Short answer (checked 2 October 2026)
The Portugal D2 visa is the common name for the Article 60 residence visa for independent professional activity and migrant entrepreneurs. There is no legal minimum investment, and Portuguese Lda share capital is freely set, with a minimum of EUR 1 per quota. Entrepreneurs can qualify through an investment already made or by showing financial means available in Portugal plus a clearly identified intention to invest, while independent professionals generally use a services contract or written proposal. The visa is valid for four months and two entries, followed by an Article 89 residence permit that is normally valid for two years. Since the old in-country regularisation route ended in 2024, freelancers and entrepreneurs should not assume they can enter as tourists and later regularise under Article 89.
What the D2 visa is
The D2 is a residence visa for non-EU nationals moving to Portugal for independent professional activity or as migrant entrepreneurs. Its legal basis is Article 60 of Law 23/2007. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MNE, does not use D codes on its main visa pages, although consular checklists do use the D2 label.
The visa and residence permit are separate. The visa lasts four months and allows two entries. In Portugal, the holder applies for the Article 89 residence permit, which is normally valid for two years and renewable for three-year periods.
Decree-Law 37-A/2024 removed the former Article 89 manifestation of interest route. A freelancer or entrepreneur can no longer rely on entering as a tourist and regularising this way. The normal route is now the residence visa obtained before moving, apart from the certified-incubator exception in Article 89(4).
Who qualifies: the two tracks
The law has two main D2 tracks:
| Track | Who it covers | Core evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Independent professional activity | Independent professionals, including liberal professions and activity through a company. | A services contract or written proposal for a liberal profession, or a company agreement where accepted, plus professional qualification where applicable. The implementing regulation also refers to the IRS list of professions. |
| Migrant entrepreneur | People who have invested or intend to invest in Portugal. | Proof of an investment already made, or financial means available in Portugal plus evidence of a clearly identified intention to invest. A certified-incubator project is the Startup Visa limb of Article 60. |
For an entrepreneur who has not yet invested, funds available in Portugal are part of the legal test, not simply a sign of seriousness.
Is there a minimum investment?
No. Article 60, Article 89, the implementing regulation and the MNE list set no minimum D2 investment, job-creation target or fixed business-capital amount.
The often repeated EUR 5,000 share-capital figure is obsolete. That minimum was abolished in 2011. Lda share capital is now freely set, and each quota can be as low as EUR 1.
Entrepreneurs still need to support the investment case and their personal means of subsistence. See our guide to financial requirements for moving to Portugal.
How much money you need
The 2026 means-of-subsistence reference is the minimum monthly wage, the RMMG, at EUR 920. The calculation is 100% for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child.
For investment purposes, MNE says the funds should cover at least 12 months:
| Household | Monthly reference | 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| One adult | EUR 920 | EUR 11,040 |
| Couple | EUR 1,380 | EUR 16,560 |
| Couple with one child | EUR 1,656 | EUR 19,872 |
Do not treat 12 months as a universal rule for the independent-professional track. MNE uses different wording for work purposes, and individual consulates differ. MNE also says funds arising from a company agreement or services contract can count toward means of subsistence.
Documents: the official list and what consulates add
The central MNE national residence visa list includes the application form, two passport photographs, passport or travel document, proof of regular status if applying outside your country of nationality, valid travel insurance, a criminal record certificate with apostille or legalisation where applicable, and proof of financial resources. See our guide to insurance for the visa application.
Independent professionals add the services contract or written proposal and, where applicable, proof of professional qualification. Entrepreneurs show an investment already made or funds available in Portugal plus the intention to invest. Some consular checklists, such as London's dated 6 March 2026, still ask for a signed declaration describing the investment, its value and duration.
The central MNE general list does not list accommodation, a NIF, a Portuguese bank account or a business plan for every case, but posts can add requirements. The London checklist dated 6 March 2026, for example, asks for accommodation evidence and additional business and financial documents. Its accommodation options include deeds, a registered 12 month lease or a host's term of responsibility. See our proof of accommodation guide.
Translation rules also vary by post. The London checklist requires certified translations for documents not issued in English or Portuguese, so it is too broad to say every foreign document must always be translated into Portuguese.
Do you need a business plan or a company first?
A business plan is not required by Article 60, the implementing regulation or the central MNE list. Some consular checklists include one as supporting evidence. Visas.pt strongly recommends a clear written business plan for entrepreneur applications, but that is our practical recommendation, not a statutory rule.
The old written test based on the economic, social, scientific, technological or cultural relevance of the investment was removed from the regulation in 2018.
You also do not always need to incorporate before applying. Article 60 allows an entrepreneur to rely on funds available in Portugal plus an intention to invest, and an independent professional can use a services contract or proposal. By the permit stage, Article 89 requires a company, opened activity with tax and social security, or the relevant services contract, together with social security registration. See our business incorporation service.
How to apply, step by step
- Choose the legal track. Base the application on independent professional activity, an investment already made, or funds in Portugal plus an intention to invest.
- Find the correct jurisdiction. The rule is normally the Portuguese post covering your habitual residence, not necessarily your nationality. External providers such as VFS may handle submission. Use our Portugal visa jurisdiction finder.
- Build the file. Start with the MNE list, then follow the D2 requirements and your own post's checklist.
- Submit the residence visa application. The legal decision deadline is 60 days. The consular authority decides, with the prior opinions required by Article 53.
- Travel within the visa validity. The D2 residence visa lasts four months and permits two entries.
- Complete the AIMA stage. The regulation says an appointment should be set when a travel date was provided, but actual practice is not confirmed for every visa and the London checklist tells applicants to contact AIMA directly. See our AIMA appointment guide.
- Prove the activity is set up. AIMA's Article 89 list includes the passport and residence visa, activity and social security evidence, a services contract, company evidence or recent receipts, address evidence, tax and social security registration, and professional-body evidence where applicable.
If the permit application is pending for reasons not attributable to the applicant, Article 81(4) allows the residence visa holder to work in accordance with the law. Read more about working before the residence permit is issued.
Fees and timelines
| Stage | Fee or validity | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| National residence visa | EUR 110 | 60 days |
| D2 visa | 4 months, 2 entries | Residence permit process during visa validity |
| First AIMA permit | EUR 247.30 standard, or EUR 185.60 where the 25% reduced tariff applies | 90 days, extendable by 30 days in exceptional and duly justified circumstances |
| Residence permit | 2 years, then 3 year renewals | Renewal decision deadline: 60 days |
Since Law 62/2026 took effect on 11 September 2026, a renewal is no longer deemed approved merely because 60 days pass without a decision.
What the residence permit lets you do
Residence permit holders have the right to employed and independent work. A D2 holder can therefore take a salaried job, with Article 89 providing for replacement of the residence title at the holder's request.
Law 62/2026 also added Article 89(6). A holder can change the nature of the independent activity by notifying AIMA, without a new card for that change.
Stay rules and absences
There is no immigration rule requiring a D2 holder to spend 183 days of every year in Portugal. That figure is a tax residence test.
A temporary residence permit can be cancelled after an unjustified absence of six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months during the permit's total validity. See our guide to Portugal's stay rules and absence limits.
Bringing your family
Article 58(5) allows family members to apply for accompanying residence visas at the same time as the main applicant.
If family comes later, the general rule after Law 61/2025 is a two-year wait after the sponsor obtains a valid residence permit. It is 15 months for a spouse or partner who lived with the sponsor for at least 18 months immediately before the sponsor entered Portugal. Exceptions include dependent minors and certain spouses or partners who are also parents or adoptive parents of a dependent minor. D2 holders are not in the separate permit-category exemption. See our 2026 family reunification guide.
After you arrive: tax, social security and company setup
A self-employed person must file a start-of-activity declaration with Finanças before beginning independent work. Once activity is opened, the tax authority communicates it to Social Security.
For a first ever self-employed activity, social security effects begin on the first day of the twelfth month after activity starts, so contributions are not due during that initial period unless the worker opts in earlier. This is a deferral, not a legal exemption. The Social Security rate is 21.4% for independent workers and 25.2% for sole traders (empresários em nome individual) and holders of an estabelecimento individual de responsabilidade limitada. Company managers follow a different regime.
For a company, Empresa na Hora can create common forms including an Lda and single-member Lda. Empresa Online requires the relevant Portuguese digital credentials or a lawyer, notary or solicitor with a professional certificate. The first RCBE beneficial-owner declaration must be filed within 30 days after incorporation.
Tax in brief
The D2 is not a tax regime. For tax periods starting in 2026, the headline IRC corporate income tax rate is 19%. Qualifying SMEs and Small Mid Caps can have a 15% rate on the first EUR 50,000 of taxable profit, subject to the statutory conditions.
The old NHR regime is closed to new arrivals in 2026. IFICI is a different, narrower regime that can provide a 20% rate on eligible Portuguese employment and self-employment income for 10 years, but only where the person, activity and entity qualify. A D2 does not provide IFICI automatically. See our guide to Portugal's 2026 tax regime and IFICI or arrange a tax consultation.
Renewal, permanent residence and citizenship
The first permit lasts two years and renewals last three years. After five years of temporary residence, a third-country national can apply for permanent residence if the other conditions are met.
Permanent residence is applied for through AIMA, not the Portal das Comunidades. Conditions include five years of temporary residence, means of subsistence, accommodation, basic Portuguese and the relevant criminal, tax and social security conditions. See our permanent residence guide.
Citizenship is handled by the IRN. Since Organic Law 1/2026 took effect on 19 May 2026, citizenship by residence generally requires 10 years, or seven years for nationals of EU Member States and Portuguese-speaking countries. Applications pending on 19 May 2026 keep the previous five-year rule. See our guide to permanent residence versus citizenship.
D2 or Startup Visa, digital nomad visa or D7?
| Route | Core fit | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| D2 | Independent professional activity or investment in Portugal. | No legal minimum investment. Evidence depends on the Article 60 track. |
| Startup Visa | Innovation project accepted by a certified incubator. | It is the certified-incubator limb of Article 60, with IAPMEI programme conditions, including 12 times IAS and programme growth criteria. |
| Digital nomad visa | Remote work for persons or entities outside Portugal. | Article 61-B requires average monthly income over the previous three months of at least four times the RMMG, EUR 3,680 in 2026. It is commonly called D8, while some consulate checklists label it D9. |
| D7 | Commonly used for retirement or own-income purposes. | A D7 residence permit holder is not barred from working, and there is no 183-day immigration rule. |
See our comparisons of Startup Visa vs D2, the digital nomad visa commonly called D8, and the Portugal D7 visa.
Official pages
For the Portugal D2 visa official website, start with the MNE national visa pages and the gov.pt service for independent professional activity and migrant entrepreneurs. MNE does not use D codes on its main pages.
For the residence permit, use AIMA's Article 89 page. For jurisdiction, use the MNE page showing where to lodge a long-stay application. Do not assume the nearest consulate or the one in your country of nationality is automatically correct.
Common questions
What is the Portugal D2 visa?
The Portugal D2 visa is the common name for the Article 60 residence visa for independent professional activity and migrant entrepreneurs. It is valid for four months and two entries and leads to an Article 89 residence permit application in Portugal.
Is there a minimum investment for the D2 visa?
No. The law, implementing regulation and central MNE list set no minimum D2 investment amount. An entrepreneur who has not already invested must instead show financial means available in Portugal and evidence of a clearly identified intention to invest.
Do I need EUR 5,000 share capital?
No. The old EUR 5,000 minimum for a sociedade por quotas was abolished in 2011. Share capital is freely set, with a minimum nominal value of EUR 1 per quota.
Do I need a business plan?
A business plan is not required by Article 60, the implementing regulation or the central MNE list. Some consular checklists include one as supporting evidence, and Visas.pt strongly recommends a written plan for entrepreneur applications.
How much money do I need in 2026?
The monthly means-of-subsistence reference is EUR 920 for the first adult, plus 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child. For investment purposes, MNE says funds should cover at least 12 months, which is EUR 11,040 for one adult, but the independent-professional track does not have the same published 12-month rule.
Can I enter as a tourist and apply in Portugal?
Not through the old Article 89 manifestation of interest route. That route was removed in June 2024, so freelancers and entrepreneurs should normally obtain the residence visa before moving, apart from the certified-incubator exception in Article 89(4).
Can a D2 permit holder take a salaried job?
Yes. Residence permit holders have the right to employed and independent work, and Article 89 allows a D2 holder to move into employed activity. The law provides for replacement of the residence title at the holder's request.
Do I have to spend 183 days a year in Portugal?
No. The 183-day figure is a tax residence test, not the immigration absence rule. A temporary permit can be cancelled after an unjustified absence of six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months during its total validity.
When can I apply for permanent residence or citizenship?
Permanent residence can generally be requested after five years of temporary residence, subject to the other conditions, including basic Portuguese. Citizenship by residence generally requires 10 years, or seven years for nationals of EU Member States and Portuguese-speaking countries, while applications pending on 19 May 2026 keep the previous five-year rule.
Can my family apply with me?
Yes. Article 58(5) allows family members to apply for accompanying residence visas at the same time as the main applicant. If they come later, family reunification generally requires a two-year wait for a D2 holder, with a 15-month rule for certain spouses or partners and exceptions including dependent minors.
How Visas.pt can help
Visas.pt's Entrepreneur Visa (D2) package costs EUR 1,595 and includes help choosing the visa, NIF and bank account assistance, document checking, unlimited email support, video consultations with an immigration lawyer and a live interpreter for visa interviews.
For help from the visa choice through document preparation, see the Visas.pt D2 Entrepreneur Visa service.
Sources
- Law 23/2007, consolidated text
- Decreto Regulamentar 84/2007, consolidated text
- MNE residence visa documents
- MNE means of subsistence
- MNE where to lodge an application
- gov.pt D2 service
- AIMA Article 89 residence permit
- gov.pt permanent residence
- gov.pt nationality
- IAPMEI Startup Visa
Next step: If the D2 fits your plans, review the Visas.pt D2 visa assistance package and start with the correct legal track and checklist for your consular jurisdiction.