Most firms that advise on the Portugal D2 visa stop at the paperwork. They’ll review your business plan, stamp your application, and wave goodbye — leaving you to figure out company registration, a NIF, a Portuguese bank account, and your first tax filing on your own, usually after you’ve already landed.
Xee Consulting handles all three under one roof: immigration and legal, company registration and accounting, and tax and financial consultancy. If you’re serious about moving to Portugal to run a business or work independently, that matters more than it sounds — a D2 application built without a real, compliant company behind it is one of the most common reasons for refusal.
Once granted, the visa is valid for four months, during which you travel to Portugal and convert it into a two-year residence permit — renewable for a further three years. After five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residency; citizenship eligibility currently sits at ten years for most nationalities, or seven for EU and CPLP citizens, following the 2026 amendments to the Nationality Law.Not every business idea or every applicant fits the D2 route. It tends to work well if you fall into one of these groups: Freelancers and independent professionals with an established client base who want to keep working the same way, just from Portugal. Founders relocating an existing business, or launching a new one, who can show real market demand and a workable plan — not just an idea. Small investors buying into or taking over an existing Portuguese company rather than starting from zero. Remote business owners who run a company registered elsewhere but want to establish genuine operations, and residency, in Portugal. If your only asset is passive income with no intention of running a business, the D7 visa is usually the better fit. If you're a remote employee rather than a business owner, look at the D8. We'll tell you honestly during the first consultation if the D2 isn't the right route for your situation — sending someone down the wrong visa path wastes months.