Process to open your company in Portugal
From the partners' NIF to the bank account and tax registration. We explain each step and manage it all for you.
The 8 steps for your LDA / Unipessoal
Study and choice of structure
We analyse your activity, number of shareholders and goals to choose between LDA (several shareholders) or Unipessoal (single shareholder). No cost and no obligation.
Shareholders’ NIF (tax identification number)
We obtain the Portuguese NIF for each shareholder (equivalent to the Spanish NIE/CIF). It is mandatory to incorporate the company and to operate in Portugal.
Name reservation and admissibility certificate
We check and reserve the company name before the RNPC, obtaining the admissibility certificate before you sign anything.
Articles and incorporation before a notary
We draft the articles and formalise the deed of incorporation of the company. All the paperwork is managed online.
Registration with the RNPC
We register the company in the Portuguese commercial register (RNPC). You begin to exist legally.
Opening a bank account to deposit the capital
We open the company’s Portuguese bank account. In Portugal the minimum capital is from €1, so the outlay is symbolic.
Tax registration, VAT and employer number
We register the company with the tax authorities, obtain the VAT number and, if you are going to hire, the employer identification number (social security).
You start operating
You receive the company NIF, the VAT number, the bank account and access to your local advisor in Spanish. From here on, we manage accounting and tax for you.
Three points that raise the most questions
NIF / NIE of the partners
The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is the Portuguese equivalent of the NIE. We manage it for all shareholders online and without you having to travel.
Bank account and capital
The Portuguese bank account is opened as part of the process. Portugal does not require a real minimum capital, so the initial outlay is from €1.
Buying portfolio companies
If your goal is to acquire a holding/carve-out portfolio company or to structure holdings in several companies, the LDA holding is a common route: it groups your subsidiaries under a single parent and simplifies the distribution of dividends with the participation exemption.
We take care of each of these steps for you
You don't have to deal with the paperwork. Your local advisor handles the whole process from start to finish.
No commitment · Local advisor in English · Reply within 24h