Portugal's Intelligence Service Launches Historic Public Recruitment Drive

Historic Recruitment Drive Underway

For the first time in its history, Portugal's intelligence service has launched a public recruitment drive to attract new members. The Intelligence System of the Portuguese Republic (SIRP), which oversees the Internal Security Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Strategic Defence Intelligence Service (SIED), announced the nationwide campaign on Monday, November 4, 2025. This unprecedented move seeks to bring in over 100 new professionals, marking the largest recruitment process in the system's history.

Modernizing to Meet New Challenges

The decision to open recruitment to the public stems from several strategic imperatives. According to Vítor Sereno, the recently appointed Secretary-General of SIRP, the initiative aligns Portugal's intelligence recruitment with practices already established in other European Union countries such as Germany, France, and Spain. A key objective is to renew the agencies' workforce, as many founding members of SIS and SIED are nearing or have already reached retirement.

Furthermore, the recruitment drive aims to bolster the SIRP's capabilities in addressing modern security challenges. There is a growing demand for personnel with expertise in new technologies and cyber defense to counter evolving global and domestic threats, including cyber threats, terrorism, organized crime, and regional instability.

Diverse Roles and Eligibility

The recruitment process, which opened on November 3 and will run until December 2, 2025, initially seeks to fill 54 new positions across the SIRP's three main branches. A second phase will focus on an additional 54 vacancies, specifically for intelligence officers and senior technical staff. The roles on offer are diverse, reflecting the multifaceted nature of modern intelligence work, and include:

• Intelligence Officers (analysts for SIED and SIS, including specialists in cyber threats and Artificial Intelligence)
• Legal Specialists
• Engineering Specialists
• IT Professionals
• Logistics Staff
• Administrative Personnel
• Drivers and Cooks
• Cybersecurity Specialists
• Linguists and Field Operatives

Applicants must be Portuguese citizens, aged between 21 and 40 years old, and possess the appropriate academic qualifications for the desired career path.

Widespread Campaign and Future Outlook

To reach a broad audience, the campaign is being promoted through various channels. Billboards have been placed in major cities such as Lisbon, Porto, and Faro, while posters are being distributed in universities and public institutions nationwide. The SIRP noted that similar public recruitment efforts in allied countries have yielded 'very positive results.'

This recruitment drive coincides with significant anniversaries for Portugal's intelligence community: 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of SIS and the 30th anniversary of SIED. The initiative underscores a strategic commitment to strengthening Portugal's national security apparatus by integrating new talent and expertise into its intelligence services.