Do I need to fly to Portugal to set up my company?
No. The entire process is handled 100% remotely. Through a power of attorney, we represent you in all formalities, from incorporation to tax registration. That includes the company's bank account: where you select that module, we open it at a Portuguese bank under the same power of attorney and prepare the full compliance pack on your behalf. You don't need to set foot in Portugal at any point during the setup.
How long does incorporation take?
Typically 4 to 6 weeks from initial engagement to an active company. The timeline depends on how quickly your documents come together and on third-party processing times. If your matter is time-critical, tell us on the first call and we will set out what is realistic before you engage us.
Can non-EU citizens own a Portuguese company?
Yes. There are no citizenship restrictions for company ownership in Portugal. Anyone can be a shareholder or director of a Portuguese company.
What if a shareholder also needs a visa?
Then the order of operations matters. The share structure and the activity described in the articles have to line up with the residency application, or you end up incorporating twice. Book a call before anything is filed and we map the sequence with you.
What's actually in the price? Any hidden costs?
Our fees are modular, so you only pay for the work your structure needs. The €1,500 base covers the incorporation mandate: drafting the articles of association, all required corporate documentation, the filings the incorporation calls for, and the company's NIF and tax registration. You add only what applies: NIF for non-resident shareholders (€250 each), registered office for the first year (€600), first-year accounting (€1,200), and corporate bank account opening (€750). Typical all-in legal fees run €1,765 to €3,715. Legal work after incorporation (employment contracts, commercial and distribution agreements, corporate changes) is not in the base fee and is quoted separately, as a fixed fee, before it begins. Separately from our fees, there are charges payable to the Portuguese State and to third parties: registry charges (currently €435), notary fees where a notarial deed is required for your structure (~€150 to €400), and apostille of your foreign documents, arranged in your home country. We do not collect or mark up any of these: you settle them directly, and we tell you what they are in writing before they fall due.
Who will work on my matter?
Every engagement is led by our managing partner, who remains your point of contact. Where the matter calls for it, senior Portuguese lawyers in tax, employment, regulatory, real estate or litigation join the team. Everyone involved is named in your engagement letter, under one engagement and one fee structure.
What if something goes wrong, or there is a delay?
We tell you in writing, before you engage us, what could slow the file down and whose clock is running. The most common external delays are document availability on your side (passport, apostille, source-of-funds pack) and bank compliance review. We flag both upfront in writing so you know which clock is running. As a law firm, we also operate under the professional liability regime of the Portuguese Bar Association.
We are a law firm abroad. Can we instruct you for a client?
Yes. We act as Portuguese local counsel for foreign law firms, with the client relationship staying with you and the billing arrangement agreed in writing at the outset. See
how an instruction works.