.synergie.pt

Best for: Industrial and logistics, multi-sector temporary work in Lisbon.

Egor

A well-established Portuguese HR and recruitment company with Lisbon operations. Offers permanent placement, executive search, and HR consulting. Strong in finance, IT, healthcare, engineering and retail.

• Active in: Lisbon
• Website: www.egor.pt

Best for: Mid-level and executive Lisbon-market roles, HR consulting services.

Gi Group Portugal

A global HR multinational with Lisbon operations across temporary work, permanent recruitment, and HR consulting. Industry coverage includes logistics, manufacturing, IT, finance and customer service.

• Active in: Lisbon
• Website: www.gigroup.pt

Best for: Temporary and permanent placements across logistics, manufacturing, and customer service in Lisbon.

Some recruitment agencies may handle temporary or project-based construction roles. Check construction jobs in Portugal before applying.

Specialised recruitment agencies in Lisbon

Beyond the generalist agencies above, several specialised recruitment firms operate in Lisbon for specific sectors:

IT and tech recruitment: Landing.jobs, Bee Engineering, IT People Innovation, Talentier — all focused on placing developers, engineers and tech professionals at Lisbon-based and international companies.

Hospitality and tourism: Hosco, Hotelcareer and specialised recruiters for hotels, resorts and restaurants in Lisbon and the surrounding region.

Healthcare: HRS Portugal, Egor Healthcare — specialised in placing nurses, doctors, and care professionals across Lisbon’s public and private healthcare sectors.

Executive search: Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Egon Zehnder — international executive search firms operating from Lisbon for senior leadership roles.

Finance and legal: Hays Financial, Michael Page Finance, Robert Walters Banking & Financial Services — specialised legs of generalist firms focused on banking, audit, tax and legal recruitment in Lisbon.

Which Lisbon employment agencies specialise in foreign workers?

The agencies with most experience placing non-EU foreign workers in Lisbon are Eurofirms, Randstad, Adecco and ManpowerGroup — all have dedicated processes for visa-required candidates and handle the administrative side of the work permit. For English-speaking professionals, Hays, Michael Page and Robert Walters work primarily with international profiles.

Job agencies near you in Lisbon — by neighbourhood

Major Lisbon agency offices are concentrated in three areas, making them easy to reach by metro:

• Avenidas Novas / Saldanha (Av. da República): Randstad, Hays
• Parque das Nações (Av. D. João II): Adecco
• Avenida da Liberdade: Michael Page, Robert Walters
• Sete Rios / Torres de Lisboa: ManpowerGroup
• Campolide / Av. José Malhoa: Eurofirms

If you’re searching for a “job agency near me” in Lisbon, all major agencies are reachable within 15-20 minutes by metro from central Lisbon.

Job agencies in Lisbon for foreigners — what to expect

Lisbon’s job agency market is well prepared to work with foreigners. Here’s what you should know before applying:

Languages spoken Most Lisbon agencies operate primarily in Portuguese internally but have English-speaking consultants for international candidates. Some — like Robert Walters, Hays, and Michael Page — work entirely in English with global candidates.

Visa support Larger agencies (Randstad, Adecco, Manpower, Eurofirms) regularly place non-EU candidates and have experience with the work permit process. They typically don’t sponsor visas directly, but their client companies do. Agencies handle the administrative side once you have a job offer.

What agencies need from you

• A clear CV in English or Portuguese (European format, max 2 pages, no photo)
• Your driving licence, certifications, and qualifications
• A copy of your passport or residence card
• A NIF (Portuguese tax number) — though some agencies help you get one
• Bank account in Portugal (can be set up after starting)

How quickly can you start working? If your profile matches an active vacancy in Lisbon, you can often start within 1-3 weeks. For non-EU candidates needing a work visa, the full process takes 2-4 months.

If you’re not an EU citizen, the visa process can take time — see our requirements for non-EU citizens working in Portugal → for the complete step-by-step.

How to choose the right job agency in Lisbon

With dozens of agencies operating in Lisbon, picking the right one matters. Here’s a quick guide:

For entry-level roles, temporary work or no-experience positions:

• Randstad
• Adecco
• ManpowerGroup
• Eurofirms
• Synergie
• Gi Group

For mid-level professional roles (3-7 years’ experience):

• Hays
• Michael Page
• Robert Walters
• Egor

For executive and senior leadership roles:

• Robert Walters
• Michael Page Executive
• Hays Executive
• Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart (international)

For IT, tech and digital roles:

• Landing.jobs
• Hays Information Technology
• Michael Page Technology
• Robert Walters IT & Digital
• Experis (part of ManpowerGroup)

For hospitality, retail, factory and customer service:

• Eurofirms
• Randstad
• Adecco
• Synergie

Temporary vs permanent placements — what’s the difference?

Many candidates don’t realise these are very different paths.

Temporary work (Trabalho Temporário): You’re employed by the staffing agency, not the company you work at. Agency pays your salary and handles tax and social security. Contract is typically 6-12 months, renewable. Most temporary placements convert to permanent contracts within 12-18 months.

Permanent placement (Recrutamento e Selecção): The agency matches you with the employer, you’re hired directly by the company. The agency is paid by the company once you start. No ongoing relationship with the agency after placement.

Outsourcing: Hybrid model — you work on a long-term project for the agency’s client, but remain on the agency’s payroll. Common in IT and back-office roles in Lisbon.

For most foreigners starting in Lisbon, temporary work is the fastest way in. Many use it as a stepping stone to permanent contracts.

Looking for recruitment agencies outside Lisbon?

If you’re based in Porto, the Algarve, Madeira, Braga or elsewhere in Portugal, our recruitment agencies across Portugal guide covers regional agencies and offices outside the Lisbon area.

Frequently asked questions about job agencies in Lisbon

Are job agencies in Lisbon free for candidates? Yes. By Portuguese law, recruitment agencies cannot charge candidates for placement services. All fees are paid by the employer or by the agency directly.

Can foreigners use job agencies in Lisbon? Yes — most major Lisbon agencies actively recruit foreign candidates. Some specialise in English-speaking professionals (Robert Walters, Hays, Michael Page), while others have strong experience placing non-EU workers in industrial and service roles (Eurofirms, Randstad, Adecco).

Do job agencies in Lisbon sponsor work visas? Agencies typically don’t sponsor visas directly — but their client companies do. The agency handles the matching and administrative side once a sponsoring employer is identified. Cleaning, warehouse, factory and IT roles are most likely to come with visa sponsorship.

How long does it take to find a job through an agency in Lisbon? For matching profiles, temporary placements often start within 1-3 weeks. Permanent recruitment takes 4-12 weeks on average. Non-EU candidates needing visas should plan for 2-4 months end-to-end.

Do I need to speak Portuguese to use Lisbon job agencies? Not necessarily. International agencies like Hays, Michael Page and Robert Walters work primarily in English. Generalist agencies prefer Portuguese but most have English-speaking consultants for foreign candidates.

Should I register with multiple agencies? Yes — registering with 3-5 agencies maximises your exposure. Most candidates find their roles through 1-2 agencies after registering with several.

What’s the difference between a job agency and a recruitment agency? In Portugal, “job agency” usually means a staffing agency that handles temporary placements. “Recruitment agency” usually means a firm specialising in permanent placements. In practice, most large Lisbon agencies do both.

Are there online-only job agencies in Lisbon? Yes — most Lisbon agencies now offer online registration and remote interviews. Some online-first platforms like Landing.jobs handle the full process digitally without needing to visit an office.

Can I use a job agency in Lisbon while still abroad? Yes. Many Lisbon agencies (especially Randstad, Adecco, Hays, Michael Page, Robert Walters) work with international candidates who are still in their home country. You can register online and conduct interviews remotely.

What sectors hire most through agencies in Lisbon? Customer service, warehouse and logistics, hospitality, IT, and engineering are the sectors with highest agency-driven hiring volume in Lisbon. Construction and healthcare also rely heavily on staffing agencies.

Working with a job agency in Lisbon is one of the most effective ways to find work in Portugal — especially as a foreigner. Register with the agencies that match your profile, keep your CV up to date, and apply consistently. For more job board options open to foreigners, browse all jobs in Portugal.