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A new E-Residency Program was announced by the  portuguese government

The Portuguese government is taking the first steps towards implementing an “E-residency” program to attract foreign entrepreneurs. The digital program would allow foreign citizens, who do not reside in Portugal, to use Portuguese public services online.

This actions is part of the government’s National Strategy for Entrepreneurship for 2020, to encourage investment technology and innovation, responding to the challenges of the digital age and taking advantage of the opportunities that the growing geographical mobility of people and companies generates, with significant socio-economic impact, which is deemed necessary and crucial for the country’s recovery and growth.

The applicants, who do not have to displace to Portugal to attend any of the public services involved in the standard process, can see granted rights regardless of their physical location, as they will be able to conduct all proceedings online.

This program is replicating the model implemented by Estonia between 2014 and 2018; within this period over 41,000 applications were presented under this program, dispersed among applicants from 160 countries.

Under the program, an investor may, for example, obtain a tax identification number, incorporate a company, fulfil tax obligations or develop economic activity in Portugal.

Hence, the possibility of opening a company in Portugal within minutes, without bureaucracy, paperwork or travel costs, will be a giant step and of extreme economic importance for the development of any foreign business that intends to expand into the European market or into the Portuguese speaking countries market (PALOP), such as Angola, Mozambique or Brazil.

The benefits of E-Residency include:

  • Be location independent:
    • Start a company 100% online from anywhere in the world;
    • Travel and operate your business remotely;
    • Move abroad without the need to re-establish your company;
  • Start an EU company:
    • Register an EU-based company entirely online;
    • Accept online payments through providers like PayPal;
    • Own your company without the need to appoint a local director;
  • Grow business remotely:
    • Sign, authenticate, encrypt and send documents digitally;
    • Declare business taxes online;
    • Access EU single Market and cross-border capital;
  • Join a global community:
    • Network with e-residents across more than 165 countries;
    • Connect with service providers in a growing market place;
    • Discover new ways to grow your business.

In addition to this program, the government is working to simplify other public administration digital services for international entrepreneurs, providing English-language services, as well as processes for welcoming immigrants, with one-stop shops that allow integrated responses to their needs.

In addition to the E-Residency program, Portugal also offers various measures and programs such as the Non-Habitual Tax Residents Scheme (reduced taxation on personal income for new residents), the KEEP (for employees), the Golden Visa (residence right based in real estate, financial, corporate, cultural, technologic or scientific investments), the TechVisa (to attract high qualified foreigners), and the StartUp Visa (for innovative projects and entrepreneurs).