Why Portugal

About Portugal

Portugal is a developed country with a high-income advanced economy and high living standards. A member of the United Nations and the European Union, Portugal was a founding member of NATO, the Eurozone and the OECD.

It is the 3rd most peaceful country in the World (Global Peace Index 2020) and the 15th most stable one, ranking highly in terms of democracy (10th), social progress (20th), prosperity (25th), press freedom (14th), moral freedom (3rd), LGBTI rights (7th in Europe), ease of doing business (29th) and road network (3rd).



Besides the South Western part of the Iberian Peninsula, which it has occupied for 9 centuries, Portugal’s territory includes the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. Its population is slightly under 11 million.

Portugal became a sovereign state in 1143. In the 15th and 16th centuries, despite its relatively small size, it established the first global empire, becoming one of the world's major economic, political and military powers. Independence was granted to its last overseas territories in 1975 (except for Macau, which was handed over to China in 1999) and this marked the end of the longest-lived global colonial empire.

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Portugal has left a marked cultural and architectural influence across the globe and a legacy of 300 million Portuguese speakers.

Why Invest in Portugal

Portugal’s attractiveness to foreign investors include:

• No exchange controls and no restrictions on moving capital
• A free-market, growing, economy and a low rate of inflation
• Access to key markets, including free movement of capital, goods, services and people within the European Union
• Skilled, yet competitively priced, human resources
• The lowest costs in general of Western Europe
• Top-notch infrastructure, including roads and telecoms
• A positive approach towards international business
• No restrictions to the establishment of businesses (except regulated activities, such as banking and insurance)
• No restrictions on the nationality and residence of business owners or directors, and on real estate ownership
• 5 days on average for company registration procedures
• Investment incentives funded by the European Union
• Incentives for the creation of jobs and for staff training
• Tax incentives for investing
• A relatively low effective rate of corporate taxation (±13.5%)
• Participation exemption regime