Entrepreneurs may apply for a Portugal D2 Visa if they start or buy a business there. The visa allows one to get a residence permit and all its benefits, such as the right to live in Portugal and the opportunity to travel visa‑free to other Schengen countries.
The usual obtaining period for the D2 Visa is about 6 months, plus 6—8 months are required to get a residence permit.
Requirements for businesses are quite soft: applicants may open companies in any sector and don’t have to get approval from Portuguese business incubators. These facts make the D2 Visa one of the most attractive ways to immigrate to Portugal.
What is a Portugal D2 Visa?
Portugal's D2 Visa is a national entrepreneur residence visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who buy, open, or manage a business in Portugal. There is no fixed minimum investment threshold but applicants must show funds to run the business and to live in Portugal, plus housing and health insurance.
An entrepreneur’s family members may immigrate to Portugal with a residence permit for family reunification.
The visa is valid for 4 months, during which an entrepreneur must enter Portugal and convert the visa to a 2-year residence permit at AIMA. The residence permit is extendable; to maintain residence, business people and their relatives must stay in Portugal for 6+ months each year.
The residence permit allows the holder to apply for permanent residence after 5 years and citizenship after 7 years for CPLP and EU nationals or 10 years for other nationalities.
Who is eligible for a Portugal D2 Visa?
Main applicant. An entrepreneur may apply for a D2 Visa if they fulfil one of the following conditions:
- buy a Portuguese company or a share in it;
- already have a company abroad and a plan to open its branch in Portugal;
- submit a comprehensive business plan for a new company in Portugal.
The business requirements are quite soft: an applicant can choose any sector, and there are no thresholds on profitability or the creation of jobs.
However, applicants must confirm that the businesses will be economically and socially beneficial for Portugal and that they have enough money for investment in their companies due to the business plans.
Other requirements for Portugal D2 Visa applicants include the following:
- age over 18 years;
- no criminal record;
- rented or owned housing in Portugal;
- enough money to live in Portugal for a year;
- health insurance.
Family members. An entrepreneur’s spouse, the couple’s children and parents may apply for residence permits for family reunification. Adult children and parents must prove they depend on the D2 Visa holder to get residence. Also, the family has to confirm that they have housing and enough money to live in Portugal.
Documents to apply for a Portugal D2 Visa
To apply for a Portugal D2 Visa, entrepreneurs must provide documents confirming their business plans, financial capacity, accommodation, and eligibility to live in the country. The exact requirements may vary depending on whether the applicant is starting a new business or already operates a registered company.
Business documents
You’ll need to submit some business documents to apply for a D2 Visa. The list includes the following:
- detailed business plan;
- if you have already started a company, submit constituent and registration documents, contracts, invoices, financial reports, and a bank statement on the company’s account balance;
- if you only plan to start a new company, submit documents to prove you have money for business investment, for example, a statement from a Portuguese bank.
Personal documents
Also, some personal documents and filled-in forms are required for visa and residence permit applications. Entrepreneurs prepare and submit the following:
- application form;
- passport and its copy;
- documents to confirm sufficient funds to live in Portugal, for example, a bank statement;
- documents to prove to have housing to live in Portugal, for example, a rental agreement;
- certificate of no criminal record from the country of residence with an apostille;
- permission to Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum of Portugal to check criminal records in Portugal;
- health insurance;
- two colour photographs, 3 × 5 cm.
How to get a Portugal D2 Visa: step-by-step procedure
Obtaining a Portugal D2 Visa usually takes around 6 months if you already have a business plan or a company in Portugal. After that, some time is required to get a residence permit.
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Immigrant Invest performs a preliminary Due Diligence check to determine whether any issues could prevent the applicant from obtaining a D2 Visa and residence permit.
All information and procedures remain strictly confidential.
Immigrant Invest performs a preliminary Due Diligence check to determine whether any issues could prevent the applicant from obtaining a D2 Visa and residence permit.
All information and procedures remain strictly confidential.
2+ weeks
Opening a company and collecting documents
The entrepreneur develops a business plan or acquires an existing company in Portugal.
Immigrant Invest lawyers assist the applicant in preparing the required documents and obtaining a Portuguese individual taxpayer number, NIF.
Non-EU citizens can obtain a NIF remotely by appointing a tax representative in Portugal. Immigrant Invest arranges the process under a power of attorney.
The entrepreneur develops a business plan or acquires an existing company in Portugal.
Immigrant Invest lawyers assist the applicant in preparing the required documents and obtaining a Portuguese individual taxpayer number, NIF.
Non-EU citizens can obtain a NIF remotely by appointing a tax representative in Portugal. Immigrant Invest arranges the process under a power of attorney.
2+ weeks
Opening a Portuguese bank account
To open a Portuguese bank account, the investor must provide a valid passport and NIF taxpayer number. The bank may also request evidence confirming the legal source of the applicant’s funds.
The applicant must deposit enough money into the account to support their family for a year.
To open a Portuguese bank account, the investor must provide a valid passport and NIF taxpayer number. The bank may also request evidence confirming the legal source of the applicant’s funds.
The applicant must deposit enough money into the account to support their family for a year.
2+ weeks
Renting or purchasing housing in Portugal
Immigrant Invest’s real estate experts present the applicant with suitable properties available to rent or buy. The entrepreneur may select a property remotely or visit Portugal in person.
A property purchase can take up to 1 month to complete. Renting is usually quicker, as selecting a property and preparing the documents may take only a few days.
Immigrant Invest’s real estate experts present the applicant with suitable properties available to rent or buy. The entrepreneur may select a property remotely or visit Portugal in person.
A property purchase can take up to 1 month to complete. Renting is usually quicker, as selecting a property and preparing the documents may take only a few days.
5—6 months
Getting a D2 visa
Immigrant Invest lawyers arrange an appointment at the Portuguese consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. The entrepreneur attends the appointment in person to submit the visa application.
Once approved, the visa is placed in the applicant’s passport.
Immigrant Invest lawyers arrange an appointment at the Portuguese consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. The entrepreneur attends the appointment in person to submit the visa application.
Once approved, the visa is placed in the applicant’s passport.
6—8 months
Getting a Portuguese residence permit
The D2 Visa remains valid for 4 months. During this period, the entrepreneur must enter Portugal and apply for a residence permit through the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, or AIMA.
Once the application is approved, the entrepreneur receives a Portuguese residence permit valid for 2 years, which can subsequently be renewed.
The D2 Visa remains valid for 4 months. During this period, the entrepreneur must enter Portugal and apply for a residence permit through the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, or AIMA.
Once the application is approved, the entrepreneur receives a Portuguese residence permit valid for 2 years, which can subsequently be renewed.
How much does it cost to get a Portugal D2 Visa?
The total cost of a D2 Visa depends on the scale of your business and where you choose to live, but it breaks down into four main areas: business set-up, proof of financial means, the visa itself, and residence costs.
Business expenses. The largest outlay is the business investment. Portugal sets no minimum threshold, but an entrepreneur must demonstrate enough capital to run the company. On top of that come the set-up costs:
- opening a company — €369;
- company registration — €5,000+;
- NIF tax number — €280;
- NISS social security number — €280.
Proof of financial solvency. Applicants must show they can support themselves in Portugal. The required amount is tied to the national minimum wage, which stands at €920 in 2026. Over a full year, this means holding at least €11,040.
D2 Visa expenses. The visa application itself involves:
- travel insurance — €150;
- application and consular fee — €110;
- document processing, including translation and notarisation — €2,000+, depending on how many documents are required.
Residence expenses. Renting or buying a home in Portugal is mandatory, though there are no rules on an apartment's price or size. Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom flat is:
- €1,200 in Lisbon;
- €1,000 in Porto or Funchal.
Portuguese health insurance costs around €400.
Once in Portugal, the residence permit application fee is €99.80 and the residence card fee is €85.80.
Benefits of a Portugal D2 Visa
Immigration to Portugal, a developed European country with a high level of safety, is one of the key aims of foreigners applying for a D2 Visa. The country attracts expats with a mild climate, an opportunity to live by the Atlantic Ocean, and access to affordable and still high-quality healthcare and education.
Running a business in Portugal. The country is considered a reliable jurisdiction with a stable economy and banking system. Starting a business in Portugal and trading across borders while a company is registered there is easy.
Tax optimisation. Portugal has a beneficial tax regime, IFICI, aimed at scientific research and innovation professionals.
The real optimisation for a D2 business owner is on the corporate side. Mainland corporate tax is 19%, with a 15% rate on the first €50,000 for SMEs, while companies based in Madeira or the Azores enjoy a reduced rate of around 13.3%.
The most competitive option is the Madeira International Business Centre, where licensed companies pay just 5% until 2033 — provided they meet real substance requirements and are licensed within the regime by the end of 2026.
Visa-free travelling to the Schengen Area. You may stay in this zone for 90 days out of 180; time spent in Portugal doesn’t count.
Citizenship application after 10 years. Suppose an entrepreneur maintains residency for 10 years and speaks Portuguese at the A2 level; then, they may apply for citizenship.
Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal. Also, it is a major global economy centre. At the same time, it can hardly be called a megapolis because only around 500 thousand people live there
Portugal D2 Visa vs the Startup, Golden, Digital Nomad, and D7 Visas: what option to choose?
If your goal is to immigrate to Portugal, there are some options to consider apart from the D2 Visa. Some of them, like the D7 Visa, don’t require starting a business at all.
The Startup Visa is for those who wish to open an innovative startup in Portugal, in partnership with a certified Portuguese incubator. It's one of the more affordable routes: there's no fixed business investment required, and applicants need only prove subsistence funds of €11,040 for the first year — the standard amount for a year of residence in Portugal.
The Golden Visa is residence by investment — in fund units, cultural heritage, scientific research, or business and job creation. The minimum investment is €250,000 for the cultural donation route, while the most popular option is €500,000 in fund units.
For business options, there are two paths:
- open a new company and create at least 10 jobs, without an investment threshold;
- invest in an existing or new company at least €500,000 and create or maintain at least 5 jobs.
The Golden Visa allows the holder to maintain residence without living in Portugal permanently, requiring only 7 days a year of physical presence.
The Digital Nomad Visa is designed for remote workers, freelancers, and online business owners who earn their income from outside Portugal. Applicants don't set up a company; instead they prove stable foreign-sourced earnings.
The income threshold is set at four times the Portuguese minimum wage — €3,680 per month in 2026.
The D7 Visa is intended for financially independent foreigners living on passive income such as pensions, dividends, or rent. They prove they have funds and housing to live in Portugal and receive a residence permit.
Comparison of D2, Startup, Golden, Digital Nomad, and D7 visas
How to get Portugal citizenship or PR after the D2 Visa?
The D2 Visa first leads to a temporary residence permit issued for 2 years and renewable for 3 more. After that, the paths to permanent residence and to citizenship diverge.
Permanent residence
After 5 years of legal residence, a D2 holder can apply for a permanent residence permit. The requirements are to:
- have lived legally in Portugal for 5 years;
- demonstrate A2-level Portuguese;
- have a clean criminal record;
- prove housing and sufficient funds to live in Portugal.
Citizenship
Under the Nationality Law that entered into force on May 19th, 2026, most applicants need 10 years of legal residence in Portugal before applying for citizenship. Citizens of EU and Portuguese-speaking countries need 7 years.
The qualifying period is counted from the issuance of the first residence card, and time spent waiting for permit approval does not count.
Beyond the residence period, applicants must:
- demonstrate A2-level Portuguese;
- pass a test on Portuguese culture, history, and rights;
- sign a declaration of adherence to democratic principles;
- have a clean criminal record.
Portugal permits dual citizenship: if your country of origin allows it too, you won't have to renounce your previous nationality.
With a Portugal passport, one can travel to 182 countries without getting visas in advance, live in Portugal and relocate to other EU countries
Obtaining a Portugal D2 Visa: a brief checklist
- Buy a company in Portugal or create a detailed business plan for the future one. Represent the amount of investment you’ll make and the benefits that locals will get from your business — for example, new jobs.
- Gather all necessary documents, including a business plan, bank statements and others.
- Apply for a visa in a Portuguese consulate in your country of residence. Get the visa after about 60 days of processing.
- Travel to Portugal and submit a residence application to the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum of Portugal by appointment. You must do it in 4months after obtaining a Portugal D2 Visa.
- Get your residence permit, immigrate to Portugal and run your business. Remember that you must spend 1.5 consecutive years in the first 2 years of residency or 16 months in total over 2 years.
- If you have family members who also wish to immigrate, apply for residence for family reunification.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.
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