What is the D2 Visa?
Portugal’s D2, also called the entrepreneur visa, entrepreneurial visa, or business visa, is aimed at entrepreneurs who want to start a new business in Portugal or move an existing business here. There’s also a route for freelancers (independent service providers) who earn an income by providing services to clients.
You get access to the public healthcare system, affordable schools, the beaches, and a lower cost of living, plus a path to citizenship after ten years.
There’s no fixed minimum investment or job creation requirement, and the income threshold is one of the lowest of any entrepreneurial visa in Europe: in 2026, an individual needs to earn at least €920 per month (~$1,035) to qualify.
At a glance
Best for
✔ Entrepreneurs wanting to start a new business in Portugal
✔ Entrepreneurs wanting to transfer an existing business to Portugal
✔ Freelancers with Portuguese clients or a clear Portugal connection
Not ideal for:
✖ Entrepreneurs not looking to move to Portugal full-time (the Golden Visa may be a better fit here)
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Not ideal for…
Anyone applying simply because they don’t meet the requirements for any other visa. While the D2 is flexible, your business plan will be scrutinized thoroughly. If it looks like your business won’t succeed in Portugal (e.g., due to a lack of experience or capital), there’s a high chance it’ll be rejected. The D2 also isn’t a guaranteed backup if you don’t qualify for the D8. It can work in some cases, but it’s complicated for freelancers, because consulates treat the D8 as the default route for remote work.
What qualifies
What kind of business or income qualifies?
✓ Qualifies for the D2
- A new Portuguese business you’re starting (LDA setup, business plan, the works)
- An existing business you already own, relocated or branched to Portugal
- An investment in a Portuguese business you’ll actively operate
- Freelance work with Portugal-based clients or a clear Portugal connection
- Almost any legal sector—consulting, hospitality, retail, tech, creative services, tourism
Two qualification paths
Entrepreneur or independent service provider?
The D2 has two routes. Both end in the same residency permit, but the paperwork and what AIMA looks at are noticeably different. Many people don’t realize which path they’re on until they start gathering documents, so figure this out early.
Path 1
Entrepreneurs
Starting or relocating a business in Portugal. The classic D2 use case.
Expect to set up a Portuguese company (usually an LDA), open a business bank account, hire an accountant, and submit a detailed business plan showing what the business does, why Portugal, realistic financials, and how the venture benefits the country.
Strongest case for the D2—this is who it’s designed for.
Path 2
Independent service providers
Freelancers—but the bar is higher than it used to be. Many consulates now push freelancers whose clients are all outside Portugal toward the D8 instead.
Expect to show qualifications (degrees, certificates, portfolio, past work), client contracts or signed service agreements, and a clear Portugal connection—ideally some Portuguese clients or local activity.
If you work fully remote for foreign clients with no Portugal angle, look at the D8 first.
Why entrepreneurs pick the D2
What makes the D2 stand out
🏖️
No restrictions on business type
Open a beach café in the Algarve or a boutique in Porto, or run a marketing agency from Lisbon. The business just needs to be legal and viable, and make sense in a Portuguese context.
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No job-creation requirement
Unlike many EU entrepreneur visas, the D2 doesn’t force you to hire staff. Solo businesses are perfectly fine, but you still need to show how the business benefits Portugal.
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Flexible investment levels
No official minimum. A digital consultant might need a few thousand euros; a restaurant will need significantly more. You invest whatever your business actually needs, as long as you can justify it.
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Access to the EU market
A Portuguese base inside the EU single market makes it easier (and often cheaper) to sell to EU clients, travel for meetings, and hire talent within Europe.
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Possible tax incentives
Depending on the nature of your business, you may qualify for IFICI (sometimes called NHR 2.0), Portugal’s reduced-rate tax regime for certain professionals, startups, and innovation-focused activities. Get tax advice before you count on it.
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Path to an EU passport
Permanent residency after 5 years, citizenship after 10. Citizenship means an EU passport—the right to live, work, and travel freely across all 27 EU states.
What you’ll need
D2 Visa Requirements
The main requirements for a D2 application. Each consulate and VFS office can have its own variations, and entrepreneurs and independent service providers have slightly different documentation requirements.
2-minute check
Do you qualify for the D2 Visa?
Answer a few questions about your business plans, investment, and situation, and get an answer straight away.
Personal eligibility & legal
Age & nationality
The main applicant must be 18+. The D2 is aimed at non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. If you already hold an EU passport, you can start a business in Portugal without it.
Apply from the country where you live
You apply at the Portuguese consulate or VFS Global center that covers the country where you legally live, which isn’t necessarily your country of citizenship. If you live somewhere you’re not a citizen, you’ll also need proof of legal residence there, such as a US green card or a residence permit. Find your consulate.
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You can’t apply from Portugal
It used to be possible to apply for D2 residency from inside Portugal, but that route has closed. You now need the visa in your passport before you move, and you get it from the consulate that covers the country where you live.
Clean criminal record
You’ll need a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and anywhere you’ve lived for 1+ year. These must be apostilled (Hague countries) or legalized by a Portuguese consulate (non-Hague) and recently issued (typically within 90 days). US applicants are usually asked for an FBI report specifically. Have something on your record? Read our guide to applying with a criminal record.
Authorize a Portuguese criminal-record check
A separate signed form letting Portuguese authorities check for any Portuguese record. Mostly a formality for first-time applicants.
Business setup—the D2 core
A registered Portuguese company
For entrepreneurs, the most common structure is a Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, a single-shareholder limited company. You don’t need to be in Portugal to incorporate; a lawyer or accountant can do it with a power of attorney. Setup costs run €500–€2,500, depending on who handles it.
Portuguese accountant engaged
Every Portuguese company must have a certified accountant, and you’ll want one in place before you submit the visa application. Fees typically run €100–€300 a month for a small company.
Detailed business plan
The single most important document in a D2 file. It should cover what the business does, why Portugal specifically, realistic 3–5-year financials, your relevant background, and the economic benefit to Portugal (jobs, exports, services to underserved areas). Generic templates lifted from the internet are easy to spot and increase the risk of rejection.
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“Benefit to Portugal” is the unwritten test
AIMA isn’t just checking that your business is viable; it’s weighing whether the business adds something to Portugal. Projects creating local jobs, exporting services, or operating outside saturated sectors (yet another Lisbon café) get an easier ride. Frame your plan around what Portugal gets out of it.
Investment / capital justification
There’s no official minimum, but you need to show realistic startup capital for your specific business. A consulting practice can launch on a few thousand euros; a restaurant or boutique hotel needs tens of thousands. Officers want to see numbers that make sense for the type of business you’re proposing.
Freelancers: the independent services route
If you’re applying as a freelancer rather than an entrepreneur, you’ll need proof of professional qualifications, a portfolio, signed client contracts (normally with at least one Portugal-based client), and registration with Finanças as a self-employed worker once you arrive. The bar on the business plan is lower, but you need stronger evidence of clients. Many freelancers use the simplified tax regime (regime simplificado), where only part of your income is treated as taxable; it’s worth having a tax consultation first.
Income & financial
Projected income
Your business plan and personal finances together need to show you can live in Portugal. The technical baseline is the Portuguese minimum wage (€920/month), but in practice, consulate officers want to see comfortably more than this, especially for families.
Savings (means of sustenance)
The main applicant needs at least €11,040 in liquid savings, roughly 12 months of the minimum wage. If you apply as a family, a spouse or long-term partner adds 50% of that amount, and each dependent child adds 30%. More is safer, especially since your business income won’t kick in immediately. You’ll need bank statements as evidence.
Portuguese bank account
You need a Portuguese business bank account for the company, and usually a personal account too. Wise, Revolut, and other electronic money institutions (EMIs) aren’t accepted as the company’s primary account. Established banks like Millennium BCP and BPI are common picks for D2 applicants.
Documents & paperwork
Valid passport
At least 6 months of validity beyond the 120-day visa, with 2 blank pages.
Application form & photos
The completed National Visa application form (current version from your consulate), plus 2 passport photos per applicant in the EU size (35 × 45 mm).
Personal statement / motivation letter
Why Portugal, why the D2, why your business, why you. Read alongside the business plan—together they make or break a borderline application.
Proof of accommodation in Portugal
A 12-month rental contract, property deeds, or a notarized term of responsibility from someone hosting you. Short-term Airbnb bookings almost never qualify.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance with hospitalization and repatriation coverage (minimum €30,000). Some consulates now expect 12 months of coverage rather than the older 4–6-month standard.
Family documents (if applying with dependents)
Marriage certificate (apostilled), children’s birth certificates (apostilled), and proof of unmarried partnership (2+ years of cohabitation) where relevant. If only one parent is applying with a child, the other parent’s consent is required.
Translations
Documents in Portuguese never need translating, and English documents usually don’t. Documents in other languages generally need a certified translation into Portuguese, and a few consulates have their own rules, so check with yours before you pay for translations.
Portuguese setup & ongoing
NIF (Portuguese tax number)
You’ll need a NIF early. It’s required to incorporate the company, open the bank account, sign a lease, and submit the visa application. Most applicants get one remotely before they apply. Once you’ve moved, update your NIF address to Portugal so you’re registered as a tax resident.
NISS (Portuguese social security number)
You’ll need a NISS for your AIMA appointment, although it isn’t usually asked for at the consulate or VFS appointment. As a business owner or freelancer, you’ll also use it to pay Portuguese social security.
AIMA biometrics appointment
After the visa is issued and you arrive in Portugal, you must attend a biometrics appointment with AIMA to convert it into your 2-year residence permit. Bring originals of every document, plus proof of health insurance. AIMA appointment availability is the single biggest source of delays, so book as soon as you have a travel date. If you fly into another Schengen country first, file an entry declaration (declaração de entrada) with AIMA within 3 working days of arriving in Portugal.
Health insurance (for your AIMA appointment)
You don’t need this to apply, but you’ll usually be asked for proof of health coverage at your AIMA appointment. Registration with the public health service (SNS) can count, but most people can’t register until they have their residence permit, which comes after the appointment. Some people get by with their travel insurance, but in practice, most need a private health insurance policy. Arrange it before your appointment.
Maintaining the business
The D2 isn’t a one-time test. At each renewal, you’ll need to show the business is still operating, still registered, and still generating activity, and that your accountant is still filing. Letting the company go dormant is a fast track to losing residency. See Keeping your residence permit below.
Requirements for bringing family
Which family members can you include?
The D2 lets you include a partner and certain dependents on your application. Each additional person raises the income your business needs to support and the savings you need to show. (Family who can’t move with you can join later via family reunification.)
Spouse or partner
Married, civil-partnered, or long-term unmarried partners can be added. For unmarried partners, you’ll usually need 2+ years at the same address, with paper evidence (shared bills, both on the lease).
Dependent children
Under-18s are added easily. Children 18 to around 24 can be included if they’re in full-time education; older children, or those not studying, normally need to apply separately.
Dependent parents
Can be included if they’re physically or financially dependent on you. If they have their own passive income, they may be better off on their own D7.
Income & savings, by household
| Household | EUR official | USD approx. | GBP approx. | CAD approx. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly business income (minimum) | ||||
| Single applicant | €920 | $1,035 | £781 | CA$1,472 |
| Couple | €1,380 | $1,553 | £1,171 | CA$2,209 |
| + each dependent child | €276 | $311 | £234 | CA$442 |
| + each dependent parent | €460 | $518 | £390 | CA$736 |
| Savings (≈ 12 months of the minimum wage) | ||||
| Single applicant | €11,040 | $12,422 | £9,367 | CA$17,670 |
| Couple | €16,560 | $18,633 | £14,051 | CA$26,504 |
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The minimum is rarely enough
€920/month is the technical floor, but AIMA assesses whether your projected numbers actually let you live in Portugal—after taxes, social security (21.4% for the self-employed), rent, business expenses, and the slow months. Most successful D2 applications show comfortably above the minimum.
Physical stay requirements
How much time do I need to spend here?
The D2 is a residency visa, so you’re expected to live in Portugal. The absence limits are the same as for the D7 and D8, and they’re far stricter than the Golden Visa’s (an average of about 7 days a year). There’s some flexibility if you need to spend time abroad for business, but it isn’t automatic: those absences need to be approved by AIMA, so don’t assume business travel won’t count.
During temporary residency (the first five years), you can be outside Portugal for up to 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months per permit. The initial permit lasts two years; the next one lasts three.
After five years you can apply for permanent residency, which is far less restrictive—up to 2.5 years outside Portugal in any 3-year window, with no more than 24 months in a row. Once you hold Portuguese citizenship, there are no stay requirements at all.
| Residency stage | Max consecutive abroad | Max total abroad | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary residency—first 2 years | 6 months | 8 months | About 8 months/year in Portugal, 4 months out |
| Temporary residency—next 3 years | 6 months | 8 months | About 9 months/year in Portugal, 3 months out |
| Permanent residency (after 5 years) | 24 months | 30 months per 3 years | Up to ~2.5 years outside Portugal in any 3-year window |
Renewals
Keeping your residence permit
Your first residence permit lasts two years. After that, you renew it for three years at a time, or apply for permanent residency once you reach five years. Renewal isn’t automatic: you have to show you still qualify, and for the D2, that mostly means showing the business is real and active.
An active, compliant business
The company (or your freelance activity) needs to be registered, operating, and filing, with your accountant keeping everything up to date. Expect to show invoices, accounts, and bank statements that match the activity in your business plan.
Enough income to live on
You need to show the business still supports you (and any family) at or above the minimum-wage threshold for the year you renew. That figure rises whenever Portugal’s minimum wage does.
Tax and social security in order
Proof that you’re up to date with the tax office (Finanças) and Social Security, usually no-debt certificates (certidões de não dívida) for you and, where relevant, the company.
Address, time in Portugal, and health coverage
Proof of where you live now, evidence you’ve stayed within the absence limits (or had business absences approved by AIMA), proof of health coverage (by now, usually your SNS registration), and authorization for a Portuguese criminal record check.
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Start early
Begin the renewal well before your card expires. AIMA backlogs can make renewals slow, and you don’t want your status in question while you wait.
Before you commit
Is the D2 the right route for you?
The D2 is a good fit for genuine entrepreneurs, but it’s not the only way to run a business from Portugal, and it’s more work than most visas. Before you start on a business plan, check whether one of these suits you better.
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The D7 (passive income)
The D7 also lets you run a business. If you already have passive income that meets the D7 threshold, it’s often the simpler option, and renewals are usually easier because they don’t depend on how the business is performing.
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The Golden Visa
The Golden Visa gives you far more flexibility (an average of just 7 days a year in Portugal). But its business routes come with investment and hiring requirements, and once you factor in salaries and social security, it gets expensive and complicated. The D2 asks for less, but you have to live here.
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The Startup Visa
A related route for innovative, scalable businesses, approved through a certified incubator. It comes with turnover targets you need to hit within a couple of years, but its big advantage is that co-founders can come with you. On a standard D2, other founders would usually need to be hired as employees and come on a D1 or D3 visa.
Freelancing for clients outside Portugal? The D8 is the default route, and the D2 isn’t a guaranteed backup if you don’t meet the D8’s income requirement. It can work in some cases, but it’s complicated.
The right route depends on your income, your business, and how much time you want to spend in Portugal. Speak to a lawyer or relocation consultant before you commit.
How it compares
D2 vs the D7, D8 and Golden Visa
The D2 is the entrepreneur route, but it’s worth checking what else you might qualify for before you commit to the business-plan paperwork. Side by side:
| D2 (this visa) | D7 | D8 | Golden Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income type | Active—business profits or freelance with Portugal clients | Passive—pension, rental, dividends | Active—salary from a remote job, freelance for foreign clients | Not income-based—investment instead |
| Monthly income | €920 (in practice, more) | €920 | €3,680 | — |
| Investment | No fixed amount—whatever the business needs | No | No | €500k investment, €250k arts donation, or job creation |
| Business plan | Yes—central to the application | No | No | No |
| Physical stay | Most of the year in Portugal | Most of the year in Portugal | Most of the year in Portugal | ~7 days/year on average |
| Tax residency | Yes | Yes | Yes | Avoidable |
| Typical legal fees | €1,500–€4,000 / person (higher because of the business plan) | €1,000–€4,000 / person | €1,000–€4,000 / person | Often €10,000+ / person |
Quick rules of thumb
- Building or moving a business to Portugal → D2
- Living off pension or other passive income → D7
- Remote worker or freelancer with foreign clients → D8
- Want EU residency without moving now → Golden Visa
For the full breakdowns: D2 vs D8 · D2 vs Golden Visa
The end goal
Does the D2 lead to citizenship?
Short answer
Yes—permanent residency after 5 years, Portuguese citizenship after 10, which means an EU passport.
For citizenship you’ll need at least an A2 level of Portuguese—the second-most basic level, with a 55% pass mark. A 150-hour approved language course is an alternative to the exam.
The rules may tighten. A test on Portugal, its culture, and civic life is expected to be introduced, although it hasn’t been confirmed yet, and future applicants may need to show more evidence of ties to Portugal and integration. After ten years of living here, you’ll already have strong ties, but it’s worth checking the requirements as you approach year ten.
Note: citizenship applications currently take 12–36 months once submitted.
The journey
How the D2 application actually works
The high-level flow, from gathering documents to receiving your residence permit. Individual experiences vary by consulate and how busy AIMA is.
Gather documents
Business plan, savings proof, criminal record, insurance, accommodation. Most people hire a lawyer at this stage, because the D2 has a higher refusal rate than the D7 or D8.
Submit & interview
File at your consulate or VFS office. Most applicants attend a short in-person interview, so be ready to explain your business simply.
Wait ~60 days
Decision usually comes within 60 days, sometimes longer if additional checks are needed.
Move on 120-day visa
Approved: a 120-day D2 visa goes in your passport. Move to Portugal and attend your AIMA appointment (usually within 120 days, but it can be longer).
Receive residency
AIMA converts the visa into a 2-year residence permit. After that, you renew it for 3 years at a time. Once you have your card, register with the SNS at your local health center (centro de saúde). At year 5 you can apply for permanent residency (renewed every 5 years) instead, and for citizenship at year 10.
Getting help
Do you need a lawyer for the D2?
No. There’s no legal requirement to use a lawyer or relocation firm. But the D2 has a higher refusal rate than the D7 or D8, and most refusals come down to avoidable problems: a vague business plan, projections that don’t add up, weak evidence that the business benefits Portugal, or missing apostilles. Most D2 applicants get professional help, and it’s usually money well spent.
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Do it yourself
Cost: just the official fees. Realistic only if you’re confident writing a strong business plan and comfortable chasing paperwork and consulate rules on your own.
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Document check
Cost: around €1,000. You prepare the application, and a professional reviews the whole file, including the business plan, before you submit.
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Work with a lawyer
Cost: typically €1,500–€4,000 per person. A lawyer guides you through the process from start to finish, often including company setup, your NIF, the bank account, and the AIMA appointment.
Not sure which you need? Book a consultation and we’ll help you work out what makes sense for your situation.
Common questions
D2 FAQ
Do I have to hire employees?
No. Unlike many EU entrepreneur visas, the D2 doesn’t require you to create jobs. Solo businesses are perfectly acceptable. You do still need to show how your business benefits Portugal—through taxes, local spending, specialized skills, partnerships, or cultural value.
Is there a minimum investment amount?
No official minimum. You’re expected to invest what your specific business realistically needs—a digital consultant might need a few thousand euros; a restaurant will need significantly more. The immigration officer reviewing your file decides whether your numbers make sense, so everything needs to be well justified.
Can I apply for the D2 from inside Portugal?
Not anymore. You used to be able to, but that route has closed. You now apply from the country where you legally live, and you need the visa in your passport before you move. Find your consulate.
Can I run a business on a D7 instead?
Yes. The D7 lets you work and run a business in Portugal, as long as your passive income meets the D7 threshold on its own. If you already have passive income coming in, the D7 is often the simpler option, and renewals are usually easier because they don’t depend on how the business is performing. Speak to a lawyer or relocation consultant before you choose.
Should I use the D2 or the D8 as a freelancer?
If your clients are all outside Portugal and your work is fully remote, the D8 (Digital Nomad Visa) is usually a better fit, and it’s the route consulates expect remote freelancers to use. The D2 is the freelancer route only if you have a clear Portugal connection, such as local clients, local activity, or a Portugal-based operation. It isn’t a guaranteed backup if you don’t meet the D8’s income requirement.
What sort of business qualifies?
Almost any legal business. The D2 doesn’t restrict sectors. Consulting, hospitality, retail, e-commerce, tourism, design, coaching, creative services—all fit. The only requirement is that the business is legal, viable, and makes sense in a Portuguese context.
What’s the D2 refusal rate?
Higher than the D7 or D8. Most rejections come down to a vague or unviable business plan, weak financial projections, or insufficient evidence that the business genuinely benefits Portugal. This is why most applicants work with a lawyer or specialist consultant on the business plan, the document AIMA scrutinizes most closely.
Will I need to pay taxes in Portugal?
Almost certainly. Spending more than 183 days a year in Portugal makes you a tax resident. Tax treaties with the US, UK, Canada, and many other countries prevent double taxation. Depending on the nature of your business, you may qualify for IFICI (sometimes called NHR 2.0), Portugal’s reduced-rate regime for certain professionals, startups, and innovation-focused activities. Freelancers often use the simplified regime (regime simplificado). Either way, get tax advice for your specific case.
Do I need to speak Portuguese?
Not for the visa, but you’ll need A2 Portuguese for permanent residency and citizenship. A2 is the second-most basic level, with a 55% pass mark, or you can complete a 150-hour approved course instead. For everyday business in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and most coastal towns, you can get by in English while you learn.
Are there restrictions on where I can live?
No. You can live anywhere in Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores. Most D2 applicants base their business in Lisbon, Porto, or the Algarve, but it’s not a requirement.
Keep reading
More on the D2
Deep-dives, comparisons and recent news about the D2.
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