The D2: Portugal’s Residency Visa for Entrepreneurs

Attention all entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent spirits! If you’re from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland and dreaming of a life filled with pastéis de nata and business opportunities, the D2 visa might just be your golden ticket to a new life in Portugal.

The D8 is aimed at entrepreneurs with business plans that can generate at least €870 per month (for an individual) and who have sufficient savings (at least €10,440 for an individual) and startup capital.

At Portugalist, we’ve been helping folks like you make Portugal their home since 2016. That’s a lot of visas, a lot of moves, and yes, a lot of custard tarts! But in that time, we’ve learned a thing or two about Portugal’s D2 and how to successfully apply for it.

Want to apply? Ready to make Portugal your new home? Fill in the form and let’s get started.

What’s so Great About the D2?

Most countries, both in the EU and outside, have some kind of immigrant entrepreneur visa, so what’s so great the Portuguese entrepreneur visa? Let’s start with the practicalities for business owners, then we’ll cover what’s so great about being resident in Portugal.

Business Freedom: Start a new venture, move your existing business to Portugal, or invest in a Portuguese company. The choice is yours!
No Restrictions: Open that beachside café or run your global marketing agency from a Lisbon apartment.
Low profit requirements: Your business doesn’t have to make a cool million, but it does have to support you (and any dependent family members). Thankfully, Portugal’s cost of living is relatively low but don’t forget you’ll need to pay taxes and social security, and then need to afford rent and groceries after.
No Job Creation Required: It’s just you, your business, and Portugal. No need to hire a team (unless you want to).
Fast-ish processing time: Unlike the golden visa, D2 visa applications are typically processed within 60-90 days. So this is a faster way to get yourself to Portugal.
English Widely Spoken: We recommend you learn Portuguese, but it’s nice to know that many people in Portugal speak a fantastic level of English (as well as often Spanish and French as well).
NHR Possible: The old (and frankly, better) NHR regime is a thing of the past, but the new Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation (sometimes called NHR 2.0) is geared towards entrepreneurs. Speak to a tax advisor to make sure, though.
Flexible Investment: No minimum amount required. Just make sure you’ve got enough to make your business dreams a reality.
No Incubator Needed: Your business plan is the star here. No need for an incubator’s stamp of approval.
Startup-friendly: Okay, we did just say there’s no need to work with an incubator. However, the D2 also has a “startup visa” component. If you have an idea for the next Google or Facebook, maybe this is the option for you. Chat to us about it if you’re unsure.
A Continent of opportunity: You’ll have the whole of the European market to sell your product within or to attract employees.
Apply in Portugal: Most people apply for the D2 from the country in which they’re resident, but the D2 does allow you to apply from Portugal if you’re already here (unlike, say, the D7 visa).
Flexible Stay Requirements: The D2 isn’t as flexible as the Portugal golden visa program (which only requires you to spend an average of 7 days per year in Portugal). However, as it’s geared towards business owners, it’s understood that you may need to leave the country from time to time. So, in short: not as flexible as the golden visa, but more flexible than some other visas (like the D7).

What’s not to great about the D2? Many websites suggest the D2 is the easiest or fastest way to get residency in Portugal, but it’s not.

For the Portuguese government, a D2 is a much riskier proposition that let’s say a D7, where someone already has rental income or income from a pension. You’re asking them to take a gamble on you. And, while they’re willing to do that, they will analyse and scrutinise every last detail of your visa application.

Bonus Tips

Island Life: Fancy basing your business in Madeira or the Azores? While Portugal’s D2 visa allows you to live anywhere within the Portuguese territory, there may be tax incentives to settling in Madeira or the Azores.
Mainland Magic: Porto, Lisbon, the Algarve, and other mainland spots have their own charms (and potential perks). All are up-and-coming locations for startups and digital nomads, so it’s worth considering these places as future homes.

Is the D2 the Best Visa for You?

Maybe! You would need to speak to an immigration-focused lawyer or relocation company to decide.

Want more flexibility? The golden visa has an entrepreneurial component and only requires you to spend an average of 7 days per year in Portugal. Only needing to spend 7 days per year in Portugal also means you can avoid tax residency in Portugal (should you wish). However, the golden visa has a long processing period.
Freelancer? Even though the D2 has an option for freelancers, most lawyers will suggest you apply for the digital nomad visa (D8) instead (assuming you have sufficient income). This is especially the case if your freelancing income is likely to come from outside of Portugal.
Looking for R&D: Want some of the top minds at Portuguese universities researching your big idea? If you have an idea that isn’t ready for market yet, the HQA visa may be a better option for you.
Just looking for a way to move to Portugal? Look, we get it! It’s hard to find a job in Portugal as a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, and if you don’t qualify for another visa like the D7 or golden visa, you may think the D2 is your only choice. But starting a business is tough and D2 applications are really scrutinised, so don’t assume this is an easy backup way to move to Portugal.

Confused? Get in touch and have a chat.

What’s so great about Residency in Portugal?

We don’t have to tell you that living in Portugal is great. But just in case you need a little more convincing (or some ammo to persuade your skeptical spouse), here’s a taste of what’s in store for you and your family:

Health is Wealth: Access to the Portuguese national health service (SNS). Because nothing says ‘peace of mind’ like knowing you’re covered from your cabeça to your pés.
Brain Food: You’ll probably be busy running your business, but holding a Portuguese residence permit allows you to make use of the public education system. That means university fees at local’s prices as well as schooling for your kids.
Europe at Your Doorstep: Enjoy visa-free travel and circulation within the Schengen Area thanks to your new Portuguese residency permit. Weekend in Rome? Skiing in the Alps? It’s all just a hop, skip, and a jump away!
Tax Perks (Potentially): Option to apply for Portugal’s new NHR regime, if relevant. Typically, this means paying a flat-rate of 20% as opposed to progressive tax rates. Don’t forget to include social security too.
Portuguese Nationality: After five years of residency, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship (and even slightly before). Or just go for permanent residency if you prefer. Though let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to be a Portuguese citizen?
Language Requirement: While you will need to show at least an A2 level of Portuguese to apply for citizenship, there’s no language requirement to move to Portugal.

And then there are all the other benefits that come with living in Portugal like the weather, the beaches, the safety, and the laid-back, family-focused culture.

What about family?

Don’t worry! We didn’t forget about your partner and kids!

Who Can Join Your Portuguese Adventure?

Your better half (spouse or long-term partner)
Your little ones (dependent children)
Your folks (dependent parents)

Note: Portugal has specific requirements for each of these people.

Long-term partner: Been sharing a roof (and probably the remote) for 3+ years? You’re in! Pro tip: Dust off those old utility bills. They’re your golden ticket to prove your love nest.
Dependent children: Under 18? Pack their bags! Still hitting the books full-time? Age ain’t nothing but a number. There are allowances (with limitations) for big kids too.
Dependent parents: This means parents who are dependent on you, whether for care or financially.

Who Can Apply?

Thinking this entrepreneur visa might be your golden ticket to Portugal? Let’s see if you fit the bill:

Entrepreneurs with Big Dreams: Got a brilliant idea for a startup that’ll take Portugal by storm? The D2 is rolling out the red carpet for you!
Global Business Moguls: Already crushing it with an existing business elsewhere and want to bring your magic to Portugal? Come on in and open that branch office!
Independent Professionals: Freelancers, consultants, and other self-employed superstars, this one’s potentially for you! But let’s chat if the D8 visa (or digital nomad visa as the cool kids call it) is a better fit first.
Digital Nomads: Yes, you too can apply! But psst… you might want to chat with us about the D8 visa. It could be an even better fit for your laptop lifestyle.
EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens: Hold up! European Union citizens (and those from the EEA and Switzerland) are already part of the European club. No need to apply for Portugal’s D2 – just mosey on over to your local câmara municipal (that’s town hall to most people) for your CRUE certificate once you’re in Portugal.

Not sure if you qualify? Let’s chat and figure it out together!

Main Requirements

Portugal’s entrepreneur visa is divided into two primary categories to accommodate two different groups of people: entrepreneurs and independent service providers.

Entrepreneurs

Ready to launch the next big thing in Lisbon or open that surf shop in the Algarve? Here’s your game plan:

Get a NIF (Everyone needs a Portuguese tax identification number and you’ll likely also need a fiscal representative as well. Don’t worry: we can help!)
Open a business bank account (Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to open a Portuguese bank account online, but again: we can help!)
Set up a Portuguese limited company (LDA)
Hire a Portuguese tax accountant (you’ll need someone to help you pay your corporate tax, social security, etc.)
Craft a solid business plan (make it so good, it could win Portuguese Shark Tank or more importantly, convince AIMA (previously called SEF) that your business will succeed. This is where a skilled lawyer with experience in submitting D2 visa applications comes in handy.)
Show you’ve got the cash to make it happen (You will need to show adequate financial resources to initiate and sustain the business. Some companies suggest €5,000 while others suggest €50,000, but in reality, sufficient capital depends on the business you’re starting)
Declare your investment plans (the more impact on Portugal, the better!)

With most visa applications, the Portuguese government want to see that you can support yourself i.e. will you be earning enough money to live in Portugal and not become a burden on the Portuguese state.

That’s a part of the D2 visa too, but this visa goes a little further. Your visa application will also be evaluated based on the economic, social, scientific, technological, or cultural impact of your business. Besides supporting you and any dependents, will you create jobs, for example? That could be the golden ticket to a successful D2 application.

For Independent Service Providers

Freelancer extraordinaire? This one’s for you! It’s a bit easier:

Get that NIF number (yep, everyone needs one and most likely, a tax representative too! Don’t worry: we can help!)
Open a Portuguese bank account (for all those client payments and to add a year’s worth of savings. Again, we can help.)
Prove you know your stuff (qualifications, portfolio, you name it. You’ll need to convince AIMA that you will succeed as a freelancer while living in Portugal)
Show off your client contracts (You’ll need to show existing client contracts so AIMA can ascertain whether you’ll continue to have income coming in)

Here’s the deal: now that there’s a D8 (digital nomad visa) it’s harder and harder to qualify for the D2 as an independent service provider as the D8 is aimed at freelancers too. In some cases, the D7 may also be viable (even though it’s generally no longer an option for freelancers).

Talk to us, and we’ll help you decide the best visa route for you.

Additional Requirements:

Age: You’ll need to be 18 or older.
Valid Passport: Hey! You want to be able to come to Portugal, don’t you? This needs to be valid for at least 6 months after the expiry date of the 120-day visa, but if your passport is so close to expiring, maybe it’s time to renew?
Two recent passport-size colour photos: Your best mugshot! Don’t forget not to smile.
Criminal records check:
- A criminal record certificate from the country in which you are resident.
- A criminal record certificate for any other countries in which you have resided.
- Permission to run a criminal records check in Portugal too.
- US Residents will need an FBI report.
Address in Portugal:
- Own a place? Fantastic! Just show the deeds.
- Renting? Typically you’ll need to show a one-year contract, minimum, but some Portuguese consulates may accept six months.
- Crashing with friends? You’ll need an invitation letter (aka “term of responsibility”)
Insurance:
- Travel insurance: You’ll need travel insurance when applying for your visa initially. This is to cover you during the move to Portugal and while you wait for your AIMA appointment. This needs to include repatriation and a minimum coverage of €30,000 per person.
- Health insurance: You’ll need to purchase health insurance for your AIMA interview.
Savings: You’ll need to show sufficient funds (at least a year’s worth of savings) for you and any dependent family members.
Earning Potential: Obviously, your business will need to be making money or show the potential of making money. See below for th required earnings.
Personal Statement: Tell AIMA why you want to immigrate to Portugal. These are always tricky, but a good lawyer will know exactly what to write.

Do you need to keep paying for health insurance once you have your residence permit? Technically not, but it’s increasingly recommended due to long waiting lists within the public healthcare system. So, consider factoring this into your budget for living in Portugal.

Required Earnings

Let’s talk money. How much does your freelancing business or Portuguese company need to make?

Applying as an individual

There’s no set requirement, but the minimum salary (after pesky things like taxes and social security) has to equal the Portuguese minimum wage. That’s just €870 per month as of 2025 or an annual minimum salary of €870 * 12 or €10,440.

But here’s the thing – if you’re going to tell AIMA (that’s the folks who’ll be deciding on your visa) that you will be fine earning just €870 per month, they might give you the same look your Portuguese grandmother would if you told her you weren’t hungry. In other words, they’re not buying it!

You see, €870 is cutting it close. What happens if you lose a client? There’s no wiggle room there, no chance to build up a nest egg for those “just in case” moments.

And let’s get real for a second – while €870 is the official minimum wage, trying to live off that in Portugal is hard. Really hard. Sure, it’s possible, but it’s not going to be comfortable.

In short: €870 is technically enough, but you’ll want to show a lot more.

Applying as a couple or family

Now, if you’re planning on bringing your entourage – I mean, your lovely family – you’ll need to bump those numbers up.

For your spouse or partner, add an extra 50% or €435to your monthly income.
For each of your little ones? Tack on another 30% or €261 for each dependent child.

Again, technically that’s just an additional €435 for a spouse or partner and €261 for a child, but the reality is, you’ll want more than that.

These days, most people will include family members on the same application and all move at the same time. If, for whatever reason, you move separately you can apply for the family reunification visa (D6) later on.

Example figures

	Individual	Couple
Required Earnings	€870 p/month	€1,305 p/month
Savings Requirement	€10,440	€15,660

Application Process

The following is an example application process. Of course, your mileage may vary and your application may not be exactly identical.

1. Gather the documents

You’ll need to gather all those documents (think birth certs, that rock-solid business plan, travel insurance, and criminal records checks. See the list above for more info).
Hire a lawyer: It’s not essential, but because this visa has a high rejection rate, we definitely think it’s a good idea.

2. Submit and Cross Your Fingers

Submit those documents to the required Portuguese consulate or VSF Office. Remember: they’ll be looking at whether you can support yourself and whether your business will benefit the Portuguese economy.

3. Attend Your First Interview

Attend an interview at the Portuguese consulate or VSF Office where they’ll check through your documents.

4. Play The Waiting Game

Patience, young padawan. Approval usually comes within 60 days but could take longer.

5. Portugal, Here We Come!

Approved? You’ll be given a 120-day visa in which you can move to Portugal. Hopefully, you’ll also have been granted your AIMA interview but if not, you’ll need to schedule one within that 120-day period.

6. Attend your AIMA Interview

Another interview? Yep. This one is with AIMA (Portuguese borders and immigration) as opposed to the consulate in your home country.

7. Receive Your Residency Permit

You’ll then receive your residence permit. Usually this comes a few weeks after the AIMA interview.
Congrats! You’re officially a Portuguese resident.
Your permit will be valid for 2 years, then renewable for 3 more. That means you’ll have to attend a residency permit renewal with AIMA in 2 years time. After 5 years, you’ll be able to apply for both permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship.

8. Apply for Citizenship

You can apply for citizenship through naturalization after 5 years of residency in Portugal.
As of 2025, the clock starts ticking from the moment you apply for a D2 visa (rather than when you receive your Portugal residence permit as before).
Citizenship applications take around 12-24 months currently, but may take longer.
Once you have Portuguese nationality, you’ll be able to live, work, and study anywhere in the EU/EEA/Switzerland.

Costs Involved

Let’s talk money, shall we? There are a few costs you’ll need to factor in.

Government Fees: These are minimal at just €90 for the consular fee and €155.50 for the residence permit card. However, it’s important to factor them in.
Savings: We discussed this early, but at least a year’s worth of savings. For an individual, that’s €870 * 12 or €10,440. More if you’re applying as a couple or family.
Earnings: Your business needs to make money.
Startup capital: This is more for entrepreneurs than freelancers, but you’ll need enough financial resources to get your business off the ground. Let’s say at least €5,000.
Lawyer Fees: You don’t need to hire a lawyer, but it’s probably a good idea. Expect to pay anywhere from around €1,000 to €3,000. More if you’re applying as a couple or family. Even if you don’t use a lawyer, there’ll still be costs involved in getting a NIF or opening a bank account.

Then there are lots of other costs. Health insurance, for example. Getting those criminal records checks done. If you’re renting an apartment for your proof of address, there will likely be a few months where the apartment is vacant so you may be paying double rent. Flights to Portugal. The costs in opening a company and accountancy fees. Tax planning to take advantage of a double taxation agreement (especially important if you’re a US citizen).

Basically there are a lot of small costs and it all adds up.

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the D2.

“How long should my lease be?”

It’s like a game of bureaucratic roulette! Some consulates say 6 months, others want a full year. However, assume you’ll need to show a 12-month lease.
Pro tip: Finding a 6-month lease can be trickier than finding a parking spot in Lisbon on a Saturday night. So even if your consulate or VSF office will accept that, you’ll struggle to find a landlord who’ll rent for such a short period of time.

“What if they reject my visa?”

Don’t panic! Portuguese law gives you a chance to state your case.
Our advice? Work with a Portuguese lawyer from the get-go. That way your application has less chance of being rejected.

“Can I move to Portugal with a criminal record?”

If your crime carries less than a 12-month sentence, you’re probably okay.
Be upfront about it! Craft a personal statement that shows you know your Portuguese law. A lawyer will help with this!

“What are the minimum stay requirements?”

Within the first 2-year period, you should not leave Portugal for more than 6 months in a row or 8 months in total. The second residence permit is granted for 3 years at a time, and the same rules apply.
In practice, this isn’t something the Portuguese authorities have checked up on.
The D2 has a little more flexibility than most other visas when it comes to business travel as it’s understood that entrepreneurs may have business interests outside of Portugal.

“Can I work on the D2 visa?”

Yes, most visas (like the D7 and D8) allow you to have a second job in Portugal as long as you’re meeting the main visa requirements (in this case, running a successful business).
However, if you’re already running a business, will you really have time for a second job as well?

“Do I need to speak Portuguese?”

You don’t need to speak Portuguese to qualify for the D2, but if you’re planning to operate a business in Portugal, isn’t Portuguese something you’ll need?
If you want to apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency after 5 years, you’ll need to show a basic level of Portuguese. Most people take the A2, which is a very basic Portuguese language test, but it is also possible to attend a government-approved language course as well.

Got more questions? We’ve got answers! Let’s chat about your Portuguese dreams.