How to obtain a Portugal D2 Visa residence permit for entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurs who establish or acquire a business in Portugal may petition for a D2 visa. The visa enables the holder to obtain a residence permit and all of its benefits, including the ability to reside in Portugal and visa-free travel to other Schengen countries.
The average time required to obtain a D2 visa is greater than three months.
The requirements for starting a business in Portugal are quite lax: applicants may establish enterprises in any industry and are not required to obtain approval from Portuguese business incubators. These characteristics make the D2 Visa one of the most alluring routes to Portugal.
What is a Portugal D2 Visa?
The D2 Visa is a residency visa for Portugal for entrepreneurs. To obtain one, an applicant must establish a new business in the country or acquire an existing company or its shares.
There is no minimum investment requirement for the D2 Visa. However, applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to launch and operate their business. Also required are accommodations and sufficient funds to reside in Portugal for a year.
Visa validity is valid for four months. Currently, an entrepreneur must enter Portugal and register for a residence permit in order to immigrate, establish a business, and operate there.
A Portugal residence permit issued after obtaining a D2 visa is effective for two years and can be renewed for an additional three years. After five years of residency, an individual may petition for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency.
Family members of an entrepreneur may immigrate to Portugal with a residence permit for family reunion. To maintain residency, businesspeople and their relatives must spend at least six months per year in Portugal.
Who may obtain a Portugal D2 Visa?
An entrepreneur may submit a D2 Visa application if one of the following conditions is met:
acquire a Portuguese company or a stake in it; have a foreign company with plans to establish a branch in Portugal; submit a detailed business plan for a new company in Portugal.
The business requirements are quite lax: applicants may choose any industry, and there are no profitability or job creation requirements.
However, applicants must demonstrate that their businesses will be economically and socially beneficial to Portugal and that they have sufficient funds to invest in their businesses in accordance with their business plans.
How to rapidly establish a business and obtain a residence permit in Portugal.
How to establish a business in Portugal
Additional requirements for Portugal D2 Visa applicants include:
age over 18; no criminal record; rented or owned accommodation in Portugal; proof of sufficient funds for a year’s stay in Portugal; purchase of health insurance.
The spouse, children, and parents of an entrepreneur may petition for residence permits for family reunion. Adult offspring and parents must demonstrate their dependence on the D2 visa holder in order to qualify for permanent residency. Additionally, the family must demonstrate that they have accommodation and sufficient funds to reside in Portugal.
Application materials for a Portugal D2 visa
To petition for a D2 Visa, you must provide certain business documents. The following are included on the list:
a comprehensive business plan; if you have already launched a company, submit constituent and registration documents, contracts, invoices, financial reports, and a bank statement showing the company’s account balance;
If you only intend to establish a new business, you must provide evidence that you have funds for business investment, such as a Portuguese bank statement.
In addition, certain personal documents and completed forms are necessary for visa and residence permit applications. Entrepreneurs prepare the following and submit them:
- A form of application.
- A passport and a replica of it.
- A document, such as a bank statement, that
- demonstrates sufficient funds to live in Portugal.
- A residence proof document, such as a rental
- agreement, that is required to live in Portugal.
- An apostille-authenticated certificate of no criminal
- history from the country of domicile.
- Permission for SEF to examine Portugal’s criminal records.
- Healthcare coverage.
- Two 3×5 cm color photographs.
How to apply for a Portugal D2 visa: a detailed guide
If you already have a business plan or a Portugal-based company, obtaining a D2 visa typically takes two to three months. Thereafter, some time is needed to obtain a residence permit.
Step 1: Gather all required documentation
Prepare your business plan, proof that you have sufficient funds to launch a business, and all necessary personal documents and forms. You may need the assistance of seasoned attorneys to compile the application materials.
Step 2: Request a D2 Visa
Schedule an appointment at the Portuguese consulate in your country of domicile or citizenship, then submit your application in person.
Step 3: Await approval and acquire the visa
The typical processing period for visa applications is up to sixty days. The visa will then be affixed to your passport.
Step 4. Obtain a Portugal residence permit
The visa’s validity period is four months. During this period, you must travel to Portugal and make an appointment with the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) to submit a residency application and biometrics. The applicant must then await approval and obtain a residence permit document.
How much does a D2 visa for Portugal cost?
The most substantial expense incurred by applicants is business investment. There is no minimum threshold, but an entrepreneur must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to operate their business.
In addition, applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds to reside in Portugal. Due to Portugal’s minimal salary of €705 per month, the essential sum is calculated. The minimum annual quantity required is €8,460. Renting or purchasing accommodation in Portugal is also required, but there are no restrictions on the apartment’s price or size.
Government fees and health insurance are significantly less expensive than the preceding expenses. In addition, you may need legal services to apply; the cost of these services will depend on the selected provider.
Costs of obtaining a Portugal D2 Visa
Cost | Amount |
Business investment | Not defined; depends on the business plan |
Money to live in Portugal | €8,460 |
Housing | Not defined; the actual price depends on the chosen location Average prices of renting a 1‑bedroom apartment for a month: Lisbon — €750+ Porto — €600+ Funchal — €600+ |
Government fees | €90 — consular fee €155.50 — fees for a residence permit card |
Health insurance | €400+ |
The advantages of a Portugal D2 visa
Immigration to Portugal, a developed European nation with a high degree of safety, is one of the primary objectives of applicants for a D2 Visa. The country attracts expatriates with its moderate climate, access to affordable, yet high-quality healthcare and education, and the opportunity to reside by the Atlantic Ocean.
Operating a company in Portugal. The nation is regarded as a trustworthy jurisdiction due to its stable economy and financial system. According to the Doing Business 2020 report, it is simple to establish a company in Portugal and conduct international trade while it is registered there.
Tax optimisation. Individuals can register for the advantageous Non-habitual Resident status in Portugal to reduce their taxes during the initial ten years of residency. This status exempts an individual from paying taxes on income garnered outside of Portugal while imposing a 20% tax on income earned in Portugal.
Portugal tax guide: taxation for expatriates, individuals, and legal entities, as well as benefits and conditions of the DTT
Additionally, businesses can optimize their tax situation in Portugal, particularly if they are registered in Madeira or the Azores.
Visa-free travel within the Schengen region. You may remain in this zone for 90 out of 180 days; Portuguese time is disregarded.
Application for citizenship after five years. Suppose a business owner maintains residency for five years and speaks Portuguese at the A2 level; they are then eligible to apply for permanent residency or citizenship. These regulations are among the most lenient in the EU: to apply for a passport in Greece, Italy, or Spain, you must have resided there for at least seven or ten years.