Internship: How to Get Hired by the Company and What the Law Says

There is no legal right to being hired: Lei 11.788/2008 (the Internship Law) does not require the company to hire the intern at the end of the internship. In practice, hiring is the company's decision, and what an intern can do is build results, ask for feedback, and ask early about openings.

What the law says about hiring the intern

An internship is a supervised educational activity (art. 1 of Lei 11.788/2008) and, for that reason, does not create an employment relationship as long as three requirements in art. 3 are met: enrollment and regular attendance, an internship agreement (termo de compromisso), and compatibility between the activities and what was agreed.

• The law sets no deadline, percentage, or obligation to hire.
• The maximum duration at the same company is 2 years, except for interns with disabilities (art. 11).
• An internship requires an enrolled student. When the course ends, as a rule the internship must end too.

How to improve your chances of being hired

There are no guarantees, but some habits tend to weigh on the decision of those who hire.

1. Talk to your supervisor early on about what is expected of you throughout the internship.
2. Record your deliverables and results (reports, projects, numbers) to show concrete value.
3. Ask for feedback regularly and show that you applied what you were told.
4. Learn how the department works and build relationships with other teams.
5. From the 2nd semester of the internship onward, politely ask whether any openings are expected for when you graduate.

When hiring happens

The hiring is usually formalized with an employment contract recorded in the work card (carteira de trabalho). Before signing, check the job title, salary, working hours, benefits, and start date, and review the rules of the trial period contract (contrato de experiência) if the company uses one.

• The internship agreement must be terminated, and the law provides that, upon termination, the company must hand over the internship completion certificate (termo de realização do estágio) with the activities, the period, and the performance evaluation (art. 9).
• Keep a copy: it serves as proof of experience for your résumé.

Watch out for continuing without a contract

If the intern keeps working after the internship agreement ends, or the internship fails to meet the requirements of the law, an employment relationship with the company may be established (arts. 3, § 2, and 15). In that case, the worker can turn to the Labor Court (Justiça do Trabalho) to have the employment relationship recognized, depending on the evidence in the case.

What is under discussion in Congress

Bill PL 7.021/2017 proposes allowing the internship to continue for up to 12 months after the course is completed, at the same company. The Chamber of Deputies' Education Committee approved a substitute text on June 19, 2026, but the proposal still has to go through other committees, the Chamber, and the Senate. In the meantime, the current rules of Lei 11.788/2008 apply.

Frequently asked questions

Is the company required to hire the intern?

No. Lei 11.788/2008 provides no such right. The decision depends on the company and on available openings.

Does internship time count as experience?

Yes, it can be listed on your résumé as professional experience. The internship completion certificate (termo de realização do estágio) helps prove the period and activities.

Can I be hired before finishing my course?

As a rule, yes: the company can hire the student under an employment contract at any time, and the internship is ended. Check the terms in writing before signing.

Read also

• Internship: intern rights under Lei 11.788
• Trial period contract: the 90-day term and your rights
• How to get an internship in 2026