Company formation for non-residents
We register a Portuguese Lda - a private limited company with full foreign ownership and access to the EU single market. We also run projects in Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal with its own reduced tax rates. We prepare the incorporation documents, arrange the registered address, handle tax registration through a local representative and support your corporate account opening. The whole process runs remotely, by power of attorney, with no visit required.
A quick overview of the corporate, tax and annual conditions in Portugal and Madeira for non-residents.
A private limited company, the Portuguese equivalent of an LLC. The main vehicle for international business. With a single owner it becomes a Unipessoal Lda.
No restrictions on nationality or residence. A single shareholder is enough and can also act as director. A Portuguese tax number (NIF) is required.
The director can be a non-resident. Founders from outside the EU need a local tax representative. A registered address in the country is required.
Mainland 19%, Madeira 13%, the IBC regime 5% subject to substance requirements. A detailed breakdown of the three regimes is below.
No statutory minimum, each share is at least EUR 1. Paid up by the end of the first financial year, with no capital duty.
A certified accountant, the Modelo 22 return and the IES filing. An audit applies only when statutory thresholds are exceeded.
The final cost depends on the chosen package, industry, company structure and any additional project tasks.
Data current as of July 2026.
From basic registration to a full launch with corporate support and a bank account opening.
Company registration and address
Full registration support
With bank account support
For launching a company with a prepared banking route and support until the account opening procedure is completed.
Important: Bank account support does not guarantee account opening. The final decision is made by the bank or EMI after reviewing the company profile and beneficiaries.
Portugal suits projects that need an EU company with single-market access. Madeira adds reduced tax rates with fully remote registration.
A company for import, export and deals within the EU. Eurozone residence, a VAT number and trade across the EU single market.
An entity for consulting and professional services. Full foreign ownership and clients worldwide.
Software and SaaS. The Patent Box regime lowers tax on software and patent income, and pairs with a reduced rate in Madeira.
Group management and investment structuring. Dividends and gains on share disposals are exempt where conditions are met.
Portugal is a member of the EU, the eurozone and the OECD. Full access to the single market and EU directives.
Around 80 double tax treaties, plus the EU parent-subsidiary directive.
Mainland 19%, Madeira 13%, the IBC regime 5% subject to substance requirements. Chosen to fit your structure.
Registration with no visit required, by power of attorney. No minimum share capital for a private company.
We register a Portuguese Lda remotely, by power of attorney. You provide a basic set of documents, and we prepare and file the rest through a local representative. Below is what to gather on your side and what the jurisdiction requires.
The exact set of documents depends on the ownership structure. Foreign documents are accepted with an apostille and a certified Portuguese translation. No visit to the country is required.
No restrictions on nationality or residence. A single shareholder is enough and can also act as director. No local partner is required, and shares are registered.
Each shareholder and the company need a Portuguese NIF number. Founders from outside the EU require a local tax representative, whose services are included in our packages.
There is no statutory minimum, each share is at least EUR 1. It need not be paid up immediately, payment is allowed up to the end of the first financial year.
The company needs a registered address in Portugal for official correspondence. The address appears on the register, so a service provider address is often used. Address provision is included in our packages.
A certified accountant, the Modelo 22 return and the IES filing are required. An audit applies only when the thresholds for turnover, assets and headcount are exceeded.
Portugal has three tax regimes with different rates: the mainland, the standard Madeira regime and the IBC regime. The final burden depends on where the company is registered, its activity and whether substance requirements are met.
from 5%
Mainland 19%, Madeira 13%, the IBC regime 5% where conditions are met. Three regimes for different needs.
5% until 2033
A reduced rate for companies licensed by the end of 2026, with the benefit guaranteed until 31 December 2033.
by 31 May
The Modelo 22 return is due by 31 May. The IES filing and accounts are due by 15 July, with advance payments during the year.
0% under IBC
IBC companies are exempt from withholding tax on dividends to non-residents, except for blacklisted jurisdictions.
The standard corporate tax rate is 19% in 2026, then 18% in 2027 and 17% in 2028. For small and medium businesses it is 15% on the first EUR 50,000 of profit.
A reduced rate of 13% for companies managed in Madeira, effectively around 13.3%. For small and medium businesses it is 10.5% on the first EUR 50,000.
A 5% rate on income from international operations. It requires a licence by the end of 2026 and substance: jobs created in Madeira and a minimum investment.
VAT is 23% on the mainland and 22% in Madeira. Dividends and gains on share disposals are exempt with a holding of at least 10% for one year.
Keep accounts and prepare annual financial statements with a certified accountant
File the Modelo 22 corporate tax return by 31 May
Submit the IES filing and deposit the accounts by 15 July
Make advance tax payments during the year
File VAT returns quarterly or monthly
Confirm beneficial owner details in the RCBE register each year
For the IBC regime, maintain jobs and substance requirements
An audit is required only when two of the three thresholds are exceeded: turnover, assets and headcount. IBC rates apply within annual profit caps linked to the number of jobs. The final regime is chosen to fit the business.
Data current as of July 2026.
The banking route depends on the company's activity, payment geography and the profile of its beneficial owners. Non-residents can use Portuguese banks and European EMI providers with IBAN details and SEPA access, plus payment acceptance solutions.
For day-to-day operations and settlements in euros. We match a bank or EMI provider to the company profile, including Novo Banco, Banco Montepio, Millennium BCP, as well as Wise, Revolut Business and Payoneer.
For retail sales and working with platforms. Card and payment-link acceptance, and payment gateways Stripe and PayPal for website and app integration.
We prepare the company profile before submission, to anticipate the bank's requirements and pass client due diligence under KYC and AML standards.
We assess the activity, payment geography and bank requirements before submission.
We support the project from the initial review through to receiving the corporate documents and completing any agreed additional tasks. We act as your corporate agent under Portuguese requirements.
We review the ownership structure, shareholders, planned activity and source documents, and check beneficial owner and apostille requirements before we start.
We check and clear the company name, prepare the articles of association and incorporation deed, and handle the filing with the commercial register by power of attorney, through to the certificate of registration and company number.
A resident director is not required by law. We arrange the registered address in Portugal, appoint a local tax representative and file the beneficial owners with the register in line with the chosen package.
We complete tax registration and obtain the NIF number, appoint a certified accountant and, where needed, help with VAT registration and support with account opening.
The process covers the initial review, name clearance, document preparation, filing with the commercial register by power of attorney and tax registration. Most stages are handled remotely.
Portugal does not solve every task. For some projects another European jurisdiction or a classic offshore works better, and we will help you choose the right one.
Registration in Portugal requires a tax representative, a certified accountant and ongoing reporting. If you need the simplest, fastest company launch in the EU, it is worth comparing other European jurisdictions.
Worth considering: Lithuania, Hungary, Cyprus
Even Madeira's reduced rates are not zero, and the IBC regime requires real presence and jobs. If you need a zero profit burden and minimal upkeep without an audit, it is worth comparing classic offshores.
Worth considering: BVI, Belize, Seychelles
Portugal is a reliable EU jurisdiction, but for some tasks a top-tier common-law environment matters more. If global reputation and common law are the priority, it is worth comparing other options.
Worth considering: United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta
Portugal offers a participation exemption for holdings, but sometimes a jurisdiction with simpler upkeep or a different tax profile is more convenient. If an EU holding structure is the priority, it is worth comparing alternatives.
Worth considering: Cyprus, Malta, Hungary
Not sure whether Portugal fits your project? In a consultation we will honestly assess the task and suggest the best jurisdiction, even if it is not Portugal.
If Portugal is not a full fit on structure, tax burden or running costs, compare the alternatives on the key parameters.
| Jurisdiction | Best for | Taxes | Upkeep | Banking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hungary | Best for IT, trade and holdings with a low tax burden in the EU. | Taxes 9% rate, the lowest in the EU, with 0% withholding tax. | Upkeep Moderate, digital reporting, EU standards. | Banking EU banks and fintech, SEPA access. |
 Ireland | Best for IT, SaaS, pharma and European headquarters. | Taxes 12.5% on trading income, one of the lowest in the EU. | Upkeep Moderate, audit only above thresholds. | Banking EU banks and fintech, strict compliance. |
 Cyprus | Best for Holdings, IP structures and international trade in the EU. | Taxes 15% from 2026, 0% withholding tax on dividends. | Upkeep Above average, mandatory audit for all companies. | Banking EU banks and fintech, SEPA access. |
 Lithuania | Best for IT, fintech, trade and e-commerce with SEPA access. | Taxes 17% rate, reduced 7% and 0% for the first year for small companies. | Upkeep Moderate, audit only above thresholds. | Banking EU banks and fintech, strong EMI infrastructure. |
We will help you compare jurisdictions on taxes, banking, annual costs and structure requirements for your case.
Every project is unique, we tailor the solution to the client's specific task, jurisdiction and business model.
Portugal The client imported electronics from China and Turkey and sold them wholesale to Poland and Germany. He worked as a sole trader, but large European retailers refused to sign contracts with an individual, and payments to Asian suppliers kept getting stuck at the bank. He needed an EU company with a proper euro account and SEPA access.
Solution: We registered a mainland Lda, arranged the registered address and tax number, and set up VAT registration for intra-EU operations. We brought in a certified accountant. The account was opened with Novo Banco, with a second one at Wise for settlements with Asian suppliers. We helped compile the dossier for a foreign-trade profile.
My biggest worry was getting stuck on the account. I'd heard plenty of stories about banks blocking payments from Asia. In the end, with the dossier ready, we got through with no questions. The contracts are on a European company now, and the Germans started taking us more seriously straight away.
Portugal, Madeira The client had three operating companies, in Estonia, the UAE and Georgia. He collected the dividends manually, sorting out the tax on each one separately every time. He wanted to bring everything under a single European holding structure, to manage the group from one place without losing out on distributions.
Solution: We registered a company in Madeira under the IBC regime at a 5% rate and built the ownership of shares in the subsidiaries. We helped meet the substance requirements: a local office and a job on the island. Dividends from subsidiaries and gains on share disposals are exempt where conditions are met. We supported the account opening for a holding profile.
Keeping three companies in different countries and working out the dividend tax each time was a real chore. In Madeira we did have to sort out the office and a job on the ground, that's not just a box to tick. But the structure is transparent now, and the banks are comfortable with it.
Portugal The founder was building a SaaS analytics service and planning to relocate to Europe with his family. He needed more than just a company, a combination: an EU entity for the product and investors, plus a basis for a residence permit. The income came mainly from licensing his own software, and he wanted to reduce the tax on it legally.
Solution: We registered a mainland Lda, completed tax registration and brought in an accountant. We structured the licensing income under the Patent Box regime, which lowers the tax on software income. The account was opened with Millennium BCP. We helped prepare the company documents as a basis for a later residence permit application on the entrepreneur route.
I was looking for something where the company and the move go together, not two separate stories. My biggest worry was the tax on licensing. I thought it would eat up the whole economics of the product. They structured it so the software income is taxed at a low rate, and it's all above board.
If you did not find the answer to your question, leave a request and we will review your situation in person.
Get a consultationPortugal has three regimes. On the mainland the standard corporate tax rate is 19% in 2026, with 15% for small and medium businesses on the first EUR 50,000. In Madeira the standard rate is reduced to 13%. Separately, there is the IBC regime at 5% on income from international operations — it requires a licence and compliance with substance requirements. Which regime works best depends on the activity and the business structure.
The IBC is the International Business Centre of Madeira regime, with a 5% corporate tax rate. It suits companies working with foreign clients: IT, consulting, trade and holdings. To qualify you need a licence by the end of 2026 and real presence: jobs created on the island and a minimum investment. The benefit is guaranteed until 31 December 2033. It is not an offshore — the company is treated as a full European entity and benefits from Portugal's tax treaties.
The main type is the Lda, a private limited company equivalent to an LLC. It suits trade, services, IT and holdings. Full foreign ownership is allowed, a single shareholder is enough and can also act as director. With a single owner it becomes a Unipessoal Lda.
There is no statutory minimum capital. Each share must be at least EUR 1, so a company can be set up with capital from EUR 1 per shareholder. The capital need not be paid up immediately — payment is allowed up to the end of the first financial year. There is no capital duty.
Yes, the whole registration is handled remotely, by power of attorney, with no visit to the country. You provide a basic set of documents, and we prepare and file the rest through a local representative. Foreign documents are accepted with an apostille and a certified Portuguese translation.
Each shareholder and the company need a Portuguese NIF number. Founders from outside the EU require a local tax representative, who liaises with the tax authority on the client's behalf. We take on this role, and it is included in our packages.
A certified accountant is mandatory for any company. Each year the corporate tax return is filed by 31 May and the annual filing by 15 July. Advance payments are made during the year, and VAT returns are filed quarterly or monthly. An audit is required only when the thresholds for turnover, assets and headcount are exceeded.
No. Both Portuguese banks and European EMI providers with IBAN details and SEPA access work for day-to-day operations. We match the route to the company profile and payment geography. Account opening is handled separately and is not part of the registration timeline, as it depends on the bank's review.
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