The Real Cost of Portugal's D2 Visa
From attorney fees to financial means requirements, here is what we actually spent and how long it took.
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5/26/20263 min read
You are likely reading this because you’re thinking about moving to Portugal. Parabéns! Two of the questions we keep hearing are: what does the Portugal D2 visa actually cost, and how long does it take? They are also, somehow, the hardest to get a straight answer on. You can spend hours reading forum threads and blog posts and still walk away without a real number. We've done it recently and wanted to share a literal line-by-line breakdown of Portugal entrepreneur visa fees, down to the last dollar of what it costs and how long it takes:
Attorney Fees with Support Through Residency for 2 Visas (4 Installments) — $4,918
Company Formation — $1,397
Health Insurance for 6 Months for 2 People — $440
2 FBI Background Check + Apostille + Fingerprinting (Expedited) — $350
Business Bank Account Opening — $349
2 NIFs Done Virtually — $150
Visa Application at Consulate — $256
Marriage Certificate Apostille — $2
Opening a Bank Account Done in Portugal — Free
Total for Two People (2025) — $7,862 USD
The total cost of our D2 Visa application for two people was $7,862 USD. It goes without saying that our largest expense was the attorneys (nearly two-thirds of the total cost). This included securing our consulate appointment, which alone was worth a significant portion of the fee given how difficult those slots can be to get. This is a personal decision for everyone to make based on their own situation. For us, we were both working full time jobs when we applied and did not have the time to devote to the application process. It was more efficient for us to hire an attorney to prepare our application. If we had had more time, perhaps we could have done it on our own. Many people do their own visas successfully, and this is definitely a viable route. However, based on our own experience, there are many risks that attorneys can help mitigate and they definitely speed up and reduce stress around the process.
In addition to the costs associated with the D2 visa process, D2 visa applicants should also demonstrate financial means equivalent to at least 12 times the Portuguese minimum wage. For 2026, that is:
€920 (monthly minimum wage) × 12 = €11,040 × 2 (for two people) = €22,080 in savings
Prior to our Consulate appointment, we transferred €20,880 (the amount for two people in 2025) into our joint Portuguese bank account.
What about variable costs after arriving? We want to be clear that the above are not the only costs associated with obtaining a visa. There are ongoing expenses. One is that you need to have a 12 month lease. For us, we had already bought land which counted for this, but this, along with security deposits, should be factored in. However, we don’t include this in the table because, no matter where you live, you have to pay for housing, so it is not a marginal cost. True ongoing costs of the D2 business include hiring a Portuguese accounting firm to keep your books compliant and paying for domiciliation (the official registration of a legal or physical address for a person or company) if you’re not able to use your personal residence. Onto the next most important question:
From Our First Email with Lawyers Until Our Visa Appointment — 4.5 months
From Our Visa Appointment Until the Visa Was Ready — 1.5 months
Length of the Visa — 4 months
Visa Issued Until AIMA Residency Appointment — 7.5 months
Note: timelines vary by Consulate and AIMA backlog
Although those six months working towards our D2 visa felt long and were filled with plenty of drama and frustration, looking back, it’s remarkable how quickly we went from dream to reality. When we arrived in Portugal, we were set up with our business ready to launch. The D2 visa is a great fit for people with existing businesses, those who want to set up one, and those who are looking for more flexibility and time freedom.
What Does the D2 Visa Timeline Actually Look Like? Here is Ours:
What Does the Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa Actually Cost? Here is Our Exact Breakdown:
Have questions about what your visa process might look like? We have been through it and are happy to share what we learned.
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