How to start a business in Portugal?
To start a business in Portugal, first choose whether to operate as a self-employed worker or incorporate a company. A self-employed worker opens activity with the Tax Authority before starting. A company can be incorporated online through Empresa Online 2.0 or in person through Empresa na Hora; after registration, the company must complete the applicable tax and beneficial-owner steps. The right route depends on the planned ownership, management, accounting and operating model.
In short
- Choose between operating in your own name as a self-employed worker and incorporating a company.
- A self-employed worker opens activity with Finanças before starting.
- A company route requires preparation, incorporation, and separate post-registration steps.
- Check current official fees, access methods, and procedures before filing.
Choose your route: self-employed or company
| Route | Use this route when | First official action | Continue here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed / freelancer | You will carry out the activity in your own name. | Open activity with Finanças before starting. | How to register as a freelancer in Portugal |
| Company | You are creating a formal company with shareholder(s), manager(s), and articles of association. | Incorporate through Empresa Online 2.0 or Empresa na Hora. | Company registration in Portugal |
This is a routing overview, not a recommendation on the best legal or tax structure for an individual case.
What to prepare before registering a company
Prepare the details required by the chosen official route:
- company type;
- shareholder(s) and manager(s);
- economic activity code (CAE) and company object;
- share capital;
- registered office;
- company name;
- articles of association;
- Portuguese NIF for the participants;
- active digital signatures for all shareholders if using Empresa Online 2.0.
The official online guide explains the application fields and accepted digital-authentication routes. The official FAQ does not set a general ban on foreign participants, but every participant needs a Portuguese NIF. Access to the online route still depends on an accepted authentication method and an active digital signature for every shareholder. Incorporating a company does not itself establish immigration status or a right to work.
The official registration pages do not make a personal Portuguese bank account a universal prerequisite for incorporation. Share-capital timing and method follow the declaration made during incorporation, while bank onboarding depends on the bank and customer.
Register online or through Empresa na Hora
| Route | Who and how | Published fee and service period |
|---|---|---|
| Empresa Online 2.0 | Available for single-member private limited, private limited, and public limited companies. All shareholders need an active digital signature and an accepted authentication method. | The official service publishes a fee of €220 with pre-approved articles or €360 with articles drafted by the applicants. If there are no non-conformities, it states five days for pre-approved articles or ten days for applicant-drafted articles. |
| Empresa na Hora | A single in-person service desk. Shareholders attend or use an authorised representative, with a pre-approved name or valid certificate of admissibility and an available model of articles. | The official service publishes a normal fee of €360. |
Fees, access methods, and processing conditions can change. Check the linked official service before filing. The five- and ten-day periods are conditional registry-service periods, not guarantees for the applicant’s entire setup or bank onboarding.
Choosing the company name
You may select a name from the official list of pre-approved names. If the chosen name is not on that list, request a certificate of admissibility first. The official service currently lists €75 for a regular request and €150 for an urgent request; the certificate is valid for three months.
After registration: documents and deadlines
| Item | What happens next |
|---|---|
| Registration result | The company receives its articles of association, the access code to the permanent commercial certificate, the access code to the company card, and the company NISS. |
| Start of activity | A certified accountant submits the declaration through Portal das Finanças within 15 days after commercial registration and always before activity starts. |
| Beneficial owner | Submit the initial RCBE declaration within 30 days unless it was completed in the incorporation flow. RCBE is a declaration, not a certificate automatically issued with the registration documents. |
| Share capital | Follow the declaration made during incorporation, because the permitted timing and method depend on that declaration. |
| Social Security | The company’s registration and NISS are communicated automatically. Employee registration and remuneration obligations are separate. |
The deadlines and results above are described in the online-company guide, the Tax Authority’s start-of-activity guidance, the RCBE guide, and the Social Security company NISS guidance.
If you want to save your time and money and be sure that everything will be done properly and on time – you can use our service of Company Setup in Portugal.
If you choose self-employment instead
A freelancer or other self-employed worker does not follow the company-incorporation process above. The person must open activity with Finanças before starting, or no later than the start date declared, and then follow the tax and Social Security rules applicable to that activity. See How to Register as a Freelancer in Portugal for the dedicated route.
Official sources
Factual check: 7 September 2026. Official fees, authentication methods, and procedures can change; check the relevant service before filing.
- How to create a company online — Justiça
- Create a company online — gov.pt
- Create a company through Empresa na Hora — ePortugal
- Empresa na Hora — Registo
- Request a certificate of admissibility — Registo
- List of company names — Registo
- Start-of-activity declaration FAQ — Tax Authority
- RCBE guide — Justiça
- Company NISS guidance — Social Security
- Open activity with Finanças — gov.pt
- Online company creation FAQ — gov.pt
Frequently asked questions
Should I register as a freelancer or form a company in Portugal?
A self-employed worker operates in their own name, while a company is a formal structure with shareholder(s), manager(s), and articles of association. Use the freelancer registration guide or the company registration service as the next route. The best legal or tax structure depends on the individual case.
Can a foreigner start a company in Portugal?
Yes. The official FAQ does not set a general ban on foreign participants, but participants need Portuguese NIFs. The online route also requires an accepted digital-authentication method and an active digital signature for every shareholder. Company registration does not itself grant residence or work rights.
Can I register a Portuguese company online?
Empresa Online 2.0 is available for single-member private limited, private limited, and public limited companies. Every shareholder needs an active digital signature and an accepted authentication method. Empresa na Hora is the in-person alternative; online registration is not automatically available to every applicant.
How much does it cost to register a company in Portugal?
As checked on 7 September 2026, Empresa Online costs €220 with pre-approved articles or €360 with articles drafted by the applicants. The normal Empresa na Hora fee is €360. A separate certificate of admissibility costs €75 for a regular request or €150 for an urgent request. Extra services or a trademark may change the total, so recheck the official fees before filing.
What must a company do after registration?
The main confirmed steps are the start-of-activity declaration within 15 days of commercial registration and always before trading, the initial RCBE declaration within 30 days unless completed during incorporation, compliance with the declared share-capital arrangement, and verification of Social Security data. Regulated activities may have additional requirements.
Do I need a personal Portuguese bank account before registering a company?
The official registration pages do not state that a personal Portuguese bank account is a universal prerequisite for incorporating a company. Share-capital timing follows the declaration made during incorporation, while bank onboarding depends on the bank and the customer. Approval and timing cannot be guaranteed.