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Portugal

Use your award to support urban and coastal communities in Portugal.

1-12 weeks 15 placements Lisbon, Mafra, Porto Shared apartment or Hostel$$$

Ways to get involved in Portugal

Here's what our partners are running right now. Pick a placement that looks like a fit and we'll send the current dates and costs.

Why AmeriCorps alumni choose Portugal

Portugal spreads across Lisbon, Porto, Mafra, and Miranda do Corvo, and the tracks vary a lot by site: food rescue and homeless support in the cities, forest restoration and wolf conservation inland, and marine research with scuba diving on the coast. Portuguese is the local language, though the projects are built for English speakers. Housing is hostels or cabins with meals included, so out of pocket costs stay low. An award can fund several weeks here without you adding much, which makes Portugal one of the easier European destinations to justify.

  • Placements in Lisbon, Porto, Mafra, and Miranda do Corvo
  • Projects in wolf conservation and ecological surf efforts
  • Food rescue and homeless support roles in urban centers

Placements run through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ).

Pricing in Portugal

These are our partners' published fees for Portugal, taken from their public fee pages, with the registration fee added in. Your final cost depends on the placement you pick and how long you stay.

Volunteer program fees in Portugal

Run through International Volunteer HQ. Fees below cover the full stay for that length.

Lisbon & Mafra · International Volunteer HQfrom $1,069 for 1 week, registration included
LengthProgram feeWith registrationPer day
1 weeks$740$1,069$153
2 weeks$1,260$1,589$114
3 weeks$1,780$2,109$100
4 weeks$2,300$2,629$94
5 weeks$2,830$3,159$90
6 weeks$3,360$3,689$88
8 weeks$4,420$4,749$85
10 weeks$5,480$5,809$83
12 weeks$6,540$6,869$82
Includes the $329 registration fee, which is added to every program fee.
What's included and what's not

What the fee covers

  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airport pick-up
  • Accommodation
  • 24/7 in-country emergency support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Discounts on travel, tours, and experiences
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Not included

  • Transport to and from your placement each day
  • Return to the airport when your program finishes
  • Flights
  • Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
  • Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
  • All programs attract a Registration Fee that ranges from $329-$429 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Porto · International Volunteer HQfrom $1,119 for 1 week, registration included
LengthProgram feeWith registrationPer day
1 weeks$790$1,119$160
2 weeks$1,310$1,639$117
3 weeks$1,830$2,159$103
4 weeks$2,350$2,679$96
5 weeks$2,870$3,199$91
6 weeks$3,390$3,719$89
8 weeks$4,430$4,759$85
10 weeks$5,470$5,799$83
12 weeks$6,510$6,839$81
Includes the $329 registration fee, which is added to every program fee.
What's included and what's not

What the fee covers

  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airport pick-up
  • Accommodation
  • 24/7 in-country emergency support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
  • Discounts on travel, tours, and experiences
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Not included

  • Transport to and from your placement each day
  • Return to the airport when your program finishes
  • Flights
  • Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
  • Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
  • All programs attract a Registration Fee that ranges from $329-$429 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.

If you're using your Segal Education Award

Award funds have to go to a Title IV school, so your placement needs to carry academic credit. That required academic credit and enrollment fee starts at $999 and is on top of the program fees above. We'll walk you through it.

Fees change through the year. Ask us for the current Portugal numbers and we'll confirm them with the partner before you apply.

Alumni stories from Portugal

AmeriCorps alumni who used their Education Award to go here, in their own words.

Maurice volunteering in Lisbon, Portugal

Portugal · IVHQ · 4 weeks

Purpose and belonging in Lisbon, bom momento!

I am so grateful to have visited the beautiful country of Portugal and city of Lisbon. It's been a joy meeting so many dynamic people and learning their stories. My first day at my placement, my mouth hurt from smiling so much. 'Obrigado' (thank you) became permanently etched in my brain. I loved listening to the Portuguese language and seeing how passionate they are. The woman who trained me would say, 'Just do your best and what you can. You'll finish when you finish.' It's been amazing getting to see so much and I am excited to see even more. I think volunteering in a different country is such a cool experience. It's given my trip a sense of purpose and belonging. Thank you so much to IVHQ for this opportunity and thank you to Portugal for your beauty. Bom momento!

MauriceCommunity Development & Food Security Volunteer · Lisbon, Portugal

Read Maurice's full story
See all alumni stories

Common questions about Portugal

Can I use my Segal Education Award in Portugal?
Yes. Placements in Portugal run through partner organizations tied to an accredited Title IV institution, so AmeriCorps alumni can apply the Segal Education Award toward program and travel costs.
How long are placements in Portugal?
1-12 weeks. Award funding is available for programs up to 6 months.
What kind of work can I do in Portugal?
We list 15 placements in Portugal, spanning Animal Care & Wildlife, Community Development, Education & Youth, Environment & Conservation.

Get the details for Portugal

Tell us whether you're after a volunteer placement or an internship and we'll send the current options, dates, and a realistic budget for Portugal, plus how to put your award toward it. No cost, no obligation.

What are you looking for in Portugal?

By submitting this form, you agree that we will share the details you provide directly with International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) so they can contact you about placements in Portugal. See our Privacy Policy.