Portugal's D2 entrepreneur visa is the ordinary residence-visa route for founders and business owners who have made, or credibly intend to make, an investment operation in Portugal. It is active as of 14 September 2026.

It is distinct from the StartUP Visa, which is an innovation program administered through IAPMEI and certified incubators, and from the ARI / Golden Visa business-investment route, which has defined high-value capital or job thresholds.

Who is eligible for the Portugal entrepreneur visa?

The entrepreneur branch of Portugal's residence-visa framework is relevant to a third-country national who intends to invest in Portugal and can show either:

  • an investment operation already carried out; or
  • financial means available in Portugal, including qualifying financing, together with a genuine intention to carry out a described and identified investment.

The current gov.pt D2 service covers non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who intend to exercise independent activity or invest in Portugal.

Is there a minimum D2 entrepreneur investment?

There is no universal statutory minimum euro investment for the ordinary D2 entrepreneur route.

The implementing framework requires the applicant to describe the nature, value and duration of the investment and prove either completed investment or financial means genuinely available for the planned operation. The assessment can take into account the economic, social, scientific, technological or cultural relevance of the project.

This is different from ARI, where the statute expressly defines thresholds such as €500,000 company capitalization plus employment conditions.

“No fixed minimum” should not be interpreted as “any token amount is enough.” Funding should be credible for the proposed sector, premises, staffing, licensing, inventory, technology and runway.

What a strong D2 business case should prove

A well-structured file generally makes these points easy to verify:

  • what the Portuguese business will do;
  • the founder's role and relevant experience;
  • the amount already invested or available;
  • source and accessibility of funds;
  • expected setup and operating costs;
  • nature, value and duration of the intended investment;
  • market and customer logic;
  • licensing or regulatory requirements;
  • implementation milestones; and
  • documentary evidence such as company records, contracts, premises or supplier/customer evidence where available.

A business plan supports the evidence; it does not replace documentary proof.

Portugal entrepreneur visa requirements and documents

The entrepreneur-specific material sits alongside the general national residence-visa file.

Entrepreneur-specific evidence

The official route requires a declaration that the applicant has made or intends to make an investment operation in Portugal, identifying its nature, value and duration, plus proof of completed investment or financial means available in Portugal and the intention to make the identified investment.

General documents

Depending on the competent post, the application can require:

  • national-visa application form;
  • valid passport/travel document;
  • photographs;
  • criminal-record evidence;
  • Portuguese criminal-record consultation authorization where applicable;
  • travel/medical insurance;
  • accommodation evidence;
  • means-of-subsistence evidence; and
  • proof of lawful status in the filing jurisdiction when relevant.

Local consular instructions govern translation, legalization/apostille, document validity and appointment format.

Means of subsistence

Portugal's general subsistence framework uses the minimum monthly guaranteed remuneration as a reference, generally weighted at 100% for the first adult, 50% for an additional adult and 30% for dependent children/young dependants.

For mainland Portugal, the 2026 minimum wage is €920. The subsistence rules for a residence-visa applicant intending to invest refer to means assured for at least 12 months. On the base mainland reference, 12 months for the first adult corresponds to €11,040, before household weighting.

This is a personal subsistence reference, not a statutory minimum amount that must be invested in the company.

Step-by-step application process

1. Decide whether D2 is the correct founder route

A conventional operating business often fits D2. An innovation-led project suitable for a certified incubator should also compare StartUP Visa; a high-capital investor should compare ARI.

2. Define the investment

Document the project's nature, proposed amount and duration, and reconcile those figures with the business plan and available funds.

3. Assemble business evidence

Where available, include company incorporation documents, contracts, premises evidence, supplier/customer documentation, licensing steps and founder credentials.

4. Prepare the general visa file

Complete the criminal-record, accommodation, insurance, subsistence and identity evidence required by the competent post.

5. File through the competent Portuguese consular channel

The exact appointment and submission method depends on the applicant's place of residence.

6. Enter Portugal and complete the residence-permit stage

Maintain evidence that the investment/business is actually progressing. The immigration basis should remain consistent with the business presented at visa stage.

Government visa fee

Portugal's consolidated Table of Consular Fees currently sets national visa applications at €110.

The AIMA residence-permit stage is charged separately under the current migration-fee table. Visa-center, translation, legalization, insurance, incorporation and professional-adviser costs are also separate.

Processing time

The current gov.pt service publishes a 60-day period for this visa category, and Article 58 of the Immigration Law uses a general 60-day decision period for residence visas unless a shorter statutory rule applies.

This does not include pre-filing appointment waits or the subsequent AIMA residence process. No legitimate adviser can guarantee approval by a particular date.

Validity and renewal

The national residence visa is an entry instrument for the residence-permit process. Ordinary temporary residence authorizations for professional/entrepreneurial activity are generally issued for two years and renewable for successive three-year periods where the legal conditions continue to be satisfied.

For renewal, preserve current company, activity, tax and contribution evidence. A dormant company that existed only for the initial application can create obvious renewal risk.

D2 entrepreneur versus StartUP Visa

Use D2 as the starting comparison for a conventional viable business that does not need certified-incubator admission or StartUP Visa's innovation/scalability tests.

Use StartUP Visa where the project is genuinely innovative, scalable, technology/knowledge oriented and suitable for certified incubation. StartUP Visa currently evaluates project growth potential, including the ability to exceed €325,000 annual turnover and/or assets within five years after incubation begins.

D2 entrepreneur versus ARI / Golden Visa

ARI is a special investment-residence regime with defined quantitative thresholds and a low minimum-presence model. AIMA's current business-relevant ARI options include creation of at least 10 jobs or qualifying €500,000 company capitalization paired with employment conditions.

D2 has no equivalent universal capital threshold and is generally the more natural comparison for a founder who intends to live in Portugal and actively operate a normal business.

Family reunification

Lei n.º 61/2025 introduced a general two-year valid-residence-permit period before family reunification. For a spouse/equivalent partner with at least 18 months of qualifying cohabitation immediately before the sponsor entered Portugal, the period is 15 months.

The law provides family-specific and route-specific exceptions and permits exceptional reduction/waiver in substantiated cases. Ordinary D2 Article 89 residence is not among the route categories specifically exempted in Article 98(3)(c).

Tax and company considerations

D2 immigration approval does not decide the tax efficiency of the company or the founder.

Founders should separately assess:

  • Portuguese corporate income tax and accounting;
  • VAT registration/filing where applicable;
  • payroll and Social Security if employing staff;
  • salary/dividend treatment;
  • transfer pricing or foreign-company relationships; and
  • personal tax residence.

The old NHR regime was repealed for new entrants from 2024 subject to transition. IFICI is a narrower, qualifying-activity incentive and is not automatically granted by a D2 visa. See the Portuguese Tax Authority's IFICI guidance.

Permanent residence

AIMA's current permanent-residence framework requires at least five years holding temporary residence, plus the other Article 80 requirements such as basic Portuguese and applicable subsistence, accommodation, tax and Social Security conditions.

A D2 entrepreneur permit can contribute to that residence history, but permanent residence is a separate decision.

Citizenship

Portugal's May 2026 nationality reform now generally requires at least 7 years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU Member States, or 10 years for nationals of other countries, plus the additional conditions in Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026.

Pending nationality procedures at the reform's entry into force receive transitional treatment under the previous version of the law.

Advantages

  • No universal statutory D2 minimum investment.
  • Flexible enough for many conventional operating businesses.
  • Does not require certified-incubator admission.
  • Can provide an ordinary long-term residence framework for active founders.
  • Can contribute to permanent-residence/nationality residence history subject to separate rules.

Limitations

  • The business and funding must be credible; a shell company is not a substitute for real activity.
  • The route can involve company, accounting, tax, licensing and employment obligations beyond immigration.
  • Family-reunification timing changed materially in 2025.
  • “No minimum investment” does not mean undercapitalization is harmless.

Alternatives

Frequently asked questions

What is the Portugal D2 entrepreneur visa?

It is the residence-visa route used by immigrant entrepreneurs who have made or credibly intend to make an investment in Portugal.

What is the minimum investment?

The ordinary D2 entrepreneur framework does not state one universal fixed minimum investment. The proposed investment must still be sufficiently documented and credible for the business.

Do I need to create the company before applying?

The framework can cover investment already made or a documented intention to make an identified investment. The best sequencing depends on the business and the competent post's evidence expectations.

How much is the visa fee?

The current statutory fee for a national visa application is €110, excluding AIMA and third-party expenses.

What is the official processing period?

Gov.pt publishes 60 days for the visa service. Real elapsed time can be longer because appointments and the AIMA stage are separate.

Is D2 entrepreneur the same as StartUP Visa?

No. StartUP Visa is an IAPMEI innovation/incubator program. D2 entrepreneur is a broader ordinary business/investment route.

Does D2 lead to permanent residence?

It can contribute to the qualifying residence history. Permanent residence currently requires at least five years holding temporary residence and the other Article 80 conditions.

Does D2 guarantee Portuguese citizenship?

No. Citizenship is a separate legal process with nationality-specific residence periods and other requirements under the 2026 law.

Verification note

This guide was last verified on 14 September 2026 using gov.pt, Diário da República and current Portuguese authority material. It has not been reviewed by a Portuguese lawyer.

Return to the Portugal immigration hub.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Portugal