A temporary work agency licence, known in Portugal as the alvará, is the permit that allows a company to supply temporary workers. It is granted by IEFP, which keeps a public register of licensed agencies showing each company's name, registered office and licence number. Before working with an agency, check in that register that its licence is active.
What the licence is and who grants it
Temporary work in Portugal is governed by the Labour Code and by the legal regime for temporary work agencies (Decreto-Lei n.º 260/2009). To place workers with other companies, a business must obtain a licence from IEFP, the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training, which also monitors agencies once they are licensed.
To obtain and keep the licence, an agency meets legal requirements, including a financial guarantee that secures workers' wages and social security contributions should the agency fail to pay them.
Why the licence matters to your company
Using an unlicensed supplier of temporary workers exposes the user company to serious risk. The law sets out consequences for companies that use temporary workers supplied by an unlicensed entity, including the possibility that the worker is deemed an employee of the user company itself.
A licensed agency gives you real peace of mind: written contracts, active insurance, contributions paid and a guarantee that protects the people doing the work. For job seekers, the same check confirms that an offer comes from an authorised company.
Beyond the licence, it is worth checking that the agency issues written contracts, states the reason for temporary work in the supply contract and keeps workplace accident insurance up to date.
How to check that an agency is licensed
- Ask for the licence number. A licensed agency shows it on contracts, on its documents and usually on its website
- Search the national register of temporary work agencies on the IEFP website, by company name, tax number or licence number
- Check that the name and registered office match the company you are dealing with, and that the licence is active
- If in doubt, contact IEFP directly
Job On's licence
Job On, Empresa de Trabalho Temporário, Unipessoal, Lda., holds temporary work agency licence Alvará 1002/24 and has its registered office at Praça do Norte 2 C, Lisbon. Every worker placed by Job On has a written temporary employment contract, with insurance and paperwork handled by us. For operations in other European countries, Job On works from its Tilburg office with the legal structure to mobilise teams.
Updated September 2026.
Work with a licensed agency
Tell us the sector, the number of people and the city. Job On handles contracts, insurance and paperwork.
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