Host an International Intern in Portugal

Why work with Placement in Portugal?

Since 2012, Placement in Portugal has been helping companies across Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra and other Portuguese cities recruit qualified international interns — without the cost and complexity of running an international hiring process in-house.

We specialise in Erasmus+ trainees and international graduates from European, Asian and Latin American universities. Our pool covers all major academic fields: Business, Marketing, IT & Computer Science, Engineering, Tourism & Hospitality, Architecture, Languages, Media, Health Sciences and more.

You tell us what you need. We find the right people. You interview only the candidates that fit.

What hosting an international intern brings to your business

• Access to international talent — qualified candidates from 30+ countries, often multilingual and recently trained in the latest tools and methods.
• New languages in your team — interns frequently speak English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Dutch and more, opening new markets for your company.
• Fresh perspectives — international graduates bring new ideas, cross-cultural skills and current academic knowledge to your team.
• Low cost, high impact — Erasmus+ trainees are funded by their home university, so you bring in qualified people without the salary cost of a full hire.
• A try-before-you-hire pipeline — many of our partner companies have hired their best interns at the end of the placement.
• Zero bureaucratic burden — we manage all the documents: training agreements, learning agreements, Erasmus+ paperwork, certificates.

How it works — 4 simple steps

1. You tell us what you need. Fill in a short offer description: role, sector, duration, languages, start date. We help you write it if needed.
2. We find qualified candidates. Within days, you receive a shortlist of pre-screened CVs matching your requirements.
3. You interview and choose. The hiring decision is always yours. We just save you the recruitment time.
4. We handle the paperwork. Erasmus+ agreements, training plans, certificates at the end — all managed by our team.

The typical placement is completed in 2 to 4 weeks from publishing the offer to the trainee starting at your company.

Sectors we place internships in

We work with companies across a wide range of industries. Some of the most active sectors:

• Marketing, Communication & Digital
• Tourism, Hospitality & Travel
• IT, Software Development & Data
• Engineering & Architecture
• Business, Sales & Administration
• Media, Design & Audiovisual
• Education, Languages & Translation
• Health Sciences & Social Work

Whether you are a startup of 5 people or an established company with 500+, we have placed trainees with companies of all sizes.

Common questions from companies

How much does it cost to host an intern?

Our service fees depend on the duration of the placement, the candidate profile (EU vs. non-EU) and the number of positions. Most placements start from a few hundred euros — significantly less than running an international recruitment process in-house. Contact us for a personalised quote.

Do we have to pay the intern?

It depends on the type of internship. Erasmus+ trainees receive a mobility grant from their home university — you are not required to pay a salary, although many companies offer a small stipend, meal vouchers or transport allowance. For non-Erasmus internships, terms are agreed case by case.

Is there a legal framework we need to follow?

Yes, and we guide you through all of it. Erasmus+ has a standardised European legal framework (training agreement, learning agreement, certificate). Non-Erasmus internships follow Portuguese labour law for trainees. We handle the documents — you just sign.

What if it does not work out?

Trainee not the right fit? Out of 13+ years of placements, this is rare — but if it happens, we step in immediately to find a replacement or resolve the issue. Your time is not wasted.

Can the intern be hired permanently after the placement?

Absolutely. Many of our partner companies use the internship as an extended evaluation period and offer a contract at the end. There is no fee from our side if you choose to hire the trainee.

How long can an internship last?

Erasmus+ internships in Portugal can last from 2 to 12 months. Most placements are between 3 and 6 months.

What if we are based outside Lisbon?

We place trainees across all of Portugal — Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Faro, Évora and smaller cities included. International students are often very motivated to discover regions outside the capital.