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Volunteer in Portugal

Explore International Volunteer HQ’s popular Portugal volunteer abroad program. Choose from a wide range of trusted Portugal volunteer projects, including Youth Support, Homeless Support, Wolf Conservation, Food Rescue, Content Creation, Community Support, Ecological Surf, and more. Volunteer work in Portugal is located throughout Lisbon, in the vibrant city of Porto, Mafra, and Miranda do Corvo. With affordable Program Fees and top rated volunteer projects trusted by over 144,000 travelers, IVHQ is the best volunteer organization in Portugal.

Highlights:
  • 19 meaningful project options available year-round
  • Program Fees from CA$1034 for 1 week
  • Includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support
  • Accommodation in dormitory style hostels in Lisbon and Porto, an apartment in Miranda do Corvo, and cabins in Mafra

  • Experience Portugals’ vibrant culture and delicious cuisines

Apply For Free

Key information

Fully hosted experience from CA$1034
Volunteer from 1 - 12 weeks
Ages 18+ and families
Based in Lisbon, Porto, Mafra and Miranda do Corvo
Projects align with UN Sustainable Development Goals
Impact driven projects run by locals
B Corporation certified organization
Discover Portuguese cuisine & culture

Volunteer opportunities in Portugal

Protects animals

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1056

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based in animal shelters in Lisbon
  • Volunteers aged 16+

Help out at a local animal shelter for dogs and cats, providing the animals with medical treatment and companionship, while raising awareness of abandonment.

Protects animals

Up to 8 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1883

  • Duration: 2 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based at a biological conservation park
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Contribute to animal conservation in the countryside of Portugal by helping protect lynx, eagles, wolves, brown bears and other animals at a biological park in Miranda do Corvo.

Supports community development

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1056

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Local communities around Lisbon
  • Volunteers aged 16+ and families

Get involved with our Lisbon Community Support initiative and play a crucial role in fostering resilience and inclusivity throughout Portugal.

Supports community development

2-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1034

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of every month
  • Local communities around Porto
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Become a key player in building resilience and inclusivity in the local communities of Porto. Engage in multiple activities like preparing meals, sorting donations, facilitating charitable events, and more.

Supports community development

2-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1034

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of every month
  • Based at local NGOs in Porto
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Use your creativity to help NGOs make a positive impact in Porto. From website development to graphic design and content creation, support local NGOs in Porto to enhance their online presence and extend their reach in local communities.

Conserves the environment

2-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1315

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based at local Lisbon beaches
  • Volunteers aged 16+ and families

Catch waves, clean up beaches and forests, and help preserve our coastline. Make a splash and surf on a project that's dedicated to creating a positive impact!

Conserves the environment

4-6 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1758

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based at a local diving school
  • Volunteers aged 16+ or 10+ accompanied

Gain dive certifications as you contribute to preserving and conserving the local marine environment by cleaning up the sea floor and helping with research projects.

Improves health & wellbeing

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1056

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Local community initiatives
  • Volunteers aged 16+ or 13+ accompanied

Help to redistribute unused food from restaurants and supermarkets to up to 300 locals in need throughout Lisbon.

Improves health & wellbeing

2-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1034

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of every month
  • Local communities around Porto
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Support the journey of creating a hunger-free and waste-less world. Contribute by engaging in food distribution, sourcing unused food from supermarkets and restaurants, food packaging, and community assistance.

Conserves the environment

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1588

  • Duration: 2 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based in a natural park in Lisbon
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Help restore Portugal's native forests by aiding the ecological recovery of degraded areas and protecting precious ecosystems.

Protects animals

2-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1034

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of every month
  • Based in local animal shelters in Porto
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Safeguard the future of the adorable European Hedgehog and gain hands-on experience in animal conservation. Engage in various tasks from cage and enclosure cleaning, hedgehog feeding, and support clinical procedures, such as wound cleaning, administering medications, and conducting coprology studies.

Improves health & wellbeing

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1056

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based in homeless centers
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Help a local homeless center to provide the basics for homeless people, with a focus on combating addiction and the challenges it poses for those in vulnerable states.

Protects animals

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1056

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based in animal shelters in Lisbon
  • Volunteers aged 18+

As a volunteer, you'll be at the heart of the action, grooming and feeding the horses, maintaining the facility, and ensuring everyone experiences the thrill and joy of horseback riding.

Conserves the environment

2-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1034

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of every month
  • Based at a local NGO in Porto
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Be part of an enriching volunteer program where you'll bond with horses and immerse in nature, engaging in diverse activities like hippotherapy, forest patrols, and community projects for a meaningful environmental and social impact.

Supports community development

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1056

  • Duration: 1 - 2 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based at a skate-park in Lisbon
  • Volunteers aged 16+ and families

Help upcycle single-use plastic into sports items, such as skateboards, for marginalized groups and children in the local community. This helps integrate those on the fringes of society, while having a positive environmental impact.

Protects animals

5-8 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1858

  • Duration: 2 - 4 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based at a wolf conservation center
  • Volunteers aged 20+

Help wolf conservation centers to care for wolves that have been rescued from zoos, illegal trapping or human captivity and are unable to return to the wild. Based in the beautiful forests of Mafra, volunteers help monitor, feed and look after these magnificent creatures whilst supporting vital wolf and wildlife protection efforts.

Supports gender equality

2-4 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1034

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of every month
  • Local communities around Porto
  • Volunteers aged 18+

Want to empower socially excluded women in Portugal? Volunteer for IVHQ's Young Mom’s Support Project and help make a difference in their lives.

Increases access to education

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1056

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based in after-school programs
  • Volunteers aged 16+ and families

Help teenagers from underprivileged communities on after school programs, providing help with homework, games and activities to keep them entertained and inspired.

Increases access to education

3-4 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from CA$1034

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of every month
  • Based in after-school programs
  • Volunteers aged 18+ and families

Become a volunteer in Portugal and create a brighter future for younger individuals in the region. Join IVHQ to make a meaningful difference today!

Popular add-ons & experiences in Portugal

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Portugal program.

Airport Drop-off
Airport Drop-off

Enjoy a stress free ride from accommodation back to Lisbon airport arranged by our local team.

CA$98
Extra Night of Accommodation (private room with three meals)
Extra Night of Accommodation (private room with three meals)

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program has finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$158
Extra Night of Accommodation (shared room with three meals)
Extra Night of Accommodation (shared room with three meals)

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program has finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$91
Airport Drop-off
Airport Drop-off

Enjoy a stress free ride from accommodation back to Lisbon airport arranged by our local team.

CA$98
Extra Night of Accommodation (private room with three meals)
Extra Night of Accommodation (private room with three meals)

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program has finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$158
Extra Night of Accommodation (shared room with three meals)
Extra Night of Accommodation (shared room with three meals)

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program has finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$91
Airport Drop-off
Airport Drop-off

Enjoy a stress-free ride from your accommodation to the airport, organized by the local team.

CA$84
Extra Night of Accommodation in a Shared Room with 1 meal
Extra Night of Accommodation in a Shared Room with 1 meal

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program has finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$69
Extra Night of Accommodation in a Shared Room with 2 meals
Extra Night of Accommodation in a Shared Room with 2 meals

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program has finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$94

Check what's required to visit Portugal

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How to get started

Pick a destination + project and apply for free
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Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
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