2 years

3 years

The process of obtaining a residence permit can be broken down into several stages:

1. Collecting documents and preparing business materials (on average, one month)
2. Submitting the application to the platform and waiting for feedback from incubators (on average, one month)
3. Application review by IAMPEI (4-6 months)
4. After approval from IAMPEI, you need to sign a contract with one of the interested incubators from stage 2. You have 40 days to do this. The incubation must be physical (purely online programs are not acceptable).
5. After signing the contract, it must be uploaded to the platform within 5 days. This is done by the incubator.
6. Then a Declaration of Acceptance to StartUP Visa (Declaração de Aceitação ao StartUP Visa) is issued, and you have 180 days to apply for a D2 visa. You can apply in your country of citizenship/residence through the Portuguese consulate, or you can travel to Portugal with a Schengen visa and apply for a residence permit at SEF (this is the preferred option as it saves time on obtaining the D2 visa).
7. If applying for a D2 visa directly at SEF, the processing time is officially up to 60 days.

As a result, the entire process for obtaining a residence permit can take about a year, although this is an average estimate, and your case may vary.

After 5 years of living in Portugal, you can apply for a passport

You need to provide the following business materials:

1. Pitch deck
2. Completed form from IAMPEI with answers about the project
3. Motivation letter explaining your desire to develop the project in Portugal

Projects are considered from the idea stage to the stage where the business is already operational, but not older than 4 years

The D visa is requested after the final approval from IAPMEI. This visa allows its holder to enter Portugal to apply for a residence permit, permits two entries into Portugal, and allows a stay in the country for 4 months. Documents for obtaining a D visa:

1. Application form
2. Declaration from IAPMEI confirming the contract with a certified incubator
3. Two recent passport-sized color photographs
4. Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned stay
5. Proof of sufficient funds (€6,000 for the main applicant)
6. Insurance covering necessary medical services, including possible repatriation, for one year
7. Criminal record certificate
8. Request through SEF (Portuguese Immigration Service) for a criminal record certificate
9. Proof of permanent status if the applicant is a resident of another country different from the one applying for the visa
10. Document confirming accommodation conditions in Portugal (or termo de responsabilidade from the host). The rental contract must be for at least one year (365 days)

After entering Portugal with the received residence visa (Visto de residência), the entrepreneur must request a residence permit from SEF as follows:

1. Access the website https://imigrante.sef.pt/deslocacao-sef/ and schedule an appointment at SEF for submitting the residence permit application;
2. On the appointed day, the applicant must personally submit the completed application form https://imigrante.sef.pt?media_dl=1923, signed by the applicant or their legal representative;

Along with the completed application form, you need to provide:

• Declaration of Acceptance (Declaração de Aceitação) from IAPMEI, confirming the contract with the certified incubator;
• The contract with the incubator

Documents required for the residence permit application:

1. Two identical high-quality photographs (if the appointment is at SEF offices in Odivelas, Aveiro, or Braga);
2. Valid passport;
3. Proof of sufficient funds;
4. Proof of accommodation;
5. Proof of legal entry into Portugal;
6. Authorization to request a criminal record certificate through SEF;
7. Criminal record certificate from the country of residence.