The Portuguese government has officially announced a salary bonus for students completing their bachelor's and master's degrees, residing in the country. This incentive aims to enhance qualifications and is applicable to both Portuguese nationals and foreign residents. The duration of the bonus mirrors the respective study cycles, providing tangible support for recent graduates.
Individuals who obtained their academic degrees before 2023 can also benefit, ensuring broad coverage within the student community. The ordinance, outlined by Prime Minister Antonio Costa in September and officially published on December 28, delineates the rules governing these salary bonuses.
The scope of the premium extends to all taxpayers under the age of 35 residing in Portugal, having completed their bachelor's and/or master's degrees in national higher education institutions. This encompasses both public and private institutions, with the provision extending to academic degrees obtained abroad, provided they are recognized in Portugal.
The government emphasizes that the support is exclusively dedicated to those falling under Category A (dependent work) and Category B (self-employed workers), ensuring a targeted approach with regulated tax and social security statuses.
Eligible graduates and master's degree holders stand to receive an annual salary bonus of €697 for each year of their bachelor's degree and €1,500 for each year of their master's degree. Importantly, this premium is not limited to recent graduates; those who earned their degrees before 2023 can claim the bonus, provided the number of years following the award of the academic degree is less than the study cycle's duration.
This forward-looking policy was formalized on November 29 when the Council of Ministers approved a decree-law creating the salary premium for young individuals completing higher education in Portugal. The move is particularly significant as Portugal continues to attract a growing number of international students.
Recent statistics from the Directorate-General for Education and Science reveal a record-high enrollment of 446,028 students during the 2022/23 academic year, marking a three percent increase compared to the previous year.
