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D2 Entrepreneur Visa

Portugal Business Setup for D2 Applicants

Full legal coordination for Portuguese company formation, branch registration, or freelance activity setup -- structured from the outset to satisfy D2 visa requirements. Business plan, incorporation, NIF, bank account, and visa application managed as a single engagement.

For entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business owners who need a Portuguese business entity established and a D2 visa application filed -- whether starting a new venture, registering a branch, or formalising independent professional activity.

2,500+

Successful applications across all programs

98%

Approval rate across all visa programs

3-6 months

Setup through to visa issuance

Company formation -- Unipessoal Lda., Sociedade por Quotas, or branch registration of a foreign company

Business plan structuring -- built to address D2 consulate assessment criteria

Full administrative setup -- NIF, bank account, tax registrations, social security enrolment

Licensed lawyers registered with the Portuguese Bar Association

The D2 Business Requirement

Your Business Is Your Visa Case

The D2 entrepreneur visa requires evidence of viable business activity in Portugal. This means either a registered Portuguese company, a branch of a foreign entity, or formalised freelance activity -- supported by a business plan that demonstrates economic contribution. The consulate assesses the business as the foundation of your residency application.

Getting this wrong is the primary reason D2 applications fail. A company formed without consideration for how the consulate evaluates viability, a business plan that doesn't address the right criteria, or a corporate structure that creates unnecessary tax complications -- all of these undermine an otherwise strong application. We structure the business setup and the visa application as one integrated process.

Last updated: February 2026

Read our full D2 visa guide

Unipessoal Lda.

Single-member limited liability company. The most common structure for D2 applicants. Minimum share capital of one euro, full liability protection, and the structure most familiar to Portuguese consulates. Suitable for solo founders, consultants, and service-based businesses. Registered via Empresa na Hora (company in a day) or traditional notarial process.

Sociedade por Quotas (Lda.)

Multi-member limited liability company. Required when there are two or more shareholders. Same liability protections as a Unipessoal Lda. with a partnership structure. Common for co-founded ventures, joint investments, and businesses with local Portuguese partners. Quota distribution and shareholder agreements are structured as part of the setup.

Branch Registration

Registration of a permanent representation of an existing foreign company in Portugal. The branch is not a separate legal entity -- it operates under the parent company's legal personality. Suitable for businesses that want to extend existing operations into Portugal without forming a new entity. Requires registration at the Conservatoria (Commercial Registry).

Freelance Activity

Independent professional activity (trabalhador independente) registered with the Portuguese tax authority under the relevant CAE code. Simpler and faster than company incorporation with lower administrative overhead. No liability separation from the individual. Suitable for consultants, designers, developers, and other service professionals operating under their own name.

Why MovingTo

Business Formation Built for the Visa

Any lawyer can incorporate a company. The difference is whether that company, its documentation, and its business plan are structured to pass consulate review and sustain a successful D2 application.

Business Plan Structuring

The business plan is the centrepiece of the D2 application. We structure it to address the criteria consulates actually evaluate: economic contribution to Portugal, job creation potential, innovation, financial viability, and operational feasibility. Not a generic template -- a document built for your specific business and your specific consulate.

Integrated Setup

Company formation, NIF, bank account, tax registrations, social security enrolment, registered address, and the D2 visa application are managed as one engagement. Each step is timed and sequenced to feed into the next -- no gaps, no misaligned documentation, no having to redo corporate paperwork because the lawyer who set up the company didn't know the visa requirements.

Structure Advisory

Unipessoal Lda., multi-member Lda., branch, or freelance -- the choice affects your liability exposure, tax position, administrative burden, and how the consulate evaluates your application. We recommend the structure that best serves both your business objectives and your visa requirements, with tax implications flagged for your advisor.

Service Scope

What We Handle, What We Don't

We Handle

  • Corporate structure recommendation -- Unipessoal Lda., Lda., branch, or freelance
  • Business plan structuring for D2 consulate assessment criteria
  • Company incorporation via Empresa na Hora or notarial process
  • Branch registration at the Conservatoria (Commercial Registry)
  • Freelance activity opening with Financas (CAE code selection)
  • Corporate NIF and personal NIF registration
  • Corporate bank account coordination
  • Registered business address guidance (sede social)
  • Tax authority and social security registrations
  • Full D2 visa application -- consulate preparation, document dossier, appointment scheduling

We Don't

  • Provide ongoing accounting, bookkeeping, or tax filing services
  • Offer investment advice or business funding
  • Provide market research beyond what is required for the business plan
  • Manage day-to-day business operations post-incorporation
  • Guarantee D2 visa approval -- decisions rest with the consulate

From Business Concept to D2 Visa Issuance

Typical timeline: 3 to 6 months from engagement to visa

01

Structure & Plan

We review your business concept, recommend the optimal corporate structure, and begin structuring the business plan. The plan is built to address D2 consulate assessment criteria -- economic contribution, job creation potential, financial viability, and operational feasibility in Portugal. CAE code selection and registered address options are confirmed.

02

Incorporate & Register

Company incorporation via Empresa na Hora or notarial process, or branch registration at the Conservatoria. Corporate NIF issued, tax authority registrations completed, social security enrolment initiated. For freelance setups, activity is opened with Financas under the selected CAE code. Personal NIF and fiscal representation arranged in parallel.

03

Bank & Administration

Corporate bank account opening coordinated with a Portuguese bank. Initial capital deposit confirmed. All corporate documentation compiled -- certidao permanente (commercial registry certificate), articles of association, tax registrations, proof of address. These feed directly into the D2 visa application dossier.

04

D2 Visa Application

Complete D2 visa dossier assembled: business plan, corporate documentation, proof of funds, accommodation, criminal record, health insurance. Consulate appointment scheduled, applicant prepared for interview. Post-approval, we coordinate AIMA registration and residence permit issuance upon arrival in Portugal.

Client Results

"Hospitality concept -- boutique guesthouse in the Algarve. MovingTo formed the Unipessoal Lda., structured the business plan around tourism sector contribution and local job creation, and filed the D2 application. Visa approved at the Lisbon consulate without additional documentation requests."

T. Osei

D2 Visa -- Hospitality startup -- Ghana, 2024

"I wanted to register my UK consultancy as a branch rather than forming a new company. The team handled the Conservatoria registration, got the branch a corporate NIF and bank account, and structured the business plan to show how the Portuguese branch would operate independently. D2 approved."

J. Hargreaves

D2 Visa -- Branch registration -- UK, 2024

"Freelance UX designer. I didn't need a full company -- MovingTo recommended freelance activity registration, opened my activity under the right CAE code, and built the business plan around my existing client portfolio and planned Portuguese market expansion. Clean approval."

M. Lavoie

D2 Visa -- Freelance activity -- Canada, 2025

"Two co-founders, tech startup. MovingTo set up a Sociedade por Quotas with the right quota split, structured the shareholder agreement, and built a business plan that emphasised innovation and scalability. Both D2 visas approved. Company was operational before we even landed in Lisbon."

P. Lindqvist & R. Anand

D2 Visa -- Tech co-founders -- Sweden/India, 2025

Common Questions

Working With Us

What type of company should I set up for a D2 visa?

The most common structure is a Unipessoal Lda. (single-member limited liability company) -- it offers liability protection, a minimum share capital of one euro, and is the structure most familiar to consulates. Multi-member Lda. companies and branch registrations are also accepted. We recommend the structure that best fits your business model and visa requirements.

Do I need to set up a company before applying for the D2 visa?

Not necessarily. D2 applications can be filed with evidence that company formation is underway rather than fully completed. Some consulates accept a business plan and proof of registration steps in progress. However, having the company already incorporated strengthens the application. We advise on optimal timing based on your consulate's specific requirements.

How long does company formation take?

Empresa na Hora (company in a day) incorporation can be completed in 1 to 3 business days if all documents are prepared. The full setup including NIF, corporate bank account, tax registrations, and social security enrolment typically takes 3 to 6 weeks. We begin early and coordinate each step to align with your D2 visa timeline.

Can I register as a freelancer instead?

Yes. The D2 visa covers independent professional activity (trabalhador independente) as well as company formation. Freelance registration involves opening activity with Financas under the appropriate CAE code. It is simpler and faster than incorporation but offers no liability separation. We assess which structure best fits your business model and visa requirements.

What makes a strong D2 business plan?

Consulates evaluate economic contribution to Portugal, job creation potential, innovation, financial viability, and operational feasibility. The business plan must demonstrate that your activity will be real, sustainable, and beneficial to the Portuguese economy. We structure the plan to address these specific criteria -- not a generic startup pitch but a document built for immigration assessment.

Do I need a Portuguese business address?

Yes. Every Portuguese company or freelance registration requires a registered business address (sede social). This can be a physical office, a co-working space with a registered address service, or in some cases a virtual office. The address must be valid and registered with the tax authority. We advise on options that satisfy both company registration and D2 visa requirements.

Get Started

Start Your Business Setup

Get a structure recommendation and business setup roadmap from our licensed Portuguese legal team -- integrated with your D2 visa application from the outset.

Your Case Is Reviewed By

Ines Cabral Almeida

Licensed Immigration Lawyer

Portuguese Bar Association -- Registration No. 61676P

Ines Cabral Almeida oversees every business setup engagement, ensuring the corporate structure, business plan, and registration documentation are built to satisfy D2 consulate assessment criteria from the outset through to visa issuance.

2,500+ successful applications across all programs -- 98% approval rate -- 4 European markets

Start Your Business Setup

Free assessment with a licensed immigration lawyer. No obligation.

Your information is used only to respond to your request.

After You Submit

  • Lawyer reviews your business concept and recommends the optimal legal structure
  • You receive a business setup roadmap with timelines and costs
  • We advise on how company formation integrates with your D2 visa application
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