Why Portugal?
Key advantages for foreign founders.
NHR Tax Regime
Non-Habitual Resident regime: 20% flat PIT on qualifying Portuguese-sourced income for 10 years.
Golden Visa & D7 Visa
Residency pathways for investors and passive income earners. EU residency leading to citizenship.
EU & Schengen Access
Full EU membership. Euro currency. Schengen area freedom of movement.
Growing Tech Scene
Lisbon’s Web Summit city status, startup ecosystem, and digital nomad community. Growing VC presence.
100% Foreign Ownership
No restrictions. No local director required. Simplified online incorporation available.
Quality of Life
Top destination for remote workers and retirees. Affordable, safe, English-friendly.
How Portugal Compares
Side-by-side with Europe’s top jurisdictions.
| Jurisdiction | CIT | Min Capital | Formation | Foreign Own. | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 25% | None | 1–2 days | 100% | Global credibility, fintech |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | 0% / 20% | €2,500 | 1–3 days | 100% | e-Residency, digital nomads |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 19–25.8% | €0.01 | 1–2 weeks | 100% | EU HQ, holding structures |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 12.5% | None | 1–2 weeks | 100% | IP box, shipping, low CIT |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | 5% eff. | €1,165 | 2–4 weeks | 100% | Gaming, crypto, 5% tax |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 11.9–21% | CHF 20K | 2–4 weeks | 100% | Wealth mgmt, pharma, luxury |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 15% | None | 3–5 days | 100% | Tech HQs, IP, pharma |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 21% | None | 1–2 weeks | 100% | NHR tax, golden visa, D7 |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 24.94% | €12K | 2–4 weeks | 100% | Funds, SOPARFI holdings |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 15% | €2,500 | 3–7 days | 100% | EMI/fintech licensing, low cost |
Entity Types Available
Choose the right structure for Portugal.
Lda. (Limitada)
Most popular. 1+ quotaholders. No min capital. Limited liability. Simplified online formation.
- Commercial Registry (RNPC)
- Pacto Social
- Tax registration (NIF)
- Social Security enrollment
- Registered address
- Bank account introduction
S.A. (Sociedade Anónima)
For larger enterprises. Min €50,000 capital. Board required. Can list on Euronext Lisbon.
- Commercial Registry
- Estatutos
- Tax & social registration
- Board setup
- Bank account introduction
How It Works
Our managed formation process.
Empresa Online registration
Simplified online incorporation via Empresa Online portal. Or traditional notary route for complex structures.
NIF & tax registration
Tax Identification Number (NIF) issued by Autoridade Tributária. VAT registration if applicable.
Social Security enrollment
Registration with Segurança Social for employer obligations if hiring.
Commercial Registry certificate
Certidão Permanente (permanent certificate) from RNPC commercial registry.
Bank account & operations
Introduction to Millennium BCP, Novo Banco, or Santander Portugal. EUR accounts. Multi-currency available.
What’s Included
Formation Package
- ✓ Company registration & certificate
- ✓ Articles / founding documents
- ✓ Tax registration
- ✓ Registered address (1st year)
- ✓ Bank account introduction
- ✓ Compliance documentation
Documents You Receive
- 📄 Certificate of Incorporation
- 📄 Tax registration certificate
- 📄 Articles of Association
- 📄 Director & shareholder register
- 📄 Corporate seal (where applicable)
- 📄 Bank account confirmation
Tax Overview
Portugal’s tax framework.
| Tax | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Income Tax (IRC) | 21% | Standard rate. SME reduced rate 17% on first €50K |
| Municipal Surcharge (Derrama) | 0–1.5% | Varies by municipality |
| VAT (IVA) | 23% | Standard. 13% and 6% reduced rates |
| Dividend WHT | 25% | On dividends to non-residents; reduced under treaties |
| NHR (Personal) | 20% flat | On qualifying Portuguese-sourced employment/self-employment income for 10 years |
| Startup Tax Incentive | Reduced | Tax benefits for qualifying startup companies and employees |
Cost & Timeline Breakdown
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
| Item | Cost (USD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Empresa Online registration | Included | 1–3 days |
| Pacto Social drafting | Included | Included |
| NIF & tax registration | Included | 2–3 days |
| Social Security enrollment | Included | 2–3 days |
| Registered address (1 yr) | Included | Same day |
| Bank account introduction | Included | 3–5 days |
| Total Package | From $3,000 | 1–2 weeks |
All prices fixed — no hourly billing.
Speak with a Portugal Specialist
Our team will guide you through the optimal structure.
What Our Clients Say
Founders who registered through Sovera Global.
“Portugal’s NHR regime and quality of life were unbeatable. Sovera set up my Lda. via Empresa Online and handled the NIF process.”
“Lisbon was perfect for our creative agency. Sovera managed the Lda. formation, Segurança Social, and Millennium BCP banking.”
Official Resources
Government agencies for company registration in Portugal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Non-Habitual Resident: 20% flat PIT on qualifying Portuguese employment/self-employment income for 10 years. Requires becoming Portuguese tax resident.
The traditional real estate Golden Visa was discontinued. Investment fund route (€500K) and other options remain. Separate from company formation.
Passive income visa for non-EU citizens with sufficient income. Leads to Portuguese residency.
Yes. No restrictions.
Lda.: 1–2 weeks. Empresa Online can process in 1–3 days for simple structures.
21% standard. 17% SME rate on first €50K of profit.
No. Foreign directors are permitted.
Annual accounts, IRC return, VAT returns, IES statistical report. Our compliance service manages all.
Ready to register in Portugal?
Get your personalized quote with exact pricing, timeline, and required documents.
Get Your Portugal Quote →