Portugal Foreign business
A French company opening a Portuguese subsidiary
A French parent can hold shares in a new Portuguese company. Prepare the parent’s authority, registry evidence and intended transactions between the businesses before starting the formation file.
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A few details to understand your business and the next step.
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Establish what the parent will own
A French cleaning company wants local staff to deliver Portuguese contracts. A subsidiary is a separate company owned by the parent; a branch extends the parent without separate legal personality. If the directors invest personally instead, their new company is not automatically the French company's subsidiary. Draw the intended ownership before choosing the registration process or arranging funding transfers.
Identify the French evidence
INPI distinguishes the RNE registration attestation from the Kbis extract. Identify the parent by registration number and check that its name, office and management match current articles. The selected Portuguese service must confirm acceptable documents and formats. Evidence of the company's existence does not necessarily replace authority to invest or evidence that the individual signing can bind it.
Map the intercompany relationship
List capital contributions, advances, management services, equipment and any staff made available. Identify who owns the brand, contracts with customers and pays launch expenses. Prepare draft agreements and payment dates: a transfer from the parent does not explain by itself whether the subsidiary has received equity, a loan or payment for a service, nor what records support that movement.
Review the assembled file
Collect current articles, registry evidence, the applicable decision, representative identities and the beneficial ownership chain. Justiça describes foreign corporate shareholder documents for online incorporation. Confirm the selected route before ordering translations or certifications. Your next step is a prepared discussion using the ownership chart, expected flows and documents already available, with missing items assigned to the parent or Portuguese team.
Portugal
Before you incorporate
Registering as self-employed and incorporating a company are different routes. The choice depends on how your business actually operates. A Portuguese company alone does not determine your tax residence or the treatment of every source of income.
Information to gather
- Your country of residence and where you actually work.
- A description of the services or products you sell.
- Whether your customers are businesses or individuals, and their countries.
- Any shareholders, existing business structure and your planned timing.
Sources and references
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