How to Register a Company in Portugal (Lda. (Sociedade por Quotas)) as a Foreign Founder
Setting up a Portugal Lda. (Sociedade por Quotas) is more straightforward than it first looks — if you know which route you actually qualify for. Most guides quote a single headline figure and stop there, leaving founders to discover the real conditions the hard way.
BIZ TRP confirms your real route before you spend anything on documents: the right capital structure, the signature or representation path that fits you, and the compliance steps that come after registration — so the company you register is the company you can actually run.
Decision quick facts
- Entity
- Lda. (Sociedade por Quotas)
- Capital
- 1 EUR per shareholder
- Remote formation
- Yes — via a digital certificate via Empresa Online, or a local Power of Attorney
- Corporate tax
- 17% — 2026 rate, reduced from 20/21%
- VAT
- 23%
- Registration time
- 5–15 working days — same-day via Empresa na Hora
Find your exact path
Select one option in each group. The checklist will update without collecting identity data.
What you need before you start
- A registered address in Portugal Required
- Standard capital requirement confirmed for your structure Required
- Access to a digital certificate via Empresa Online, or a local Power of Attorney for every signer, or a local representative if not If applicable
- UBO / beneficial-owner information Required
- Foreign legal-entity documents (translated/apostilled where applicable) If applicable
- None — non-resident managers can be appointed, but they must obtain a Portuguese NIF (tax number) first. Required
From confirmed route to registered company
Confirm the route
Founder type, governance, address, and the actual signing method for your case.
Prepare documents
Only the translations, certifications, and UBO material your profile actually requires.
Apply the capital rule
The correct amount, payment timing, and any reduced-capital conditions.
Execute and file
Sign through the accepted channel and file with the Commercial Registry (Conservatória do Registo Comercial / IRN).
Go operational
Banking, tax/VAT activation, and any licences are separate steps — plan for them, don't assume them.
What you actually pay
Government fees
- Capital requirement (if applicable, fully paid in)
- 1 EUR per shareholder
- Registry filing fee
- Ask us for the current figure
BIZ TRP fees
- Route confirmation & document preparation
- Ask us for a quote — from €120/hour
- Registration coordination
- Ask us for a quote — from €120/hour
Where this usually goes wrong
A Portuguese tax number is required before you can even file. Foreign founders must first obtain a NIF (often via a fiscal representative for non-EU citizens) — this single step is the main source of delay.
"Remote" gets assumed rather than confirmed. Not every signer automatically has what's needed for a remote route. We check the signing route before it becomes a filing delay, not after.
Registration gets treated as the finish line. The company exists, but banking, tax activation, and licensing are separate work — founders who assume otherwise lose weeks they didn't budget for.
Your action checklist
Ready to confirm your route?
BIZ TRP reviews your route, prepares and coordinates your formation documents, and handles POA/notary or local-partner steps where needed.
Request your Portugal route review Email usCommon questions
Is 1 EUR per shareholder always the capital requirement?
That's the standard figure as researched — Confirm which route applies to your specific case before relying on it.
Can I register fully remotely?
For most founders, yes — through a digital certificate via Empresa Online, or a local Power of Attorney, depending on which signers are involved.
Does registration mean I can start operating immediately?
No. Registration creates the legal entity. Banking, tax/VAT activation, and any licences are separate steps.