Portugal D2 Visa: Using a Portuguese Company (Lda.) to Move to Portugal

Owning a Portuguese company does not, by itself, let you live in Portugal. But for founders from outside the EU, the company is often the foundation of a residence application: the D2 visa is built around it. This guide explains how the two fit together.

This guide covers the company side of a D2 application. Visa rules are set by the Portuguese foreign ministry and AIMA (the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), and consulates can ask for slightly different documents. Always check the current checklist of the consulate or visa centre where you will apply.

What is the D2 visa?

The D2 is a residence visa for independent professional activity and entrepreneurs (article 60 of Portugal's immigration law, Lei n.º 23/2007). It is for citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland who want to:

• start or move a business to Portugal, usually through a Portuguese company; or
• work as an independent professional with clients or a contract in Portugal.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa: they can live in Portugal and register their residence locally.

D2, D8 or D7?

If your plan is to run a real business from Portugal, with a Portuguese company, invoicing and eventually local activity, the D2 is the natural fit.

What the company needs to show

For entrepreneurs, consulates typically ask for:

• proof that the company exists in Portugal, such as the access code to the certidão permanente, the articles of association and the company's NIPC, or proof that you have the funds to set it up;
• a business plan explaining what the company will do, why in Portugal, who the customers are and realistic financial projections. This is the document consulates weigh most, and a vague plan is the most common reason for refusal;
• evidence the business is real and funded: share capital paid in, a Portuguese business bank account, contracts, letters of intent or first invoices where you have them;
• a certified accountant appointed for the company, which is a legal requirement for every Lda. anyway.

A Unipessoal Lda. (a company with one owner) is acceptable; there is no minimum investment set by law for the D2. The capital and budget simply have to be credible for the business you describe.

Means of subsistence in 2026

Consulates check that you can support yourself. The reference is the Portuguese national minimum wage, which is €920 a month in 2026 (Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025):

This can be shown with savings in a bank account, income the business already generates, or both. These are minimums: if the business plan relies on paying you a salary, the numbers must hold up after tax, Social Security, rent and business costs.

Personal documents

Alongside the company documents, expect to provide:

• a passport valid for the length of the visa and beyond;
• a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and residence, apostilled or legalised;
• proof of accommodation in Portugal (a rental contract or a declaration from a host);
• travel or health insurance;
• your Portuguese NIF, and often a Portuguese bank account;
• the visa application form, photos and the consular fee.

How the process works

1. Set up the company: NIF for every partner and manager, company registration, a registered office, a business bank account and an accountant.
2. Prepare the application: the business plan, proof of means of subsistence, personal documents, translations and apostilles.
3. Apply at the consulate or visa centre (often VFS Global) covering the country where you live legally.
4. Receive the D2 visa: it is valid for four months and lets you enter Portugal to apply for residence.
5. Attend your AIMA appointment in Portugal for biometrics and the residence permit.
6. Residence permit: the first permit is usually valid for two years, then renewable for three-year periods as long as the business is active and your tax and Social Security are in order.

After five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence. Portuguese citizenship now requires ten years of legal residence for most nationalities (seven for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries), counted from the date your first residence permit was issued, under the nationality law changes in force since May 2026.

Keep the company in good standing

Renewals look at whether the business really operates. In practice that means:

• the accountant files VAT, IRC and the annual IES on time;
• the company pays Social Security for paid managers and staff;
• the RCBE (beneficial owners) is kept up to date;
• the company has real activity: invoices, a bank account in use, a registered office.

If you base the company in one of Portugal's interior territories, it may also qualify for the 12.5% corporate tax rate on its first €50,000 of profit, but the activity and management must genuinely be there.

How GetLDA.pt helps

Our partner lawyers set up the company side of a D2 application, 100% online and before you travel: NIF numbers, a fiscal representative, company registration, a registered office, a business bank account introduction and a certified accountant. Premium is usually the right package for D2 founders, because it includes a fiscal representative for non-EU partners and custom articles. Start your registration or see what it costs.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to open the company before applying for the D2 visa?

Not always. Many consulates accept either proof that the company is already registered or proof that you have the funds to set it up. In practice an existing company, with a bank account, capital paid in and an accountant, makes the business plan far more convincing.

Is there a minimum investment for the D2 visa?

No minimum is set by law. The investment and capital just have to be credible for the business described in your plan, and you must meet the means of subsistence requirement.

How much money do I need for a D2 visa in 2026?

Consulates use the national minimum wage of €920 a month as the reference: typically €11,040 for the main applicant for a year, plus 50% for a spouse and 30% for each child. You also need enough to fund the business itself.

Can a Unipessoal Lda. be used for the D2?

Yes. A single-owner company (Unipessoal Lda.) is a common structure for D2 founders. See our Unipessoal Lda. guide.

Can I get the D2 if my clients are all outside Portugal?

If you work remotely for foreign employers or clients and don't plan a Portugal-based business, the D8 digital nomad visa is usually the better fit. The D2 expects a business with a real presence in Portugal.