Elsa
Lawyer · Lisbon, Portugal
- 640 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 29+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Portuguese
- Law, Autonoma University Lisbon
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4.88(11 reviews)
Self-Employed Visa in Portugal
In Portugal, a non-EU freelancer or independent professional who wants to live and work for Portuguese clients applies for a D2 residence visa for independent activity; English-speaking lawyers explain the route, the recibos verdes regime and the file.
About Self-Employed Visa in Portugal
A self-employed visa for Portugal, also searched as a freelance visa or freelancer visa (in Portuguese visto para trabalhador independente, atividade independente), is the route for non-EU citizens who want to live in Portugal and earn their living by working for themselves, with clients in Portugal, as consultants, tradespeople, designers, therapists, translators or any other independent occupation. In Portugal there is no visa with this exact name: the application is made as a D2 visa for independent professional activity, the same visa category entrepreneurs use for a company. A “business visa” is something else again: a short-stay Schengen visa for meetings and trade fairs, with no right to work or settle.
Who it suits
People who will invoice Portuguese clients or a mix of clients, people with a trade or profession they can practise in Portugal, and those who want to start small before forming a company. If all the work is for employers or clients abroad, the digital nomad visa is the usual fit; if a Portuguese company will hire the person, the work visa.
How it works in Portugal
The applicant shows, at the Portuguese consulate or visa centre, that the independent activity is real and can support them: service contracts or written proposals from clients, qualifications and experience, a Portuguese tax number (NIF) with the activity opened at Finanças, a bank account, accommodation, health cover and a criminal record certificate. Once in Portugal, the holder registers with Social Security as an independent worker, issues recibos verdes (the electronic receipts of the self-employed) and attends AIMA for the residence card. Since the end of the “expression of interest” route, there is no longer a way to regularise as a self-employed person after entering as a tourist; the visa comes first.
What to watch for
- Regulated professions (health, law, engineering, teaching and others) require recognition of foreign qualifications before the activity can be opened.
- Means of subsistence are judged against figures tied to the minimum wage and change every year.
- The self-employed pay their own social security and income tax; the first period of activity has rules of its own, and a lawyer or accountant explains them before the move.
- Working for a single Portuguese “client” that behaves like an employer can be treated as disguised employment.
What a lawyer does
A lawyer confirms that the D2 independent route fits, obtains the NIF and opens the activity, drafts or reviews the client contracts that go into the file, prepares the consular application and the AIMA appointment, and handles renewals or a change to another permit type when the business grows into a company.
Questions and answers
Do I have to form a company to be self-employed in Portugal?
No. An individual can register an independent activity with the tax authority and work under recibos verdes; a company is optional.
Can I apply from inside Portugal?
Not any more, as a rule: the application starts at the consulate of the country of residence.
What is the difference between this and the digital nomad visa?
The digital nomad visa is for income earned from outside Portugal. The self-employed route is for work done for the Portuguese market.
Can I later switch to a job offer from a Portuguese company?
Yes, by changing the type of residence permit at AIMA, with the employment contract.
2 lawyers who provide Self-Employed Visa in Portugal
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Jorge
Lawyer · Porto, Portugal
- 116 cases handled
- 9+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Portuguese
- Law, Coimbra
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5.00(6 reviews)
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Self-Employed Visa
2 registered lawyers provide this service in Portugal. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.
Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
- EU Blue Card
- Citizenship Application
- Convert Student Visa to Work Visa
- D2 Entrepreneur Visa
- D7 Visa (Passive Income)
- Digital Nomad Visa
- EU Citizen Registration Certificate (Residency Certificate)
- Family Reunification Visa
- Golden Visa
- NIF Number Application (Portugal Tax ID)
- Residency Rights after Divorce or Separation
- Return Authorization (Re-entry Permit)
- Temporary Residence Card (TRC)
- Visa Refusal Appeals
- Work Visa
What our clients say about our service in Portugal
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The lawyer was very helpful and knowledgeable. Most important to me, he communicated clearly and left no grey area. I appreciate how he follows up, and honestly I find the value for money very convenient. I was completely satisfied with the result.
— Mona13 Jun 2023 -
The lawyer and her team responded to our inquiry straight away and stayed just as responsive for the entire service. Her team clearly grasped our needs and objectives, and thanks to their network of established local contacts they achieved our goals on time, with professionalism and competence. She always offered to be available, herself or through her team, for any questions or concerns we had, and she has kept in touch to support us throughout the visa process, in English that was flawless. She clearly exceeded our expectations. We are completely satisfied, and we will no doubt have further legal matters in the future and have no hesitation in asking her to help us with all sorts of Portuguese legal questions. All in all, a fantastic job, and a huge thanks to the team and the service.
— Edwin04 Oct 2022 -
He is excellent at what he does, and I really appreciated the opportunity to use remote services. He answered all my questions and helped solve my problem, and his English was perfect.
— Patricija01 Apr 2022 -
I have worked with this lawyer and have nothing but the very best to say about him. Very professional and friendly service and unseen dedication. A recommendation from the bottom of my heart!
— Lidija18 Jan 2022 -
She finds positive solutions and made the process smooth and stress free, in flawless English.
— julia29 Aug 2021 -
The lawyer helped me complete my residency promptly and efficiently, even though the remote-working policy of the government departments made things quite challenging at times. Her service was good value for money, and the help was excellent throughout. I would readily recommend her to my friends.
— Gregory07 Jan 2021 -
He was extremely helpful at every turn, and more than once he gladly spent a long time on the phone explaining things to me at no additional charge. He speaks excellent English, is very friendly, and the service offers great value for money.
— Jason12 Aug 2020TIE Card for UK Citizens (Brexit Withdrawal Agreement), Portugal -
I was happy with the service and very satisfied overall. I do have one suggestion: an email I was sent was written for Americans and used terminology that differs from British usage, which could be fixed in future correspondence.
— Lydia20 Sep 2022 -
My lawyer is a Godsend. He is trustworthy, diligent, knowledgeable, persistent and sincere, and punctual when it comes to replying to emails. I wholeheartedly recommend contacting him if you need legal representation in Portugal.
— Gregory31 Jan 2022 -
The lawyer and a colleague were excellent right from the start. She answered my numerous questions very quickly and kindly explained the procedures she handled, taking trouble to answer everything I asked. In an otherwise confusing situation she was an extremely valuable helper, and her English made it all easy to follow. The quick, effective service was also great value for money. Thank you again.
— Peter07 Jan 2021 -
Our lawyer has been outstanding in guiding and leading us through the whole visa process and giving legal support with buying the property. He is responsive, committed and friendly, and always goes the extra mile to get things done. We count ourselves lucky to have him as our lawyer and as a good friend in Portugal.
— Roy05 Sep 2022 -
The lawyer gives very useful advice and is good and responsive on emails. I will definitely turn to her for any legal matters in future.
— Rachel05 Jan 2021