Portugal address for foreign companies and non-residents: 2026 guide
Updated October 2026. Costs and requirements checked on official Portuguese portals on 19 October 2026.
A foreign company or a non-resident entrepreneur who wants to do business in Portugal will, in most cases, need a Portuguese address: either for the registered office of a Portuguese company or for the address of a branch. That address doesn’t have to be a leased office. It can be a virtual address in Portugal, provided by a virtual office. Giraldo Works accepts branches of foreign companies and offers an address in Lisbon, on Rua Castilho next to Avenida da Liberdade, from €20/month + VAT. In this guide we explain, with official sources, what you need to know.
This guide is for information only and is not legal or tax advice for your specific case.
Key takeaways
- Branch: a foreign company that wants to operate in Portugal for more than one year must set up a permanent representation (branch), according to gov.pt.
- Branch registration: €170 online or €200 in person (normal request), within 2 months of the parent company’s resolution.
- NIF for non-residents: the request is free and, according to gov.pt, requires a tax representative resident in Portugal.
- Address at Giraldo Works: non-residents and foreign companies, including branches, can sign up for our virtual office, with no sign-up fee; all we need is the ID of the representative or the applicant.
When a foreign company needs an address in Portugal
There are two main situations:
- Opening a branch in Portugal. According to gov.pt (in Portuguese), a company without its effective seat in Portugal that wants to operate here for more than one year must set up a permanent representation. One of the resolutions required to create it is the one approving the branch address.
- Setting up a Portuguese company owned by foreign shareholders. According to justica.gov.pt (in Portuguese), the company’s registered office must be in Portugal, but it doesn’t have to be where the company operates.
In both cases, the address must be specific, with district, municipality, parish and postcode. Anyone looking for an “international virtual address” to enter the Portuguese market is, in practice, looking for exactly this: a professional address in Portugal that can be used in official registrations. We explain the differences between registered office, tax address and virtual address in our article tax address vs registered office vs virtual address.
A Lisbon address for your branch or Portuguese company.
Branch or Portuguese company: the differences
| Branch (permanent representation) | Portuguese company | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal personality | None; it is an extension of the parent company | Its own legal personality |
| Address in Portugal | Branch address, approved by the parent company | Registered office, which must be in Portugal |
| How it is created | Branch service, online or at a Branch registry counter | Empresa online or Empresa na Hora, among others |
| Registration cost | €170 online / €200 in person (normal request) | €360 at Empresa na Hora |
Sources: registo.justica.gov.pt (Branch Office) and justica.gov.pt (Empresa na Hora, in Portuguese), checked on 19 October 2026. Lawyer, solicitor or accountant fees are not included.
How to register a branch of a foreign company
According to the Branch Office service on registo.justica.gov.pt, a branch has no legal personality of its own: it carries out all or part of the parent company’s activity and represents its interests in Portugal. To create one, you will need:
- a document proving the powers of the person making the request;
- the resolutions approving the branch, the appointment of its representative, its purpose, name, address, allocated capital and financial year-end;
- proof of the parent company’s legal existence (its commercial registration in the home country);
- the parent company’s articles of association or by-laws;
- the declaration of effective control.
Documents in a foreign language must come with a translation. The branch representatives must have a Portuguese NIF (tax number) and be over 18. The request must be made within 2 months of the parent company’s resolution; after that there is an additional fee. Once registered, the branch is automatically notified to the Central Register of Legal Entities, receives a Social Security number and has 30 days to declare its beneficial owner.
According to gov.pt, the online request is made by a lawyer, notary or solicitor. It can also be made in person at a Branch counter of the registry services.
NIF for non-residents and the tax representative
As we saw, branch representatives need a Portuguese tax number (NIF). According to the gov.pt guide how to request the NIF and NISS for foreign nationals (in Portuguese):
- a non-resident needs an ID document or passport and a tax representative (an individual or a company) resident in Portugal;
- requesting the NIF is free.
Once you have a NIF, the tax representative rules depend on where you live. Under Article 19 of the General Tax Law (in Portuguese), appointing a representative is optional for residents of other EU or European Economic Area states. For everyone else, the law waives the representative for those who sign up to electronic notifications, except for legal entities that cease activity. See also the gov.pt page appoint a tax representative (in Portuguese).
Note: the registered or branch address and the tax representative are different things. A virtual office address does not replace a tax representative where one is required. Check with an accountant what applies to your case.
A virtual address in Portugal with Giraldo Works
Non-residents and foreign companies can sign up for the Giraldo Works virtual office. We accept branches of foreign companies, as well as Portuguese companies with foreign shareholders, and there is no sign-up fee. The address is on Rua Castilho, next to Avenida da Liberdade, in central Lisbon. To sign up, all we need is the ID of the company representative or the applicant.
| Plan | Annual plan (paid upfront) | Monthly plan |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | €20/month | €25/month |
| Premium | €30/month | €35/month |
| Premium Plus | €70/month | €85/month |
VAT is added at the applicable legal rate. No sign-up fee. The annual plan has a 12-month minimum term.
If you are based abroad, mail digitalization (from the Premium plan) is especially useful. On Premium, our meeting rooms in Lisbon cost €8/hour + VAT, a price that already includes a 50% discount, and Premium Plus includes 2 hours of meeting room per month, for when you come to Portugal to meet clients or partners. If your team moves to Lisbon, the same building has private offices (see what a private office in Lisbon costs).
If you already have a Portuguese company and only want to move its registered office to Lisbon, see our guide how to move your company’s registered office to Lisbon.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign company have a virtual address in Portugal?
Yes. A branch address or the registered office of a Portuguese company can be a virtual office address, as long as the provider authorises it. At Giraldo Works, non-residents and foreign companies, including branches, can sign up for the virtual office, with an address on Rua Castilho in Lisbon.
When must a foreign company open a branch in Portugal?
According to gov.pt, a company without its effective seat in Portugal that wants to operate here for more than one year must set up a permanent representation.
How much does it cost to register a branch in Portugal?
According to registo.justica.gov.pt (checked on 19 October 2026), a normal request costs €170 online or €200 in person. An urgent request costs €370 online or €400 in person.
Does a non-resident need a tax representative to get a NIF?
According to gov.pt, a non-resident requesting a NIF needs an ID document or passport and a tax representative resident in Portugal. Afterwards, a representative is optional for EU or European Economic Area residents, and for others the law provides a waiver for those who sign up to electronic notifications (Article 19 of the General Tax Law).
Does a virtual office address replace a tax representative?
No. The registered or branch address and the tax representative are different things. Check with an accountant whether you need a tax representative in your case.
What documents does Giraldo Works ask a foreign company for?
All we need is the ID of the company representative or the applicant.
How much does a Lisbon address for a foreign company cost?
At Giraldo Works, the annual plan costs €20, €30 or €70/month, paid upfront with a 12-month minimum term. The monthly plan costs €25, €35 or €85/month. VAT is added at the applicable legal rate.
Bring your company to central Lisbon
An address for branches and companies on Rua Castilho, next to Avenida da Liberdade, from €20/month + VAT, with no sign-up fee. More than 250 companies already trust Giraldo Works.
