Guides
Empresa na Hora: Register a Company in Portugal in One Day
How Portugal's Empresa na Hora service works, what it costs, who can use it and how it compares with registering online.
Updated · 2 min read · By the GetLDA.pt team
Quick answer
Empresa na Hora ("Company on the Spot") is a government service that incorporates a company in a single registry appointment for €360. You must use a pre-approved name (or one already approved) and pre-approved articles of association. It's the fastest route — often 24–48 hours from booking — but it's less flexible than an online registration with custom articles.
Empresa na Hora is one of Portugal's best-known public services: the company is incorporated in a single appointment at a registry office. With GetLDA.pt, our partner lawyer attends on your behalf.
How it works
- We book the appointment at a registry office (conservatória) that offers the service.
- You choose a name from the list of pre-approved names, or use a name approval certificate you already have.
- You choose pre-approved articles of association — standard templates rather than custom-drafted ones.
- Our lawyer attends the appointment on your behalf, under a power of attorney, so you don't need to travel.
- The company is registered the same day — you receive the NIPC, the access code to the certidão permanente and the articles.
How much does it cost?
The registry fee is €360. If you use your own name you'll already have paid €75 for the name certificate.
Who can use it?
Empresa na Hora can be used to create an Lda., a Unipessoal Lda. or an S.A. Partners can be non-residents, but every individual partner and manager needs a Portuguese NIF, and foreign companies acting as partners must present apostilled and translated documents.
Empresa na Hora vs online registration
| Empresa na Hora | Empresa Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Registry office, attended by our lawyer | Online, filed by our lawyer |
| Fee | €360 | €220 (pre-approved articles) or €360 (custom) |
| Articles | Pre-approved only | Pre-approved or custom |
| Name | Pre-approved or already approved | Pre-approved or already approved |
| Speed | Same day | Usually 2–4 weeks in total |
| Travel needed for you | No (lawyer attends under power of attorney) | No |
When to use Empresa na Hora
It's a good choice when speed matters more than flexibility — for example to sign a contract or a lease quickly — and the standard articles suit you. If you need custom rules between partners (share transfers, vesting, voting), register online with custom articles instead.
GetLDA.pt's Custom package offers same-day Empresa na Hora registration, with a dedicated lawyer attending the appointment for you. See the registration guide for the full process.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change — figures were last checked on 28 September 2026. GetLDA.pt is not a law firm; our partner lawyers advise on your specific situation.
Related guides
How to Register a Company (Lda.) in Portugal: Step-by-Step Guide
The complete process to register a Sociedade por Quotas (Lda.) in Portugal in 2026: documents, name approval, registry filing, tax and RCBE.
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Company in Portugal?
A full breakdown of the cost of opening an Lda. in Portugal: registry fees, name certificate, share capital, lawyer fees and running costs.
Unipessoal Lda.: The Single-Member Company in Portugal
What a Sociedade Unipessoal por Quotas is, how it differs from a standard Lda. and a sole trader, and how to register one.