Creating a Portuguese branch for a foreign company can be a smart, quick and easy way to start business in our attractive by the sea country.
Depending on their activity, foreign companies can establish herein under the freedom to provide services, by incorporating or acquiring an interest in a Portuguese company or through the creation of a Portuguese branch.
Companies looking to control initial costs or interested in a lighter corporate structure must certainly consider this third option. Creating a Portuguese branch may also allow them to taste the Portuguese market before taking a definitive investment decision.
The branch is merely an extension of the foreign company, as it has no legal personality. Although having its own legal representative in Portugal, it will develop its activity under the corporate structure and the guidelines of the foreign company.
The creation and register of a branch in Portugal is a bureaucratic operation, requiring specific documents and certain formalities but, with appropriate guidance, it can be a rather smooth process.
Following the collection of all necessary documents according to all legal procedures applicable, the branch can be immediately registered with the commercial registry office through a service called “Sucursal na Hora”. The process is completed with the register of the new corporate entity at the Beneficial Owner Central Register.
The branch is then ready to open a bank account and start its operation in Portugal.
How could this corporate model suit your company? Let ‘s find out together!
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CLJ Legal 