Company formation in Portugal: your company, ready to trade
An Lda. or single-member company, at a registry desk or online. We coordinate everything, from shareholders' NIFs to the certified accountant, from Lisbon or Dubai.
Complimentary assessment: Company formation in Portugal
Tell us your plans. A Baker & Co advisor will show you the best route, with no obligation.
100% confidential. An advisor will call you within 24 hours.
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What we take care of
An overview. In your complimentary assessment we confirm what applies to your case.
- A NIF for every shareholder and manager, even from abroad
- Choosing the name: pre-approved list or admissibility certificate
- Formation via Empresa na Hora or online
- Beneficial owner registration (RCBE) within 30 days
- Company bank account and share capital deposit
- Certified accountant, start of activity, VAT and Social Security
- Registered office: address options in Portugal
- Linking it all to your D2 visa application, if relevant
The 2026 figures
Registry fees published by the Portuguese Registry Institute (justica.gov.pt), reviewed October 2026. They exclude accountant fees, translations and apostilles.
LDA or single-member company?
The two forms most foreign entrepreneurs use. Shareholders' liability is limited to the share capital.
Private limited company (Lda.)
Two or more shareholders, each holding a quota.
- Share capital set freely, with a minimum of €1 per quota
- Ideal for co-founders or families investing together
- Pre-approved or bespoke articles of association
Single-member company (Unipessoal Lda.)
One shareholder, an individual or a company.
- Share capital from €1
- Ideal for founders and independent professionals
- Keeps your personal assets separate from the business
Two ways to form it
We choose with you the route that fits how much time you can spend in Portugal.
Empresa na Hora
At a registry desk, in one sitting, with all shareholders present.
- A name from the pre-approved list, or one approved by admissibility certificate
- Pre-approved articles of association
- You leave with the articles, the access code to the permanent certificate, the company card code and the company's Social Security number
Online (Empresa 2.0)
No travel, with digital authentication and signature.
- Portuguese Citizen Card, Digital Mobile Key (also available linked to a passport) or European eIDAS login
- Every shareholder needs a Portuguese NIF
- Registration in 5 days with pre-approved articles, or 10 days with bespoke articles, if nothing is missing
After registration
The deadlines that matter in your company's early weeks.
- Deposit the share capital in the company account within 5 working days (or deliver it to the company by the end of the first financial year)
- File the beneficial owner declaration (RCBE) within 30 days
- Start-of-activity declaration by the certified accountant within 15 days, if not done at formation
- VAT set-up and Social Security registration for the company and its managers
Registered office in Portugal
Your company needs a registered office address in Portugal, stated in the articles. We help you choose the right option: your own office, a rented space or a business-address service, and prepare the documents that prove it.
Foreign founders and the D2 visa
A Portuguese company is often the base of a D2 visa application. The consulate looks at the company contract or investment and your means of subsistence (€920 a month in 2026 for the first adult). After the visa, AIMA asks for proof that the activity has started with the tax authority and Social Security. We plan both together.
How we work: Baker and Co Associates LDA is a management and immigration consultancy: we support, organise and coordinate your process. When your case needs acts reserved to lawyers, our independent lawyer registered with the Ordem dos Advogados (Portuguese Bar Association) handles them and we coordinate the whole process.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident foreigner set up a company in Portugal?
Yes. Any individual or legal entity can set up a company. Each shareholder needs a Portuguese NIF and, depending on the route, must attend the registry desk or sign digitally.
Do I have to travel to Portugal?
For Empresa na Hora, all shareholders must attend. Online, you sign with the Digital Mobile Key or eIDAS; when shareholders are represented under a power of attorney, only the attorney signs.
What is the minimum share capital?
Each quota must be at least €1. A single-member company can have €1 of capital; a company with two shareholders, €2.
How much is the registry fee?
€360 at Empresa na Hora. Online, €220 with pre-approved articles (€440 urgent) or €360 with bespoke articles (€720 urgent). Accountant fees and any translations are extra.
Do I need a certified accountant?
Yes. The certified accountant is named at formation or files the start-of-activity declaration within the next 15 days, and then keeps the company's books and tax filings.
Does a company give me a visa?
Not automatically. The company can support a D2 visa application, which the consulate and then AIMA assess.
We can also help with
D2 Visa
Build your business in Portugal and your life in Europe.
Learn more →NIF (tax number)
The tax number you need for almost everything in Portugal.
Learn more →Bank account
Open your Portuguese account, personal or for your company.
Learn more →Tax and IFICI
IFICI, tax residence and IRS, with a certified accountant.
Learn more →Official sources
- Justiça.gov.pt: Empresa na Hora, como funciona e custo (€360)
- Registo.justica.gov.pt: Criar Empresa na Hora
- Registo.justica.gov.pt: Criar empresa online (Empresa 2.0), custos
- gov.pt: Criação da Empresa Online, perguntas frequentes
- Justiça.gov.pt: Capital social
- gov.pt: Criar uma empresa na hora
- RCBE: Registo Central do Beneficiário Efetivo
- MNE Vistos: Visto de residência, documentação
- AIMA: Autorização de residência, atividade profissional independente (art. 89.º)
Information reviewed on 18 October 2026. Rules can change; we always confirm what applies to your case.