Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: April 1, 2025

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2026

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If you’re open to starting a business or working as a freelancer in Portugal, you might want to consider the Portugal D2 visa. The Portugal D2 visa, also known as the Immigrant Entrepreneur visa, is designed for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who want to set up a company, offer professional services, or even work with a Portuguese business as a service provider.

Unlike many short-stay visas, you don’t necessarily have to apply from your home country. In some cases, you can do it directly in Portugal. Once your Portugal entrepreneur visa is approved, and you are settled down, you can start your journey towards residency, and even citizenship.

 

D2 visa duration

The Portugal D2 Visa allows you to stay for 4 months (120 days) in Portugal. During this time, you should schedule an appointment with AIMA and start the application process for your residency.

Once you enter, you have 4 months—those 120 days—to apply for a residence permit. The residence permit then grants you the right to stay for 2 years initially, renewable for 3-year periods.

Where can you apply for the D2 visa from?

In-country applications are only allowed if you already hold a valid residence permit, like a work visa. Tourists cannot apply for the D2 Visa from within Portugal.

Your ability to apply for the D2 Visa in Portugal depends on your current situation. If you’re already a legal resident in Portugal (like on a work or study visa), you can apply directly through the AIMA to switch to the D2 Visa.

If you’re visiting Portugal as a tourist or on a short-term visa, you cannot apply for the D2 Visa there. Instead, you need to apply from your home country through a Portuguese embassy or consulate first. If you’re already living in Portugal legally, you can renew or change your visa status to D2 without leaving the country. The Portuguese government lists the countries with consulates on their site.

D2 visa requirements and documents

To get the Portugal D2 Visa approved, the authorities will look at your business and how it can benefit the country. You'll need to show that your service brings value, whether it's economically, socially, scientifically, technologically, or culturally. Your application will be judged on how your business could impact Portugal, and your apparent ability to support yourself and any dependents. One important requirement is to have a Tax Representative in Portugal, or you can opt for notifications through the Portuguese Tax Authority’s portal, to take out your NIF (Portuguese Taxpayer Number).

You will need to show the following documents on the day of your appointment:

• Complete the visa application or use the E-Visa microsite.
• Valid national passport: At least six months valid after the visa’s expiration.
• 2 passport-sized photos: Taken within the last six months, one attached to the application.
• Proof of Legal Residence: Proof of residence in the country where you live, valid after the Portugal D2 visa’s expiry date.
• Criminal Record Certificate: Issued within the last 3 months from your home country or any country where you've lived for over a year.
• Travel Insurance: Must cover medical expenses, emergencies, and repatriation.
• Proof of financial resources: Show at least 12 months of the Portuguese minimum wage, plus an extra 50% for a spouse and another 30% for each dependent child. You should also show the capital required for your business endeavours.
• How many financial resources, you ask? Portugal’s minimum wage in 2025 is €870, so multiply it by 12, and you get €10,440. That is, according to many sources from Portugal, what you should at least demonstrate you have. You should also consider €5,000 as your startup capital. None of these figures are set in stone. They are recommended numbers that sources in Portuguese often reaffirm as the starting point.
• Portuguese tax identification number (NIF): Required for tax purposes. You’ll need it later on, though.
• Proof of accommodation: Booking, rental contract, lease agreement, etc.
• Business plan: Entrepreneurs should show their business plan and proof of investment—plenty of sources say that €5,000 will do it—or of having access to the necessary funding to make it. Freelancers should show ongoing contracts to prove they will have flowing income plus professional qualifications.

It's a good idea to open a Portuguese bank account to prove your financial resources, as embassies usually them rather than foreign banks. However, if you have a sponsor in Portugal signing the terms of responsibility, you don’t need to show your financial proof. The sponsor (a Portuguese citizen or legal resident) must guarantee your food, accommodation, and repatriation if needed, and their signature must be officially recognised.

How to Apply for the Portugal D2 Visa: A step-by-step guide

For entrepreneurs, freelancers, and investors seeking to establish a business in Portugal. This is the National visa form you'll need later on.

The application process for every national visa—D2, D7, D8, and such—is somewhat similar. It’s true—each one has different financial thresholds and different criteria. But you’ll notice some steps look alike.

Step #1 – Prepare your application

Gather the documents we outlined in the previous section.

Step #2 – Start your application

• Must be done abroad through the Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country of legal residence. Or in Portugal if you are there on a valid visa.
• Schedule an in-person appointment at your local consulate (like the Consulate of São Paulo in Brazil).
• Forms:
  • Complete the National Visa Application Form
  • If you want a specific D2 form, download it from your consulate’s site. Consulates seem to have their own form.
  • If you can’t find a D2 form, use a national visa form. The AIMA site mentions that the D2 visa is a national visa.
• Fees:
  • D2 Visa fee: €110.

Step #3 – Wait for visa approval

• Processing Time: 60–90 days (per Article 90 of Portugal’s Immigration Act).
• Outcome:
  • If approved: A D2 Visa sticker will be stapled to your passport, valid for 4 months (single entry to Portugal).
  • If denied: The consulate will provide written reasons. Appeals must be filed within 15 days.

Step #4 – Get to Portugal and apply for residency

• Schedule an AIMA Appointment:
  • Must be done within 4 months of entering Portugal.
• Documents for AIMA:
  • Passport with D2 Visa.
  • Updated proof of accommodation.
  • Proof of active business.
• Fees:
  • Residence permit fee: €155.50.
• Biometrics (Again):
  • Fingerprints and photo collected at AIMA.
• Processing:
  • AIMA Response Time: Up to 90 days (per Law 23/2007).
  • Residence Permit: Valid for 2 years (renewable for 3-year periods).
• Business Registration:
• Obtain a NIF (Tax ID) at Portal das Finanças.
  • Register your business at the Commercial Registry.

Where to apply for a Portuguese D2 visa

You should submit your Portugal D2 visa application to the Portuguese embassy, consulate, or VFS centre (a visa outsourcing company) in your country of residence. Contact any of these three institutions to set up an appointment.

If you are in Portugal, you can apply online through the E-Visa portal.

If you need an appointment with the AIMA, you should read our guide on how to obtain an appointment with AIMA in 2025.

D2 visa fees

The cost to apply for a Portugal D2 visa is €110. (It was €90 until quite recently). If your visa is denied, and you want to appeal the decision, you'll need to pay an additional €75 to cover administrative fees. However, this fee does not apply if the appeal is for a family reunification visa.

But you should also pay €155.50 for the residence permit card. And considering you need to show, at least, 12 or 14 minimum wages—€870 in 2025—and a startup capital of €5,000, plus any other costs involved—like hiring immigration experts—then you should lay aside around €17,300 for your D2 visa.

Talk to a visa consultant

The Portugal D2 entrepreneur visa is a practical pathway to live in Portugal. And it’s an excellent starting point to eventually get Portuguese citizenship. The D2 visa is one of the most affordable entrepreneur or startup visas in Europe. Some similar visas require considerably more money for expats to claim it. To become eligible for Ireland’s startup visa, for example, entrepreneurs must fund their startup with at least €50,000.

But Portugal’s visa information is not that easily searchable in English, and the application process can be a bit confusing. Let’s use a real-world example: When you want to check how much it costs to renew a permit on the English site, the government simply says that “ it depends.”

So, let a visa consultation service help you with your application and make sure you can get your D2 visa.

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