Portugal Expands Prison Guard Intake to 18-35s with Pay Boost, Faster Hiring

Young adults fresh out of secondary school will soon be able to apply for Portugal’s prison service, while mid-career professionals get a second chance at wearing the uniform. A new deal struck this week between the Ministry of Justice and three prison-officer unions resets the entry ages to 18 – 35 years, a move officials say is designed to plug staffing gaps and make the job more attractive.

Quick look at the overhaul

• Minimum age drops to 18 (was 21)

• Maximum age rises to 35 (was 28)

• Rules now mirror Police of Public Security (PSP) recruitment

• Accord signed by Justice Ministry, SNCGP, ASCCGP and ASPCGP

• Package also covers overtime pay and faster hiring procedures

Why age became the headline issue

Portugal’s prisons sit at close to full capacity—about 13 000 inmates—but only 4 000 prison officers are on duty when roughly 5 500 would be considered safe staffing. By lowering the age bar and extending the upper limit, the government hopes to widen the pool of candidates, bringing in both newly-qualified school leavers and experienced workers reconsidering their career path. Union leaders call the age shift “a necessary first step” toward rebuilding a depleted frontline.

Inside the December agreement

The consensus reached on 3 December amends the previous recruitment ordinance. Besides the age brackets, it commits the state to:• pay all overtime in full instead of offering time-off credits;• streamline physical and psychological testing so results are known within weeks;• align training modules with the PSP academy, allowing potential cross-transfers later in a career.Justice officials argue that mirroring PSP rules removes bureaucratic hurdles and sends a message that “public-safety careers share equal prestige.”

A career few are lining up for

Recent recruitment rounds reveal the scale of the challenge. A 2024 competition offering 225 posts attracted only 403 applicants; after medical and fitness checks, unions reckon fewer than 100 will eventually qualify. Low starting pay—about €950/month, barely above the minimum wage—long hours and the stigma of working in cadeias are cited as deterrents. The new age policy is therefore paired with promises to reopen pay-scale negotiations early next year.

How Europe handles prison-guard ages

Portugal’s fresh limits place it in the European middle ground. The U.K. and Ireland set no upper boundary, accepting anyone over 18 who can meet physical standards. France stretches eligibility to 45 for full-time recruits, while some German Länder cut off at 40 but allow extensions for parents returning from leave. Southern neighbours Italy keep a tighter ceiling, traditionally under 30. Analysts say Portugal’s 18-35 window balances “physical stamina expectations with the life experience older entrants bring.”

Security stakes on the inside

Staff shortages have already bitten. In one high-security jail, watch-tower numbers were halved and five inmates escaped earlier this year, a union report claims. Assaults on officers averaged two per week in 2022, and leaders warn that 1 000 retirements are looming by 2027. The Justice Ministry concedes that beefing up manpower is critical to “cutting violence, halting contraband and protecting both personnel and prisoners.” Age reform alone will not solve the crisis, but officials say it removes a “completely avoidable barrier.”

What would-be candidates should know

Recruitment notices adopting the new ages are expected early next spring. Prospective guards will face:• online applications,• physical ability tests (1 000-metre run, push-ups, obstacle course),• background and psychological screening,• a nine-month paid training programme split between classroom study and on-the-job mentoring.Unions encourage applicants “not to fear the job’s image,” stressing the forthcoming overtime payments and clearer promotion pathways.

The bigger picture

For Portugal, the decision to open the doors wider is less about numbers on a form and more about shoring up a justice system under strain. Broader pay reform, safer working conditions and technological upgrades—from mobile-phone jammers to anti-drone nets—remain on the agenda. But by shifting the age limits now, Lisbon signals it is ready to experiment to keep the prison service running, and safe, in the years ahead.