Company registration in Portugal

Registration fee is from 4000 €

Registration period — 4 weeks

Minimum authorized capital - 1 euro

Remote opening — Yes

Financial statements — Yes

Portugal attracts investors from all over the world thanks to its favorable business climate, transparent tax system, and geographic location. Unlike the autonomous region of Madeira with its preferential IBCM tax regime (5%), registering a company in mainland Portugal suits those who plan a real business presence in the country: an office, staff, local clients, or who are considering a path to residency through entrepreneurial activity.

If your goal is international trade or a holding structure with minimal tax burden, consider registering a company in Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal operating within EU law.

Why open a company in Portugal?

The most common company forms in Portugal are:

  • Sociedade por Quotas (Lda): the equivalent of an LLC, suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

  • Sociedade Anónima (SA): suitable for large enterprises planning to attract investors.

  • Unipessoal Lda: a company with a single founder.

Mainland Portugal or Madeira: which should you choose?

  • A company in mainland Portugal is subject to the standard 20% corporate income tax rate, while a company in the IBCM zone in Madeira can obtain a 5% rate, provided it creates a job or invests at least EUR 75,000.

  • Mainland registration is more often chosen for businesses with a physical presence in Portugal, work with local clients, or plans to immigrate through entrepreneurial activity (for example, for a D2 visa), while Madeira is the optimal choice for international trading and holding structures that do not require a physical presence.

We help clients from any country open a business in Portugal for foreigners. Our team of lawyers and consultants provides full support: from choosing the business form to obtaining all the necessary permits.

Opening a business in Portugal can be an important step toward expanding your operations. With Maira Consult, you save time and get professional support for quickly opening a business in Portugal.

Portugal advantages

1

Reduced IRC rate of 16% on the first EUR 50,000 of income for small and medium businesses

2

Possibility of obtaining residency through entrepreneurial activity (D2 visa)

3

Geographic location

4

Favorable business climate

5

Access to the EU single market and the eurozone

General Information

Registration Features

Company registration in Portugal is governed by the Commercial Companies Code (Código das Sociedades Comerciais).

  • All founders, whether residents or non-residents, are required to obtain a tax number (NIF) from the Portuguese tax authority before submitting registration documents.
  • Foreigners without a residence permit can obtain a NIF remotely through an authorized tax representative in Portugal.

Company Name

The company name must be unique and comply with Portuguese requirements.

Authorized Capital

  • Minimum share capital: 1 euro per shareholder. This means a company can be registered with a minimal capital (for example, 2 euros for two shareholders, or 1 euro for a Unipessoal Lda with a single founder).

The share capital does not have to be paid in immediately, but it must be contributed by the time the company begins operating.

Director

Any person over 18 years of age can become a director, regardless of nationality or residency. A non-resident director is not required to be physically present in Portugal to perform this role, though it is recommended to have a local tax representative for day-to-day communication with the tax authorities.

Shareholders

An LDA (limited liability company) can have one or more shareholders. If there is a single shareholder, it is called a Sociedade Unipessoal LDA.

An SA (joint-stock company) requires a minimum of 5 shareholders.

Financial Reporting

Annual financial statements must be filed by May 31 of the year following the close of the financial year. VAT returns are filed quarterly. If the company's turnover exceeds €650,000, VAT returns must be filed monthly.

Taxation

  • Corporation tax (IRC) - standard rate: 20% (mainland Portugal).
  • For small and medium-sized enterprises, a reduced rate of 16% applies to the first EUR 50,000 of taxable income.
  • VAT - 23 per cent.
  • Dividend tax - 28 per cent (standard withholding rate; may be reduced under a double taxation agreement, in particular with Ukraine).

Confidentiality

The register is open to public access.

Stages of company registration

01

Choosing the name and form of the company

The company name is verified and approved through the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).

02

Preparation and collection of documents

To register a company, the following documents need to be gathered:

  • Copies of the founders' passports or ID cards.
  • Tax numbers (NIF) of all participants.
  • The company's articles of association, specifying the purpose of activity, capital, and management structure.

A document confirming registration of the legal address, and the NIF numbers of each participant.

03

Identification of company participants

Opening a company in Portugal as a non-resident can be done remotely. To do this, we need you to provide clear scanned copies of your passport and proof of residential address.

04

Formation of the share capital (if necessary)

At this stage, it is possible to pay the share capital.

05

Company registration

A business in Portugal can be opened through one of two systems:

Empresa na Hora (Company in an Hour):

This is a fast procedure that allows you to register a company within one day. To do this, it is enough to visit a special Empresa na Hora office.

Online through ePortugal:

Registration can be carried out online. This is convenient, but it may take a little longer.

06

Receiving of corporate documents

After registering a company in Portugal, you will receive:

A registration certificate (Certidão de Registo).

The company's tax identification number (Número de Identificação de Pessoa Colectiva, NIPC).

07

Legalization of documents (if necessary)

After a company is registered in Portugal, all corporate documents are sent for apostille.

08

Delivery of corporate documents

Once the company in Portugal is registered, the documents are sent to the owner.

Answers to the Most Common Questions:

The cost of registering a company in Portugal (LDA) starts from EUR 4,000, including document preparation, obtaining tax numbers (NIF) for the founders, and state fees. If your goal is tax optimization for an international business without a physical presence on the mainland, consider registering in Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal with a 5% tax rate under the IBCM.
The fastest option is the "Empresa na Hora" ("company in an hour") system, which allows you to register a company in one day with an in-person visit to a special office in Portugal. Remote registration via ePortugal takes longer, approximately 3-4 weeks, factoring in obtaining an NIF for non-residents.
A company on the Portuguese mainland pays a standard corporation tax rate of 20 per cent, whilst a company in the IBCM zone in Madeira may qualify for a preferential rate of 5 per cent, provided it creates jobs or makes an investment of at least EUR 75,000. Choose the mainland if you plan to have a physical presence in Portugal or to immigrate; choose Madeira if your aim is purely international trade or a holding structure without the need to be physically present in the country.

Our Contacts

Phone

+380 97 527-66-30

Client Relations Department

+380 73 427-66-30

Email

[email protected]

Address

Kyiv, 01054, Ukraine,

40B Ivan Franko St., office 207

Legal information

MAIRA LLC

EDRPOU code: 38202700

Jurisdiction: Ukraine

Working hours

Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 18:00

Saturday – Sunday: closed

We respond to inquiries within 15–30 minutes during working hours

Messengers

Social Networks

International Law Company Maira Consult