🇵🇹 Portugal · Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Quick answer
Portugal welcomes foreign investment through AICEP (Portugal Global), with EU free movement of capital and no exchange controls. Screening applies only to a narrow set of strategic assets; incentives include investment tax credits (RFAI), the SIFIDE R&D credit, and EU-cofinanced regional programs.
Foreign investment in Portugal is promoted by AICEP Portugal Global, which supports investors and exporters. Most sectors are open to foreign capital.
- AICEP supports foreign investors and exporters.
- Most sectors are open to foreign investment.
- Portugal offers incentives for certain activities and regions.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check the investment regime
Portugal welcomes FDI with EU free movement of capital; AICEP supports investors and site selection.
- 2
Check strategic-asset screening
Screening applies only to a narrow set of strategic assets (energy, transport, communications infrastructure).
- 3
Choose your vehicle and register
Set up a Lda. or S.A. (or branch) via Empresa na Hora and register with the tax and social-security authorities.
- 4
Access incentives
Use the RFAI investment tax credit, the SIFIDE R&D credit and EU-cofinanced grants (Portugal 2030) for eligible projects.
- 5
Handle capital and repatriation
There are no exchange controls, so capital, dividends and profits move freely within the EU and abroad.
- 6
Meet reporting and protections
Keep corporate/tax filings; EU law and investment treaties provide investor protection.
Checklist
- Open regime (EU free capital) + AICEP
- Strategic-asset screening (narrow)
- Lda./S.A./branch + tax + social security
- RFAI + SIFIDE (R&D) + Portugal 2030 grants
- No exchange controls (free flows)
- Corporate/tax filings
- EU-law + investment-treaty protection
- CTA to .com/.ai for AI-assisted planning
Official authorities
- AICEP Portugal Global
Trade and investment promotion agency.
Frequently asked questions
Does Portugal screen foreign investment?
Only narrowly — a limited screening applies to strategic assets in energy, transport and communications; most investment is entirely free.
What incentives are available?
The RFAI investment tax credit, the SIFIDE R&D tax credit and EU-cofinanced grants under Portugal 2030 for eligible projects.
Can I repatriate profits from Portugal?
Yes — Portugal has no exchange controls, so dividends and capital move freely (withholding tax may apply to outbound dividends).
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- ePortugal — Citizen and business services incl. residence and foreign-resident matters
- Tax Portal (Portal das Finanças) — Portuguese income tax (IRS), VAT (IVA), and tax number (NIF)
- AICEP Portugal Global — Foreign investment and trade promotion