Portugal D2 Entrepreneur and Self-Employed Visa

Who Is the D2 Visa Suitable For?

A D2 application is assessed mainly in terms of two different profiles: entrepreneurs planning an investment or entrepreneurial activity in Portugal, and self-employed professionals who will carry out independent professional activity.

If the essence of the application is remote work for employers or clients outside Portugal, the Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa should be assessed separately; if residence is planned on the basis of passive or regular income of one's own, the Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa should be assessed separately.

The Difference Between the Entrepreneur D2 and the Self-Employed D2

In entrepreneur files, the genuineness and feasibility of the investment or business model come to the fore; in independent professional files, the service the applicant will provide, their professional qualifications and the documents showing the service relationship come to the fore.

Entrepreneur / Investor Profile

Self-Employed / Independent Professional Profile

• Service contract or written service offer
• Description of the independent professional activity to be provided
• Professional education, experience and qualification documents
• For regulated professions, checking the required professional license or qualifications
• Planning the consistency of the activity with tax and social security registrations

Is There a Fixed Minimum Investment Amount for the D2?

The legislation does not provide a single fixed minimum investment amount that applies to all applications for the D2 entrepreneur visa. Instead, the nature of the investment or planned venture, the financial resources the applicant can use in Portugal, and whether the intention to invest is concrete and capable of being documented are assessed together.

For this reason, the file should be prepared not merely according to a capital amount, but taking into account the business model, the financing, the company structure, the applicant's professional background and the coherence of the activity planned in Portugal.

Key Elements of the Application

The D2 Application Process

AIMA and the Residence Card

The D2 visa is the first stage of the process of entering Portugal and obtaining a residence permit. After entry into Portugal, the residence permit application before AIMA must be completed with documents appropriate to the structure of the activity.

Under AIMA's current practice for independent professional activity, the temporary residence permit is valid for two years at the first stage, and subsequent renewals can be made for periods of three years each. In every file, the legislation and administrative practice at the date of application are checked separately.

Company Formation and Corporate Procedures

In files where forming a company is appropriate or necessary for the D2 application, the corporate structure in Portugal can be planned together with the visa file. Company formation and ongoing corporate procedures are carried out through the authorized attorney, financial advisor or other professionals in Portugal.

Whether the company will be formed before the application is assessed separately according to the investment and activity model of each file; the D2 application should not be reduced in every case to a requirement of a previously formed company.

Self-Employment and Regulated Professions

For applicants who will carry out independent professional activity in Portugal, in addition to the service relationship, it must also be checked whether the profession requires a special authorization or registration with a professional body.

Applying with a Spouse and Children

The D2 process can be planned together with the spouse and eligible family members. The visa and residence procedures of family members are structured separately according to the main applicant's status, the family relationship and the timing of the application.

Refusals, Requests for Additional Documents and Delays

If a refusal, a request for additional documents or a delay arises in a D2 visa or residence file, the current status of the application, the investment or activity documents and the grounds for refusal are reviewed together.

Coordination with Professionals in Portugal and the Limits of Our Service

Canaydın Law Firm's D2 service covers the suitability assessment, obtaining the NIF, bank account opening procedures, preparing the visa file in Türkiye and booking the appointment, where necessary carrying out company and corporate procedures in Portugal through the relevant professionals, preparing the AIMA residence file, and coordinating the local attorney's accompaniment to the AIMA appointment. Tax and accounting matters, and procedures that can be carried out only by professionals authorized in Portugal, are performed by the relevant independent professionals.