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Self Employment in Portugal

If you are an EU national or have obtained permanent residence card to live in Portugal you can then work as a self employed person or become a sole trader.

Self Employment In Portugal
If you are an EU national or have obtained permanent residence card to live in Portugal you can then work as a self employed person or become a sole trader.
Being Self Employed In Portugal

If you want to be self employed while living in the country of Portugal then it would be wise for you to discuss it with a professional before you make a final decision.

If it is your goal to be self employed in the country of Portugal in a particular trade you will have to meet certain requirements, just as you would have to with other countries. For instance, if you are an electrician you must have all of your qualifications recognised and registered by the right people and organizations in Portugal. Portuguese law sometimes requires those that are self employed to have an official status and can sometimes be illegal in certain instances by just starting up a business. You do not want to start an illegal business.

In certain trades and professions you will be required to posses professional qualifications and certifications that Portugal will recognize. To obtain these you will have to take a written examination that is in Portuguese. If you're are a lawyer that is practicing law it is unlikely you will get a permit to practise without the right qualifications.

A appropriate example of this would have to be the estate agency industry. Unlike the U.K., Portugal will require estate agents to be regulated and licensed and if you decide to set up a real estate business without the right qualifications you can face a lot of legal trouble and especially fines.

Even though a self employed person in Portugal does have a few tax advantages you will not have protection of a limited company if your business ends up failing. You may find some advantages to run your business as a limited company like a Sociedade por Quotas (Lda).

It is very advisable for a person wishing to operate as a sole trader that you get advice from a professional or wishing to for a company in Portugal since there are many tax and social security consequences. Any person that is self employed in Portugal must register for social security, IVA (VAT), and income tax. If you earn income in Portugal you will need a Numero de Fsical which is obtained through your local tax office.

For more information on Self Employment in Portugal and on buying Property for sale in Portugal contact the team at Portugal property by email at: info@portugalproperty.com or feel free to call anytime from 8am to 8pm on 0800 014 8201