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Starting at 270,000 Euros
The D2 Visa is a Portugal residency visa designed for entrepreneurs. To qualify, an applicant must either open a new company in Portugal or purchase an existing business or a share of one. There is no defined minimum investment threshold, but applicants must demonstrate they have sufficient funds to start and operate their business. Additionally, they need to show proof of housing and financial means to support themselves in Portugal for at least one year.
The D2 Visa is valid for four months, during which the entrepreneur must enter Portugal and apply for a residence permit. This permit allows them to immigrate to Portugal, establish their company, and begin working. The initial residence permit is valid for two years and can be renewed for an additional three years. After five years of residency, the entrepreneur may apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residence.
Family members of the entrepreneur can also immigrate to Portugal under a residence permit for family reunification. To maintain residency status, both the entrepreneur and their family members must reside in Portugal for at least six months each year.
A developed European country with a high level of safety, is one of the key aims of foreigners applying for a D2 Visa. The country attracts expats with a mild climate, an opportunity to live by the Atlantic Ocean, and access to affordable and still high-quality healthcare and education.
The country is considered a reliable jurisdiction with a stable economy and banking system. According to the Doing Business 2020 report, starting a business in Portugal and trading across borders while a company is registered there is easy.
Individuals may apply for a beneficial Non-habitual Resident status in Portugal to reduce their taxes in the first ten years of residency. This status allows one not to pay taxes on income earned outside Portugal and pay a 20% tax on income earned in the country. Businesses can also optimise their taxes in Portugal, especially if they are registered in Madeira or the Azores.
You may stay in this zone for 90 days out of 180; time spent in Portugal doesn’t count.
Suppose an entrepreneur maintains residency for five years and speaks Portuguese at the A2 level; then, they may apply for permanent residency or citizenship. These rules are among the mildest in the EU: in comparison, you must live for 7+ years in Greece or 10+ years in Italy or Spain to apply for a passport.
Buy a Portuguese company or a share in it;
Already have a company abroad and a plan to open its branch in Portugal;
Submit a comprehensive business plan for a new company in Portugal.
The business requirements are quite soft: an applicant can choose any sector, and there are no thresholds on profitability or the creation of jobs.
However, applicants must confirm that the businesses will be economically and socially beneficial for Portugal and that they have enough money for investment in their companies due to the business plans.
Age over 18 years;
No criminal record;
To have rented or owned housing in Portugal;
To confirm they have money to live in Portugal for a year;
To buy health insurance.
An entrepreneur’s spouse, the couple’s children and parents may apply for residence permits for family reunification. Adult children and parents must prove they depend on the D2 Visa holder to get residency. Also, the family has to confirm that they have housing and enough money to live in Portugal.
You’ll need to submit some business documents to apply for a D2 Visa. The list includes the following:
a detailed business plan;
if you have already started a company, submit constituent and registration documents, contracts, invoices, financial reports, and a bank statement on the company’s account balance;
if you only plan to start a new company, submit documents to prove you have money for business investment, for example, a statement from a Portuguese bank.
Also, some personal documents and filled-in forms are required for visa and residence permit applications. Entrepreneurs prepare and submit the following:
An application form.
A passport and its copy.
A document to confirm sufficient funds to live in Portugal, for example, a bank statement.
A document to prove to have housing to live in Portugal, for example, a rental agreement.
A certificate of no criminal record from the country of residence with an apostille.
Permission to Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum of Portugal to check criminal records in Portugal.
Health insurance.
Two colour photographs, 3×5 cm.
Obtaining a Portugal D2 Visa usually takes 2–3 months if you already have a business plan or a company in Portugal. After that, some time is required to get a residence permit.
Prepare your business plan, documents to prove you have enough money to start a business, and all the required personal documents and forms. You may need to turn to experienced lawyers to gather everything for the application.
Schedule an appointment in a Portuguese consulate in the country of your residence or citizenship, and then come and submit your application.
The usual visa application processing time is up to 60 days. After that, the visa will be pasted into your passport.
The visa is valid for four months. During this time, you need to come to Portugal and submit a residency application and biometrics to the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum of Portugal by appointment. Then wait for the approval and receive the residence permit card.
Applicants have several costs; the most significant one is business investment. There’s no minimum threshold, but an entrepreneur must confirm to have enough money to run their company.
In addition, an applicant has to prove to have funds to live in Portugal. The necessary amount is counted due to the minimum salary in Portugal. Starting on January 1st, 2024, the national minimum wage will go from €760 to €820. For a year, the necessary amount is at least €9,840.
Renting or purchasing housing in Portugal is obligatory, too; however, there are no requirements for an apartment’s cost or square.
Government fees and health insurance are less significant in cost than the previous expense items. Also, you may need professional services to apply; the prices depend on the chosen provider.
Costs of obtaining a Portugal D2 Visa
Business investment: Not defined; depends on the business plan
Money to live in Portugal: €10,440
Housing: Not defined (the actual price depends on the chosen location, Average prices of renting a 1-bedroom apartment for a month: Lisbon — €750+, Porto — €600+, Funchal — €600+
Government fees: €90 — consular fee
€155.50 — fees for a residence permit card
Health insurance: €400+
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