Open a Company in Portugal as a Foreigner: The Steps, the Official Costs and the Deadlines After
You want to register a company in Portugal and open a bank account, and you want to know the order. Online registration costs EUR 220 with a pre-approved articles template or EUR 360 with your own, and it needs a Portuguese tax number (NIF) for every partner first. Registering a company does not give you residence.
An easy registration followed by five deadlines
Registering a Portuguese company takes one step, and the rules that follow it catch most foreign founders. You need a tax number first, you must deposit capital within 5 business days, and you owe two filings within 15 and 30 days. A bank account comes after all of that.
What it looks like from the outside:
- A tax number needed before the online route opens.
- A capital deposit, an activity declaration and a beneficial owner filing, each with its own deadline.
- A tax representative or a VAT representative that depends on where you live.
How it feels:
- You worry about missing a deadline in a language you do not speak.
- You fear a bank that will not open an account for the company.
- You feel unsure whom to trust when guides give different costs.
You do not have to run the deadlines alone
We know how hard it is to start a business in a country where the rules arrive in Portuguese and the deadlines come fast. You want someone who has read the rule on the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays with you until the file is filed.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on this page is read from an official source and dated.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe a company should start from the registry's own steps and dates, not from a guide you found online.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A fixed registry fee | The registry publishes EUR 220 and EUR 360 for the online route | You know the official cost before you start |
| Two ways to register | Online, or at an Empresa na Hora counter | You pick the route that fits where you are |
| A tax number without a visit | A lawyer or solicitor can request your NIF on a power of attorney | You can start from abroad |
| A clear after-registration list | Capital, activity start and beneficial owner each have a date | Nothing catches you late |
| One point of contact | We bring in partners for the tax number, the accountant and the bank introduction | You do not chase several firms |
Where it takes you: a registered Portuguese company with a tax number and a path to a bank account. This is a company, not a residence permit.
Is it right for you?
An honest answer before you move funds.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You want to run a business in Portugal through a limited company | You want residence in Portugal from the company alone: it gives none |
| You can get a NIF for every partner before you register | You cannot attend a counter and do not have a NIF for every partner |
| You can follow three deadlines in the first 30 days | You need a guaranteed bank account: banks decide |
| You want one point of contact for the tax number, accountant and bank introduction | Your funds cannot be documented |
Not sure Portugal is the best fit? Compare all Europe routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.
What you need
You need a NIF for every partner, a company name, articles of association and the capital. Documents depend on the route.
What the registry and tax authority pages list:
- A NIF for each partner. A non-resident can request it through the Finance Portal e-balcão by a legal representative with a power of attorney, or at a tax office by appointment. A power of attorney to a lawyer or solicitor needs no signature recognition.
- A passport or residence permit for each individual partner, and a document with the address abroad.
- A company name from the pre-approved list, or a name the national company registry has approved.
- Articles of association: a pre-approved template or your own.
- Capital: cash capital deposited in the company's bank account within 5 business days.
- For a corporate partner: the company card or its access code, a general meeting decision authorising the representatives, and the representatives' ID.
The routes and rules
Two registry routes exist, and the fees are the registry's own.
| Route | Fee | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Empresa Online, pre-approved articles | EUR 220 normal, EUR 440 urgent | Not available if a partner is under 18, if a partner has no Portuguese NIF, or for mergers and demergers |
| Empresa Online, own articles | EUR 360 normal, EUR 720 urgent | Same limits |
| Empresa na Hora counter | EUR 360 normal | All future partners attend in person; EUR 200 if a brand for a product class is linked, EUR 44 per extra class |
Tax representation. A NIF request does not need a tax representative. Within 15 days of creating a tax relationship, a non-resident appoints a representative or joins electronic notifications, and this is optional for residents of EU countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. A resident of a third country who works self-employed in Portugal must appoint a VAT representative before starting.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
The registry fee is the smallest cost. Set it against the cost of a wrong start: a missed deadline or a company without a tax number.
| Item | Official amount |
|---|---|
| Online registration, pre-approved articles | EUR 220 (urgent EUR 440) |
| Online registration, own articles | EUR 360 (urgent EUR 720) |
| Empresa na Hora counter | EUR 360 |
| Accountant, bank and professional fees | Not official; agreed with the local partner |
Source: Portugal registry and Justice portal, and the Finance Portal NIF leaflet.
Set up with our partners in Portugal
We arrange the steps through partners in Portugal, so you deal with one point of contact. We arrange the NIF for each partner, the company registration, the accountant, the bank introduction, tax registration, property introductions and relocation steps. We introduce you, the partner delivers, and each partner holds the local licence for what it does. We give no investment, legal or tax advice. Local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
Also from AIA: Canada, Europe and citizenship
Many founders plan a second move. Take the Canada immigration assessment, or read our Canada immigration programs. If you want a European base, see residence by investment in Europe, and for a passport, see citizenship by investment.
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your company.
- Step 1: Tell us your plan. Use Find my program, or write to us with your business, your partners and your country of residence.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We get the NIF for each partner on a power of attorney, choose the registry route, and bring in the accountant and the bank introduction through our partners in Portugal.
- Step 3: Your company is registered. You deposit the capital within 5 business days, file the activity start within 15 days, and the beneficial owner within 30 days.
Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: Portugal registry and Justice portal, Finance Portal.
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Online registration | EUR 220 or EUR 360 normal, EUR 440 or EUR 720 urgent |
| Counter registration | EUR 360, all partners present |
| Deadlines after registration | Capital in 5 business days, activity start in 15 days, beneficial owner in 30 days |
| NIF | No tax representative needed to get it; a representative is needed within 15 days of a tax relationship for some residents |
What could change: the fees, the routes and the deadlines. What we do about it: we re-read the official pages before each update and show the date.
After you have the company
You keep the company in order with three filings. The registry lists the dates, and a missed one can cost you a fine.
- Capital: deposit cash capital in the company's account within 5 business days.
- Activity start: file within 15 days, directly or through the accountant.
- Beneficial owner: file within 30 days.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing packages while the rules shift. You hold a quote, a number from one adviser that contradicts another, and no date on any of it.
Or your company is registered in Portugal, your tax number is in place, and you know every deadline. You feel in control, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Registered: your company exists on the registry's terms
- On time: you met each filing deadline
- Prepared: you know the bank step and its limits
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a company in Portugal?
The registry fee is EUR 220 online with a pre-approved articles template and EUR 360 with your own articles, or EUR 360 at an Empresa na Hora counter. Urgent online requests cost EUR 440 or EUR 720. Accountant, bank and professional fees are on top.
How long does it take?
Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is. The online route needs a NIF first, and a bank account takes longer than registration. We tell you what we know before you commit.
Do I need to be in Portugal?
Not for the online route, once every partner has a NIF. At an Empresa na Hora counter all partners must attend in person. A lawyer or solicitor can request your NIF on a power of attorney.
Do I need a NIF first?
Yes for the online route: the registry says you cannot use it if a partner has no Portuguese NIF. A non-resident can request a NIF through a legal representative.
Does a company give me residence in Portugal?
No. Registering a company does not give you the right to live in Portugal. See our independent work and entrepreneur route for a visa that fits a business.
What do I have to do after registration?
Deposit cash capital within 5 business days, file the activity start within 15 days and the beneficial owner within 30 days.
Do I need a tax representative?
Not to get a NIF. Within 15 days of creating a tax relationship a non-resident appoints a representative or joins electronic notifications, and a third-country resident working self-employed must appoint a VAT representative before starting.
Can you open a bank account for me?
We introduce you to a bank through our partners in Portugal. Banks decide, and we cannot promise an account. The tax authority calls a NIF an essential condition for opening a bank account.
Can you help with the accountant and the tax number?
Yes. We arrange the NIF, the accountant, the bank introduction and relocation steps with our partners in Portugal.
What does AIA charge?
We agree the scope and the price with you after a short call. The registry, tax and bank costs above are the authorities’ own.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
