Portugal Entrepreneur Visa: Benefits, Requirements, and Application

If you wish to relocate your business to Portugal or start a new one in the country, obtaining the Portugal Entrepreneur Visa (also known as the D2 Visa) is among the first steps you should take.

To help you complete the process as effortlessly as possible, this guide will cover:

• The definition and provisions of the D2 Visa
• Eligibility criteria
• Application process
• Notable challenges to expect

What Is the Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa?

The D2 Entrepreneur Visa is a national residence visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals. It’s aimed specifically at those who wish to carry out independent professional activity in the so-called “liberal professions” that encompass sectors like:

• IT
• Tourism
• Creative industries
• Engineering

Approved D2 applicants may enter Portugal two times within 120 days from the issuance date. During this time, you can apply for a temporary residence permit valid for two years (renewable for subsequent three-year periods).

The D2 Visa is appealing to self-employed professionals and entrepreneurs because it allows them to launch their business immediately upon arrival. Although the entry barrier is relatively low for everyone, the D2 Visa is particularly beneficial for high-net-worth individuals and business owners seeking EU residency through economic activity.

Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa Requirements in 2025

To apply for the D2 Visa, you must be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen with a viable business project. You don’t need to have any formal education or prior business experience, but you must provide a credible business plan that the Portuguese authorities will evaluate for its economic impact (innovation, expected job creation, etc.).

For a successful evaluation, your plan must include details such as:

• Your target market
• Financial projections
• Specifics on how the business benefits Portugal’s economy

Besides the business plan, you need to meet the standard requirements for most Portugal visa options, most notably:

• Current and valid travel documents
• Clean criminal record
• No prior refusals of a visa for any EU country

One specific requirement to keep in mind is registering your activities with the tax authorities and Social Security once the business is established. You’ll also need to obtain a Tax Identification Number (NIF) for your D2 application to be approved.

Is There a Portugal D2 Visa Minimum Investment Amount?

There’s no fixed minimum investment necessary to qualify for a D2 Visa. You only need an elaborate business plan that showcases a demonstrable benefit of your business to the Portuguese economy.

The only financial threshold you need to meet is sufficient personal funds to sustain yourself for a year. This threshold is determined annually based on Portugal’s Social Support Index (IAS), a reference value used by the Portuguese Social Security system to determine the amounts of different social benefits and support programs.

In 2025, the IAS is €522,50, so you’ll need at least €6,270 for one year’s expenses. This funding can come from savings, assets, or projected company income.

How To Apply for the Entrepreneur Visa in Portugal

To apply for the D2 Visa, you need to take the following steps:

1. Obtain and gather the necessary business documentation
2. Prepare the visa-specific documentation
3. Submit your application
4. Apply for a residence permit

1. Obtain and Gather the Necessary Business Documentation

You’ll need to make the necessary business-specific arrangements before applying for the D2 Visa. Finalize your business plan, ensuring that it includes all the aforementioned specifics to clearly show how Portugal’s economy can benefit from your work.

Once the business plan is complete, you’ll need to apply for a NIF. You can do this in two ways:

1. In person: If you are already in Portugal, you can request a NIF by making an appointment at a local tax office
2. Online: You can obtain a NIF at the Tax Authority’s online portal, but you must do so through a legal representative

The latter option is typically more appealing because your representative would handle the administrative work on your behalf. 

Finally, you’ll need to open a bank account through which you can transfer the related fees and otherwise transact in Portugal. This is another task you can outsource to a representative, which is recommended if you want to streamline the process.

2. Prepare the Visa-Specific Documentation

Besides the business-related documentation, you’ll need to submit the following with your D2 application:

• Valid passport
• Two passport-type photos
• Declaration of the address of residence in Portugal
• Clean criminal record from any country where you have resided for longer than a year
• Proof of registration with the Tax Authority 
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
• Travel insurance
• Professional licenses (if applicable)

All documents not originally in English or Portuguese must be translated by a certified translator. These translations must often be legalized or apostilled, which can delay the application process. You must also double-check any relevant documentation, as even minor errors or honest mistakes (expired forms, missing apostilles, etc.) can cause delays.

3. Submit Your Application

After collecting the necessary documents, you’ll need to submit a D2 application to the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The embassy’s website will most likely contain a specific form you need to fill out and accompany with the relevant documentation.

The next step is at a specific embassy’s discretion. Some may interview applicants about their project, so be prepared to present your plan clearly and answer any questions.

After the interview (or immediately upon application), you’ll need to wait for the final decision. This usually takes 30–90 days, with the exact time frame depending on the consulate.

4. Apply for a Residence Permit

If your application is successful, you’ll receive a residence visa valid for 120 days. During this period, you’ll need to:

• Provide proof of start of activity: The Portuguese Tax Administration will require service contracts (for self-employed individuals) or proof of company incorporation (for entrepreneurs)
• Obtain a Social Security Identification Number (NISS): You can request a NISS online through the Social Security portal. You’ll need to submit your passport and temporary residence permit in addition to the completed form obtained from the portal
• Apply for a residence permit: You’ll need to book an appointment with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) to obtain your initial residence permit

After obtaining the residence permit, you can start conducting business activity in Portugal. As long as you maintain the business activity, you can renew the permit every three years.

StartUP Visa: A Specialized Program for Tech Entrepreneurs in Portugal

The Portuguese StartUP Visa is a dedicated D2 route for innovative tech entrepreneurs. It operates under the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (IAPMEI) and targets foreign startups that bring new technology and create jobs.

The StartUP program has different requirements than a standard D2 Visa. You must first apply to a certified Portuguese incubator for a contract and endorsement. If accepted, you then apply for the D2 Visa as outlined above, providing the incubator’s contract as proof of support.

Due to a different goal and industry specifics, the StartUP program has different eligibility criteria, specifically:

• Your business activities must provide innovative services or goods
• You must hire qualified professionals in your niche
• You need to demonstrate the potential to reach €325,000 per year in turnover five years after the incubation period

Despite these differences, you still get the D2 Visa under the same conditions (two-year permit, NISS application, etc.). The main difference is that the incubator’s endorsement enables an accelerated way to obtain the D2 Visa and provides the support you need to grow your business.

Common Alternatives to the D2 Visa

The target demographic of the D2 Visa often considers two alternatives as additional pathways to residence—the D7 Passive Income Visa and the D8 Digital Nomad Visa. The following table outlines these options:

VIsa Type	Overview
D7 Visa	Aimed at those with a stable passive income (at least €870/month) Doesn’t require a business plan Best suited for individuals living off investments
D8 Visa	Targets remote workers and freelancers working for foreign employers Requires a minimum income of €3,480/month Best suited for active business owners

Both visa types serve as the 120-day entry visa, which you can use to obtain a residence permit similarly to how you’d do with the D2 Visa.

If these entry solutions don’t seem like the right fit, you may want to explore Portugal’s programs for investors and entrepreneurs. For instance, you can consider the Golden Visa program if you wish to make significant investments in Portugal’s economy (€250,000–€500,000+). 

Still, even the residence permit obtained with a Golden Visa is valid for two years with triennial renewals, so there are no considerable differences from the residency perspective. The most appropriate option largely depends on your business objectives.

Challenges of Meeting the Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa Requirements

While applying for the D2 Visa, you might encounter several obstacles, most notably:

• Business planning complexities: Not all businesses have a traditional model or easily quantifiable benefits (especially the more creative service-based ones). Finding the best way to concretize the value of your activities and their contribution to the Portuguese economy may be difficult without guidance
• Extensive documentation: Although the D2 Visa is a temporary entry solution, it still requires extensive documentation. Gathering, translating, and apostilling all the relevant documents can be time-consuming and delay the process significantly
• Administrative and logistical obstacles: Opening a Portuguese bank account and obtaining a NIF and NISS may be streamlined for residents, but foreigners might encounter issues like language barriers and extensive back-and-forth if they are unfamiliar with the banking and tax system
• Visa category selection: The D2 Visa is sometimes mistakenly considered a blanket solution for entrepreneurs. Depending on your professional and financial circumstances, you may benefit more from an alternative or an entirely different program (e.g., the Golden Visa Program)
• Long-term planning: As a temporary visa, D2 is only suited for the beginning of your relocation. You must consider your long-term residency or citizenship plans to outline the best path forward

Fortunately, none of the above challenges is insurmountable. You can overcome them by planning your application well in advance and seeking expert guidance.

While a Portuguese legal representative can assist in specific tasks like obtaining a NIF, you might benefit from a more holistic solution. If you need a step-by-step strategy for relocating to Portugal as an entrepreneur, Nomad Capitalist can help.

Secure Your Portugal Entrepreneur Visa With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is a consultancy that helps high-net-worth individuals seamlessly relocate across the globe and meet their lifestyle and business objectives. We’ve helped over 1,500 affluent individuals and families with various processes, from securing residence permits to managing their wealth effectively.

We achieve this through our Action Plan—a personalized, structured strategy built on your unique circumstances and goals. Whether you wish to obtain any of Portugal’s temporary visas or participate in one of the country’s numerous programs, we can assist once you have completed a simple questionnaire that determines if our services are the right fit.

If so, our team will take over the process from start to finish through several steps:

1. Onboarding call: We will conduct a 45-minute call to discuss your current situation and relocation specifics
2. Strategy development: Our team will diagnose your circumstances and develop the most effective strategy with granular steps and processes
3. Presentation and implementation: We will present the Action Plan and make any potential adjustments based on your feedback, after which we will implement the strategy over the 12-month period
4. Lifelong support: After executing the Action Plan, we can provide ongoing support for any updates and changes

By partnering with Nomad Capitalist, you will get a trusted partner who follows you every step of the way during the relocation process.

Build a custom international plan to legally reduce your taxes, protect your assets, and gain the freedom to live and invest where you’re treated best. Apply for your custom Action Plan today.