Visa D2 Portugal.

Residence for entrepreneurs and self-employed or liberal professionals


  • A great alternative to Digital Nomad visa

The advantages of a D2 visa Portugal

  • Allows legal residence and work in Portugal and free movement within the Schengen Area

  • Provides access to family reunification, enabling your close relatives to obtain residence

  • After 5 years of legal residence, you become eligible to apply for permanent residence or citizenship

  • Provides access to public services such as the National Health Service and Education

The D2 Visa, also known as the Entrepreneur Visa, is a residence permit aimed at foreign nationals who wish to establish a business, invest, or work independently in Portugal.

There are two main pathways to obtain the D2 Visa, depending on the applicant’s profile and project: one for entrepreneurs who intend to start or invest in a company, and another for self-employed or liberal professionals.
D2 Visa for Entrepreneurs
Starting or Investing in a Company
This category is ideal for those looking to start a new business in Portugal, invest in an existing company, or expand the operations of a company already established in their home country to the Portuguese market
D2 Visa for Self-Employed
Independent / Liberal Workers
This category is intended for freelancers or liberal professionals who wish to carry out their activity independently in Portugal
It is important to note that the D2 Visa is distinct from the StartUP Visa (for innovative businesses), the Golden Visa (which requires larger investments and the creation of at least 10 jobs), and the Digital Nomad Visa (for those working remotely for companies outside Portugal).
Ícaro Couto
Advogado

VISA D2 PORTUGAL
(entrepreneurs and freelancers)

• We guarantee obtaining a D visa

💶 Money-back guarantee
✔ Initial consultation, case analysis, and Q&A
✔ Personal manager
✔ Registration of an individual entrepreneur and necessary transactions for the business
✔ NIF for the main applicant
✔ Creation of a motivation letter
✔ Assistance in writing a business plan
✔ Appointment booking and communication with the consulate
✔ Document package check before submission
✔ Remote support for D visa application
✔ Handling possible additional requests
✔ Access to a licensed lawyer through your case manager
Let's discuss
  • We guarantee obtaining a visa and residence permit

🏆 ALL SERVICES FROM THE "SMART" PACKAGE plus the following:

💶 Money-back guarantee
✔ Insurance for the visa (for the main applicant)
✔ Assistance with opening a personal bank account in Portugal
✔ Preparation of documents before submitting to the immigration office for residence permit
✔ Individual tax consultation with a local tax specialist
✔ Change of taxpayer address in the NIF
✔ Assistance in obtaining permanent address registration (Atestado de residência pela Junta de Freguesia)
✔ NIF for all applicants
✔ Driver’s license exchange assistance
✔ Concierge service for one month in Portugal
✔ "Adaptation" guide package: everyday topics like healthcare, education, transport and cars, housing, travel, shopping, marriage, moving with pets
Let's discuss
Pay as you go

We offer convenient payment schedule — pay in two stages while we process your visa and new residence

  • Pay in stages
    Your payments will be split in several comfortable stages for all packages over €1000
  • We guarantee our work
    In an unlikely case your visa or residency is denied, we will resubmit documents or offer to switch program/country free of charge or return your money
  • Own team in every country we serve
    Our team is not only our own experience of moving, but also years of work with hundreds of client cases of varying complexity

Request your one-on-one consultation with our Portugal experts

You will get a detailed personal roadmap for your relocation process to Portugal on a D2 (entrepreneur or freelance) visa and find out all costs, requirements and timelines.
Our local team to handle your case
  • Ícaro Couto
    Attorney for Portuguese clients
    Ícaro is a lawyer passionate about international challenges, He had a career built on civil litigation, visa and nationality consulting. Ícaro has helped countless people turn their dreams into reality with strategic and precise legal solutions.

    He supervises our most complex Residence applications and files claims to get your Residence quick in case process stalls.
  • Juliana Poubel
    Legal Assistant

    Juliana has a law degree from FGV in Rio de Janeiro and studied abroad in Australia, where she broadened her worldview, cultural understanding, and English skills.


    In 2022, she moved to Portugal to pursue a master's degree. During the last few years, she has worked at different law firms in Lisbon, specializing in immigration.

  • Alexandra Kulikova
    Visa programs specialist
    Alexandra is an expert in Portuguese immigration, specializing in visa types such as the Digital Nomad Visa, D3/90.2, D7, D2, family reunification, and others.

    She works with applications in Moscow, Belgrade, Paris, Tel-Aviv, Ankara, as well as other locations around the world.

Process and Advantages for Both Categories

The process for obtaining the visa and residence permit generally follows two phases:
Phase 1 (Consulate)
The D2 residence visa application is submitted at the Portuguese Consulate in the applicant’s country of origin or legal residence. This visa is valid for 4 months and allows two entries into Portugal. The Consulate typically takes 60 to 90 days to process the application.
Phase 2 (AIMA)
Upon arriving in Portugal with the visa, the applicant must attend an appointment at the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) to request the Residence Permit, initially valid for two years and renewable for successive three-year periods.
Step-by-Step for Obtaining the D2 Visa


PREPARATORY PHASE: Laying the Foundation for Your Project

Before starting the formal application, strategic preparation is crucial. This is the most critical phase, where the success of your application is shaped.
Define the D2 Visa Pathway

Entrepreneurs: If you intend to start a new company, invest in an existing one, or open a branch in Portugal.


Self-Employed Professionals (Freelancers/Liberal Workers): If you are a freelancer or liberal professional and already have a service contract or proposal with an entity in Portugal.

Prepare Key Project Documentation

Entrepreneur: Develop a solid and convincing Business Plan. This is the most important document of your application. It should demonstrate the business’s viability, include a market analysis, financial projections, and explain the positive impact on the Portuguese economy (such as job creation or innovation).


Self-Employed Professional: Obtain a partnership or written service contract proposal with a company or client in Portugal. You must also demonstrate that you are qualified to practice your profession in Portugal, if applicable.

Take Initial Steps in Portugal (Recommended)
  • Obtain a Tax Identification Number (NIF).
  • Open a bank account in Portugal. Depositing the company’s capital or investment funds into account strengthens the credibility of your application.
  • For entrepreneurs, registering the company in Portugal before applying for the visa can be a very favorable factor.
PHASE 1: Visa Application at the Consulate

This phase aims to obtain the residence visa, which will be placed in your passport, allowing your travel to Portugal
Gather Required Documentation
In addition to the Business Plan or service contract, you will need documents and proof of supporting evidence:
  • Completed official visa application form.
  • Passport valid for more than 3 months after the intended return date.
  • Two recent passport-style photos.
  • Proof of means of subsistence in Portugal.
  • Proof of accommodation (rental contract, property deed, or hotel reservation for a minimum period).
  • Valid travel insurance or PB4 (for Brazilian INSS beneficiaries).
  • Criminal Record Certificate from the country of origin and/or residence, with Hague Apostille.
  • Authorization for AIMA to access the Portuguese criminal record.
  • Declaration acknowledging that you must not travel to Portugal without the visa.
Submit the Application
The application must be submitted in person at the Portuguese Consulate or at the consular section of the Portuguese Embassy in your country of origin or legal residence. In some countries, this service is delegated to companies like VFS Global. The consular fee is approximately €90.
Await the Decision

The consulate typically takes 60 to 90 days to process and decide on the application. If approved, a residence visa valid for 4 months will be issued, allowing two entries into Portugal

PHASE 2: Residence Permit in Portugal

With the visa in hand, the final step takes place in Portugal to formalize your legal residence
Travel to Portugal
You must enter Portugal within the 4-month validity period of your visa.
Attend the AIMA Appointment
You must attend an appointment at AIMA. In most cases, the date and location are indicated on the visa itself. During this appointment, your biometric data (photo and fingerprints) will be collected, and you must present updated documentation, such as NIF, proof of Social Security Number (NISS), proof of accommodation, and evidence of company registration or commencement of self-employed activity. The fee for issuing the residence permit is approximately €170.08.
Receive the Residence Permit

After the appointment, AIMA has up to 90 days to issue your residence card. The initial residence permit will be valid for 2 years.

NEXT STEPS: Maintenance and Future in Portugal

In just five years of your Portuguese residence, you can obtain permanent residence and apply for Portuguese citizenship
Renewal of the Residence Permit
After the first two years, the residence permit can be renewed for successive periods of 3 years. To maintain residency rights, you must not be absent from Portugal for more than 6 consecutive months or 8 cumulative months during the validity of the permit.
Path to Citizenship
After 5 years of legal residence in Portugal, D2 Visa holders become eligible to apply for permanent residence or Portuguese nationality.

D2 entrepreneurs and freelancers visa
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

© 2025 Imigrata. Inc
.
Contacts
Headquarters:
4651 Roswell Road, Suite 309 D
Atlanta, GA 30342 USA

Office in Portugal:
(by appointment only)
Avenida de França, 168, R/C,
Vila Nova de Famalicão, 4760-104

E-mail us: info@imigrata.com