Vlad Shifter
Founder
Entrepreneur and corporate consultant with 10+ years of experience with PwC, P&G, Coca Cola, Unilever and others. TechCrunch 200 Alum.
Portugal D2 Visa 2026: Entrepreneur & Company Route
Build or run a Portuguese company and get residency. No fixed minimum investment, savings of €11,040, and an AIMA-compliant business plan, with company formation included in the service.
- No fixed minimum investment
- Company formation included
- Up to 5 co-directors
- EU residency in 5 years
- 7,000+ cases handled
- 99.2% completed-case success rate
- Free re-file on directly handled Portuguese cases with a complete document set
- 30+ nationalities served
- HQ in Portugal
Why the D2
No mandatory investment threshold
Unlike investor routes, D2 has no fixed capital requirement. Business viability matters more than a headline number.
Fits three profiles
Pre-revenue founders with savings, established operators expanding into Portugal, and applicants who do not fit D8 (€3,680/month) or D3 (qualifying degree).
Company formation included
We register your Portuguese LDA, file with the Registo Comercial, and set up NIF and lease before the consulate visa is filed.
Up to 5 co-directors on one filing
We have handled multi-founder D2 setups for SaaS, consulting and e-commerce companies.
IFICI 20% eligible
Founders performing qualifying activities (software, R&D, senior management) qualify for the 20% flat rate for 10 years.
D2 vs D3 + employer: your own company or a job
| Portugal D2 | Portugal D3 + Employer | |
|---|---|---|
| You are | Founder / entrepreneur | Skilled employee |
| Structure | Your own Portuguese company (LDA) | Employment via our EOR |
| Capital / income | No legal minimum; savings €11,040 | Salary from €2,100/mo |
| Business plan | Required (AIMA-reviewed) | Not required |
| Tax hook | IFICI 20% (qualifying roles) | IFICI 20% |
| Path to PR | 5 years | 5 years |
Considering the employee route instead? See the D3 visa or run it through our Portuguese payroll service. For the full trade-off, read our EOR vs company guide.
Why Portugal for founders
-
19% corporate tax rate, 15% for SMEs
On the first €50,000 of profit (2026 rates), versus 25% in Spain and France.
-
Lisbon startup ecosystem
Accelerators (Startup Lisboa, Beta-i), VC presence, an active angel network, and English-fluent legal, accounting and banking support.
-
Simple LDA structure
One director minimum, €1 minimum capital (we recommend €5,000 funded for credibility), no director residency requirement during company life.
-
EU residency ladder
Permanent residency at 5 years; citizenship at 10 years (7 for CPLP and EU nationals) under the reform effective 19 May 2026.
How to get the Portugal D2 Visa with Relovisa
From company formation to residence permit, your dedicated case manager handles every step.
1. Initial consultation
We assess your fit: pre-revenue founder, established operator, or rescue lane where D7/D8 do not work for you.
2. Company formation
Portuguese LDA registration with the Registo Comercial; €5,000 funded capital recommended; up to 5 co-directors supported.
3. Business plan + AIMA framework
Market analysis, 3-year financial projections, job-creation roadmap, founder-background fit. We avoid known rejection categories (HoReCa, real estate, generic e-commerce).
4. NIF, lease, savings proof
NIF, lease for the company seat, savings proof (€11,040 minimum), criminal record, health insurance, plus a step-by-step guide for the required Portuguese bank account.
5. Consulate appointment
Full consular dossier and booking; consulate visa typically issued in 30 to 60 days.
6. Biometrics + permit
After arrival, AIMA biometrics and permit. Realistic 2026: 9 to 18 months in Lisbon/Porto, roughly 5 to 9 months via regional offices; legal target 90 days. The consulate visa lets you enter and operate.
Let your personal case manager and lawyer handle all the paperwork
No more dealing with bureaucracy, we take care of every detail.
1. Understand Your Immigration Options
During a consultation, our expert evaluates your profile and outlines pathways, helping you make an informed decision.
2. Tailored Strategy for Approval
Lawyer analyzes your case, identifies challenges, and creates a step-by-step roadmap to maximize success.
3. Complete Document Preparation
With minimal input from you, we handle certificates, translations, and applications.
4. Smooth Application Process
Your manager schedules appointments, ensures compliance, communicates with authorities, and tracks progress.
5. Bureaucratic Tasks Solved
We handle finding housing, tax registrations, and residence permits, eliminating paperwork stress.
Is your business a fit for D2? Let's check.
Bring your business idea or existing company, your savings, and your team size. We tell you whether D2 fits, what business plan AIMA will accept, and what the end-to-end cost is. The €40 consultation secures a dedicated expert.
Ready to start?
D2 Single founder
€5,990
+ €990 per family member
For solo founders or small operating teams. Government fees are separate: consulate visa €110, residence permit €307.20 (effective 1 March 2026).
- Eligibility review and personalized strategy guide
- Preparation of all required documents
- Initial consultation
- Unlimited chat with a dedicated visa expert
- Lawyer consultation for complex cases
- All required forms completed by us
- Pre-submission document double-check
- NIF
- Consulate slot booking where the jurisdiction allows it, OR detailed step-by-step instructions where booking requires in-person face + passport verification by the applicant
- End-to-end case management through visa issuance
- Portuguese company registration (LDA formation)
Recommended
D2 Multi-founder (up to 5 co-directors)
€21,490
+ €990 per family member
For founding teams of 2 to 5. Government fees are separate: consulate visa €110, residence permit €307.20 (effective 1 March 2026).
- Eligibility review and personalized strategy guide
- Preparation of all required documents
- Initial consultation
- Unlimited chat with a dedicated visa expert
- Lawyer consultation for complex cases
- All required forms completed by us
- Pre-submission document double-check
- NIF
- Consulate slot booking where the jurisdiction allows it, OR detailed step-by-step instructions where booking requires in-person face + passport verification by the applicant
- End-to-end case management through visa issuance
- Portuguese company registration (LDA formation)
- Shared business case with joint co-director structure
- Coordinated per-founder dossiers and consulate timing
- Payment: 50% upfront, 50% before submission
About “Relovisa Advisors”
Relovisa is a premium full-service immigration consultancy (HQ Portugal, "Made in Portugal"). It is not a law firm: it works with licensed immigration lawyers and tax advisors per jurisdiction. Relovisa delivers EU/UK/US residency and citizenship to founders, skilled professionals, investors, and remote workers, handling the paperwork end-to-end. Distinctive: its own Portuguese EOR/payroll entity, packaged with the Portugal D3 and Spain DNV routes, plus deep specialist depth on the France Talent (Passeport Talent) innovative-project route, including DRIEETS dossiers and the no-incubator route with two letters of support.
99.2%
Average success rate
99.2% of clients get their visas and residence permits
7000+
Cases · 30+ countries
Clients across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the CIS
80+
Experts and lawyers
Professionals from around the world
8 years
Average experience
In immigration law & consulting
Our team, lawyers and partners
Our legal experts and professionals take care of everything, from document preparation to final approval, with 24/7 support, so you don't have to worry about a thing.
Olia Nemirovski
COO
10+ years specialist in client and partner relations, driving innovation through deep customer understanding.
Evgenia
Immigration lawyer
Licensed lawyer with deep knowledge of UK immigration law, she excels as a case manager for Talent Visas with 99.8% success rate.
Vladimir
Immigration consultant
Over three years of project management experience in German work immigration processes.
Daniela
Immigration Lawyer
Her expertise includes legal representation in court proceedings, expedited solutions for delayed residence processes, and all visa programs.
Petra
Immigration consultant
Specializes in D visas: Digital Nomad, D7, D2, D3, etc. She has experience working with various types of income.
Marilia
Immigration Attorney
Lawyer with 4 years experience works with global mobility processes for self-employed individuals through D8, D2, or IT workers through D3/Blue Card.
Thiago
Immigration Attorney
Relocated more than 300 high-qualified professionals to Portugal since 2018. Currently holding 100% success in lawsuits against AIMA (200+).
Vladislav
Tax Advisor
A licensed tax consultant with thousands of cases handled worldwide, from EU countries to Hong Kong and the USA. Specializes in finding solutions in the most unique and challenging situations.
Thomas
Tax Advisor
Thomas specializes in crypto business consultancy, with notable projects including market research for Bit2Me, a major Southern European cryptocurrency exchange.
Reviewed by the Relovisa immigration team. Published 2026-07.
Sources: Law 23/2007 Article 89 , Registo Comercial , AIMA guidance
FAQs
How much do I actually need to invest?
There is no legal minimum. In practice, AIMA reviews business plans favorably when there is €50,000 to €100,000 of funded or demonstrably available capital. Lower amounts work for genuinely lean businesses (consulting, freelance-aggregator structures) with credible revenue projections.
What is the savings requirement?
The savings requirement is €11,040 for a single applicant, which is 12x the 2026 SMN of €920/month. We prepare the proof to AIMA conventions.
What are the government fees?
Consulate visa €110 and residence permit €307.20 (effective 1 March 2026), separate from our service fee of €5,990 (single) or €21,490 (multi-founder), plus €990 per family member.
What is the AIMA complete-application-only rule?
Since 28 April 2025, AIMA rejects D2 applications missing any required document, with no chance to supplement after submission. The set includes business plan, company registration, lease, NIF, bank account, savings proof, criminal record and health insurance. We make sure everything is in before filing.
What business plans does AIMA accept?
Genuine market analysis for Portugal, realistic 3-year projections with sourced assumptions, a job-creation roadmap (1 to 5 Portuguese hires within 3 years is a strong signal), and clear founder-background fit. Avoid HoReCa, disguised real-estate plays, generic e-commerce and "lifestyle business" framing. For a full section-by-section breakdown, read the Portugal D2 business plan guide.
How long does the whole process take?
8 to 12 weeks for company formation and dossier prep, then 30 to 60 days for the consulate visa, then biometrics and permit issuance (9 to 18 months in Lisbon/Porto, roughly 5 to 9 months via regional offices). The consulate visa lets you enter and begin operating.
Can I run the Portuguese company remotely from another country?
You must spend at least 16 months of every 2-year permit period in Portugal to maintain D2. The company itself does not require you in the office full-time, but the residency obligation is on the visa.
Can a family member also be a co-director?
Yes. Your spouse can be a co-director, adding another applicant on the company dossier. Some founders structure it this way for tax efficiency and operating flexibility; we advise on the right structure during planning.
When is D2 the right choice versus D7 or D8?
D8 needs €3,680/month of remote income, a high bar. D7 needs €920/month of passive income, an easy bar but no active business. D2 fits when you want to build a real business, when you are a pre-revenue founder with savings, or when neither D7 nor D8 income proofs work for you. See the full Portugal visas overview for all routes.
What if my application is refused?
For Portuguese cases we handle directly, if a refusal follows a complete document set you provided, we re-file once at no additional service fee, subject to the conditions in your engagement. We do not guarantee approval; AIMA decides.