Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa

You can apply for a D2 Visa/Residence Permit directly in Portugal (as opposed to the D7 Visa which requires a previous Visa issued by the Portuguese Consulate), with no need for a prior special-purpose residence Visa from the Portuguese Consulate in your country/area of residence. The time it takes to analyse the request is, on average, 60 days. 

Your D2 Visa allows you to stay for 4 months in Portugal, during which time you must schedule an appointment with AIMA to get a valid Portuguese residency.

• Entrepreneurs who want to open a business in Portugal.
• Entrepreneurs who already have a business in their country of origin and would like to open a branch in Portugal.
• Self-employed persons – independent or liberal professionals who want to work in Portugal and already have a work contract or a written work proposal. Freelancers and digital nomads can also apply, if they prove that they offer differentiated services that are relevant to the country.

In order for the D2 Visa to be successfully granted, the evaluators consider the conditions and the potential of the company’s contribution to the country. You must prove your organization’s value and present the following elements:

• The right to establish a business or work as an independent professional and live in Portugal.
• Free entry and circulation within the Schengen Area, comprised of 26 European countries, without a Visa. The D2 Visa essentially grants you the travel rights of all European Union citizens. This is perfect for entrepreneurs who want to travel through Europe to network and build corporate connections.
• The possibility of family reunification in Portugal: The family (including partners, children, parents, or siblings dependent on either partner) of the holder of a Portuguese residence permit can also live in the country.
• The option to apply for Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime, which is open to anyone who has the right to reside in Portugal (an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or a holder of a residence permit) and has not been a tax resident of the country in the previous 5 years.
• Qualification for permanent residence or citizenship in Portugal: After 5 years of being a legal permanent resident, you may be eligible for permanent citizenship in the country, as part of Portugal residency program. Please note that citizenship is subject to a basic Portuguese language test.
• Portuguese residency rights, including education and health care: As a Portuguese resident you and your family will have access to the Public Healthcare System and your children to the Public Education System.

With the D2 Visa, you can apply for and receive the Portuguese Residence Permit, which will allow you to live and work in Portugal for 1 year. This permit can be renewed every 2 years, if the applicant proves the continuity of their professional activities. After 5 years of legally authorized residence, you can request Portuguese nationality.

The minimum requirement to continue residing in Portugal is that you spend at least 4 months in the country during the first year and at least 6 months per year during each 3-year subsequent period.

The application should be kick started by:

As a rule, the applicant will be required to have the following documents when applying for a D2 Visa:

• A passport that is still valid for at least 6 months after the expiry date of the Visa you are applying (which will expire after 4 months).
• Two recent passport-size colour photos.
• A declaration outlining the reasons for the Portugal residency.
• A Health Insurance Plan valid in Portugal or else an affidavit stating that one will be bought in Portugal within 90 days of arrival.
• A criminal record certificate or Police clearance letter (FBI report in the case of US residents) issued no more than 90 days before the date of submission to the Consulate.
• Documentary evidence of having accommodation in Portugal (property title deed or tenancy agreement).
• Documentary evidence of having sufficient funds available to the applicant’s subsistence in Portugal (e.g., a local bank statement).
• In the case of a freelance professional the copy of a contract and, if applicable, proof of professional qualifications; or, in the case of an entrepreneur, the business plan and proof of either having made the investment, or of having access, in Portugal, to the necessary funding to do so.
  

The Government fees for this type of temporary residence Visa permit are not significant (between €50.63 and €158.15 per applicant). The primary costs the applicant will incur are relocation expenses and professional fees. Alternative routes to acquiring residency are more expensive.