The D2: Portugal’s Residency Visa for Entrepreneurs [2024 Update]

The D2 is a residency visa that allows entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent service providers from outside of the EU/EEA/Switzerland to immigrate to Portugal. It is suitable for those that want to start a business in Portugal, move an existing business here, or, alternatively, invest in an existing business in Portugal.

• There’s no restriction on what that business could be. (So if you have plans to open a shop, cafe, or modelling agency, or work as an independent contractor, this could be your ticket to a new life in Portugal.
• There’s no job creation requirement.
• There’s no minimum investment requirement, although you should have sufficient capital for the business you’re starting.
• There’s no need to get approved by a business incubator (although your business plan will need to be approved).

Because of this flexibility, Portugal’s D2 visa is seen as one of the most attractive immigrant entrepreneur visas within Europe. And if you’re willing to base your business in Madeira or the Azores islands, you may also be able to benefit from those regions’ favourable tax laws. Alternatively, regions like Porto, the Algarve, and especially Lisbon, are increasingly popular destinations for digital nomads and European startups. For most people, however, the biggest benefit will be in getting to reside in Portugal.

Being resident in Portugal comes with a number of benefits for you and your dependents including:

• Access to the Portuguese national health service (SNS).
• Access to Portuguese universities and education institutes.
• Visa free entry and circulation within the Schengen Area.
• The option to apply for Portugal’s new NHR regime, if relevant.
• Option to apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of residency. Alternatively, you can apply for permanent residency, although most people choose to apply for citizenship.

The D2 is one of several residency visas aimed at entrepreneurs, investors, and freelancers, along with the digital nomad visa, golden visa, and startup visa. In this article, we’ll discuss the requirements of the D2 permit and compare it to other similar visas to see one is best for you.

Costs

Lawyer costs vary from around €895 for more of a no-frills service to around €3,000 for a service where you’re handheld throughout the entire application, including having someone attend your AIMA (previously SEF) interview with you.

It is also possible to apply for Portugal’s entrepreneur visa yourself. However, as the D2 is a little less straightforward than other residency visas, it’s recommended that you work with a qualified professional to make sure your business plan is viable and meets the requirements in terms of bringing social and economic contributions to Portugal.

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