Portugal · Business / Startup
Portugal D2 freelancer visa
Income needed: €920+ a month ≈ $1,030
Residence authorization for independent professional activity with residence visa (D2, Art. 89(1) REPSAE)
Checked against official sources on Rule changed 18 May 2026Change log
Key facts
D2 freelancer visa is a business / startup route for Portugal. Applicants need income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- €920+ a month ≈ $1,030
- Government fees
- €133 ≈ $150 · +2 more
- Processing
- Up to 60 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 3 government fees listed below; income to show €920+/mo ≈ $1,030; decision: up to 60 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€133 ≈ $150 · +2 more
- EUR 133 (≈ $150)Application review fee for the residence permit; EUR 99.80 (≈ $110) when the application is filed digitally.
- EUR 114.3 (≈ $130)Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 (≈ $96) when applied for digitally.
- EUR 110 (≈ $120)National visa processing fee.
Shown, not spent€920+/mo ≈ $1,030
- EUR 920 a month (≈ $1,030)Means of subsistence for the residence visa, set at the 2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage (EUR 920, (≈ $1,030) net of social-security contributions) for the first adult; each further adult counts 50% and each child under 18 or dependent adult child 30%.
RenewalRenewable
Valid two years from issue, then renewable in successive three-year periods while subsistence, housing and tax and social-security conditions are still met. File renewal at least 30 days before expiry.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Permanent residence needs five years on a temporary residence authorization, no serious recent conviction, means of subsistence, housing and basic Portuguese.
CitizenshipAfter 10 years of residence
Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence on any residence title or visa (7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU states), plus Portuguese language and culture, and means of subsistence.
ProcessingUp to 60 days
The consulate must decide a residence visa within 60 days; after arrival AIMA must decide the residence permit within 90 days, extendable by 30 in exceptional cases.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for a residence visa at the Portuguese consulate for your place of residence, then book AIMA in Portugal for the residence permit.
Presence rulesStay rule
A temporary permit can be cancelled if you are away from Portugal without good reason for 6 consecutive months or 8 months in total during its validity, unless you worked or ran a business abroad.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Portugal, not after arriving
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant holds a residence visa for independent activity.
- The applicant is a self-employed professional or company owner.
What you must show1
- Means of subsistence of at least EUR 920 (≈ $1,030) a month (2026 guaranteed minimum wage) are shown for the first adult.
Documents5
- Valid passport.
- Valid residence visa for independent activity.
- Proof of activity start with the tax and social-security authorities.
- One of: a service contract, a company incorporation certificate or the latest invoices.
- Professional-body declaration where the profession is regulated.
What happens at day 183
How Portugal decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax yearResidence by presence.
- Foreign-source income
Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income.
All tax rules for Portugal Tax records checked
Full official text
Residence authorization for self-employed professionals and company owners holding an independent-activity residence visa, shown by business start-up registration, service contract, company certificate or recent invoices. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least EUR 920 a month (≈ $1,030) · Means of subsistence for the residence visa, set at the 2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage (EUR 920, (≈ $1,030) net of social-security contributions) for the first adult; each further adult counts 50% and each child under 18 or dependent adult child 30%. 8 9 7
- A fee of EUR 133 (≈ $150) · Application review fee for the residence permit; EUR 99.80 (≈ $110) when the application is filed digitally. 3
- A fee of EUR 114.3 (≈ $130) · Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 (≈ $96) when applied for digitally. 3
- A fee of EUR 110 (≈ $120) · National visa processing fee. 4
Requirements
- The applicant holds a residence visa for independent activity. 1
- The applicant is a self-employed professional or company owner. 1 2
- Means of subsistence of at least EUR 920 (≈ $1,030) a month (2026 guaranteed minimum wage) are shown for the first adult. 8 9
- Valid passport. 1
- Valid residence visa for independent activity. 1
- Proof of activity start with the tax and social-security authorities. 1
- One of: a service contract, a company incorporation certificate or the latest invoices. 1
- Professional-body declaration where the profession is regulated. 1
Stay
- Residence permit valid two years from issue date, renewable in successive three-year periods.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Independent professional activity; holder may apply to replace the permit for subordinate work.
Family
Spouse or partner, minor or dependent children, unmarried adult children studying in Portugal, dependent parents and minor siblings under guardianship can apply for family reunification once the holder's permit has been valid for two years; the wait does not apply to minor or dependent children. Your spouse or partner may work in Portugal without a separate permit.
Official sources
- Residence authorization for independent professional activity with residence visa, Art. 89(1) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- AIMA work index: residence authorizations for employment, self-employment and highly qualified activity · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-03-01
- National visa fees · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portuguese visa portal · checked 2026-10-12
- AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei n.º 61/2025 of 22 October (amends Law 23/2007, Arts. 98-105) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026 · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-09-10
- Means of subsistence for long-stay visas (2026 RMMG EUR920) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · checked 2026-10-12
- 2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG) EUR920, Decreto-Lei 139/2025 · DGERT · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-05-26
- Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11
D2 freelancer visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 freelancer visa | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Business investor permit Greece | Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the D2 freelancer visa?
Income of at least EUR 920 a month (≈ $1,030). Means of subsistence for the residence visa, set at the 2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage (EUR 920, (≈ $1,030) net of social-security contributions) for the first adult; each further adult counts 50% and each child under 18 or dependent adult child 30%. A fee of EUR 133 (≈ $150). Application review fee for the residence permit; EUR 99.80 (≈ $110) when the application is filed digitally. A fee of EUR 114.3 (≈ $130). Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 (≈ $96) when applied for digitally. A fee of EUR 110 (≈ $120). National visa processing fee.
How long can I stay on the D2 freelancer visa?
Residence permit valid two years from issue date, renewable in successive three-year periods.
How long does the D2 freelancer visa take to process?
The consulate must decide a residence visa within 60 days; after arrival AIMA must decide the residence permit within 90 days, extendable by 30 in exceptional cases.
Can I work on the D2 freelancer visa?
Independent professional activity; holder may apply to replace the permit for subordinate work.
Can I bring my family on the D2 freelancer visa?
Spouse or partner, minor or dependent children, unmarried adult children studying in Portugal, dependent parents and minor siblings under guardianship can apply for family reunification once the holder's permit has been valid for two years; the wait does not apply to minor or dependent children.
Who can apply for the D2 freelancer visa?
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the D2 freelancer visa lead to permanent residence in Portugal?
Time on the D2 freelancer visa counts toward permanent residence in Portugal, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the D2 freelancer visa counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence.
How are D2 freelancer visa holders taxed in Portugal?
No special regime in our records is tied to the D2 freelancer visa. The standard rules apply: Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income.
More in Portugal
Business / startup visas elsewhere
Head to head
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 10 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Residence authorization for independent professional activity with residence visa, Art. 89(1) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- AIMA work index: residence authorizations for employment, self-employment and highly qualified activity · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11
- National visa fees · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portuguese visa portal · checked 2026-10-12
- AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei n.º 61/2025 of 22 October (amends Law 23/2007, Arts. 98-105) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026 · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
- Means of subsistence for long-stay visas (2026 RMMG EUR920) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · checked 2026-10-12
- 2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG) EUR920, Decreto-Lei 139/2025 · DGERT · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.