Portugal Country of residence
Starting in Portugal while resident in Switzerland
Your canton, retained income and actual role in Portugal shape the file. Nationality is a separate question from your Swiss address and from ownership of the new company.
Let’s discuss your project
A few details to understand your business and the next step.
Bertrand Jayol receives your enquiry for an initial assessment. Referral to the partner is considered with your agreement. Privacy
Describe a project by location
Imagine living in the canton of Vaud and preparing a Portuguese renovation company while keeping an assignment for a Swiss client. Record who performs that assignment, where the work happens and which contract governs it. A Portuguese team delivering building work while you remain in Switzerland is a different scenario from moving and managing the operation there every day.
Identify the cantonal contact
The Swiss foreign affairs guidance directs cross-border tax questions to residence authorities or an adviser, taking treaties into account. Identify your canton and the relevant contacts before leaving. Retained housing, property income or continuing work each deserves a specific question. A Portuguese company does not establish that all Swiss obligations have ended, nor does one international customer explain the whole position.
Prepare personal and business evidence
Collect your travel calendar, family and property connections, Swiss contracts, income categories and intended remuneration arrangements. Describe the Portuguese projects, shareholders and management responsibilities too. A resident of Switzerland is not necessarily a Swiss citizen: nationality-specific consular or mobility rules should not be applied automatically to everyone holding a Swiss residence permit. Record your citizenship and immigration status in separate fields.
Review the move before redirecting work
Request a coordinated review of continuing Swiss connections and the Portuguese operating model. For construction work, include sector checks alongside the formation calendar. Your next step is a table identifying each activity, country of performance, contracting party and responsible person. Use it to resolve open questions before changing invoices, signing building contracts or making irreversible promises to clients.
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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