How does D2 Visa work in Portugal, and who qualifies?

The D2 visa is aimed at non-EU nationals who want to build something in Portugal — setting up a business, investing in or running a company, or working as an independent (freelance) professional. It also includes the certified Start-up Visa route for founders working with an approved incubator.

What you need depends on your path. An entrepreneur generally shows a viable business plan, a freelancer shows service contracts for their activity, and a start-up founder shows incubation certification. Across all of these you will also need proof of means of subsistence for the stay, proof of accommodation in Portugal, a clean criminal record, a valid passport and insurance. You apply for the visa at a consulate or VFS and then apply for the residence permit with AIMA after arrival, with the visa decision due within around 60 days.

Because the evidence differs by sub-route, getting the right documents together is the key step. ACME can help you work out which D2 path fits and prepare a strong business plan or contracts package, and we recommend confirming the current requirements on vistos.mne.gov.pt before you apply.