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Portugal · EN · 2026-05-20

How to open a company in Portugal as a non-resident in 2026

A step-by-step guide to incorporating a Lda. in Portugal from abroad: NIF, share capital, RNPC, social security, and the realistic timeline.

By Maria Salgado

Why Portugal

Portugal has become the most-asked-about jurisdiction for non-EU founders setting up in Europe. The combination of a Lda. (sociedade por quotas) with €1 minimum capital, the NHR successor regime, and English-speaking banks makes incorporation realistic in under three weeks.

What you need before you start

  • A valid passport
  • A Portuguese tax number (NIF) — obtainable remotely through a fiscal representative
  • A registered address in Portugal (your accountant's office is acceptable)
  • Proof of source of funds for the share capital

The seven-step process

  1. Get a NIF. Required for every shareholder and director. Issued by Autoridade Tributária, usually in 5–10 business days through a fiscal representative.
  2. Reserve a company name. Done at IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) or via the "Empresa Online" portal. Approval is same-day.
  3. Draft articles of association. A standard Lda. template covers most cases; bespoke clauses (drag-along, vesting) require a notary.
  4. Deposit share capital. Minimum €1, but banks expect €1,000+ for an operating account. Capital can be deposited within five days of incorporation.
  5. Register the company. Filed with Conservatória do Registo Comercial. The certificate is issued in 1–3 business days.
  6. Register for social security and tax. Mandatory within 15 days of starting activity.
  7. Open a corporate bank account. Typically the longest step — plan 2–4 weeks. Millennium BCP, ActivoBank, and Bison Bank serve non-residents.

Realistic timeline

End-to-end, expect 15–25 business days. The bank account is the bottleneck; everything else can be parallelized.

Costs

Government fees total roughly €360. Add €800–€1,500 for accountant setup and the first year's compliance. Notary work, if required, adds €250–€500.

Common mistakes

  • Using a virtual office that the bank rejects (use a serviced address with mail handling).
  • Forgetting to register beneficial owners in the RCBE within 30 days — fines start at €1,000.
  • Choosing a name with prohibited keywords (e.g. "Bank", "Insurance") without a sectoral licence.

References