Register as a Freelancer and Start Monthly Filing
Self-employed freelancers in Portugal must use the tax portal for everything: from raising invoices to mandatory monthly VAT filing.
We automate your obligations in Portugal and give you a dedicated tax attorney to manage your monthly, quarterly and annual obligations, end-to-end.
€165
monthly
- Self-Employed Registration
- Monthly and Quarterly VAT
- Social Security Filing
- Annual Tax Return
- Green Receipts (Invoices)
Book Introduction Call
What is a Freelancer?
Working as a freelancer in Portugal can be very tax efficient, particularly if you're under 35. With tax rates as low as 0% and no social security in your first year: it's a very popular setup for expats.
Freelancers need to be registered, submit official invoices, file monthly and quarterly VAT returns, social security declarations and an annual tax return.
24 hour registration,
with Touchdown
Requirements
You are or can become a Portuguese resident
You can work as a contractor or freelancer
You have a Portuguese Fiscal Number (NIF)
Why use Touchdown? We make working as a freelancer in Portugal easy.
Book a free introduction call to go through your situation and needs with our in-house legal team in minutes.
1
Book Free Introduction Call
1 minute
Book a free, zero-obligation introduction call with the Touchdown team to run through your plans, approach and strategy. You can choose a date and time at your convenience.
2
Speak with our in-house legal team
15 minutes
Discuss your approach and ask any questions. We'll tell you about your obligations and how we can help. If you're interested in holistic Portuguese tax planning, a paid tax consultation is recommended.
3
We register you as self-employed and start filing
Typically 24 hours
We'll request some documents which you'll submit electronically: your NIF and personal details. We'll file to register you as self-employed with the Portuguese tax authorities, typically within the next working day. The same month, we'll start monthly, quarterly and annual filing.
Book Introduction Call
€165
monthly
What's included?
€165
monthly
Transparent pricing and thoughtfully crafted packages, for every application.
Self-Employed Registration
Monthly VAT Filing
Quarterly VAT Filing
Social Security Filing
Annual Portugal Tax Return
Issurance of Green Receipts
Dedicated Tax Attorney
Free Introduction Call
Book Introduction Call
We have happy customers
500+ customers from all walks of life have already turned to Touchdown to support them in finding a new home.
As someone who appreciates well-organized services, I was genuinely impressed by Touchdown. They helped me obtain my NIF and navigate some rather complex tax requirements for expats in Portugal. The team kept me informed at every stage and handled everything with such professionalism. I'm grateful to have found a service that truly understands the needs of newcomers to Portugal. Ended up saving a whopping 30% in taxes thanks to their international tax team. Really impressive stuff.
Tia Katarina
Freelancer
So so easy! Thank you guys. I've had endless bad experiences with lawyers over the years, but you somehow made this so straightforward. Did the NHR scheme all from outside Portugal. Recommend to all other digital nomads.
Ultan Miller
Digital Nomad
I spoke with Manuel and he was extremely professional and helpful and helped me make better sense of my situation, and recommended a set-up based on it. Would highly recommend this service to any digital nomads or expats planning to move to portugal
Karim
Digital Nomad
I am super grateful to the team of TouchDown for making my experience of moving to Portugal easy. I had 24/7 support and i was immediately given answers on all the questions I had. Going to recommend TouchDown to anyone who wants to get a Portuguese residence and tax efficient structuring.
Olesia Edelman
Freelancer
As someone who appreciates well-organized services, I was genuinely impressed by Touchdown. They helped me obtain my NIF and navigate some rather complex tax requirements for expats in Portugal. The team kept me informed at every stage and handled everything with such professionalism. I'm grateful to have found a service that truly understands the needs of newcomers to Portugal. Ended up saving a whopping 30% in taxes thanks to their international tax team. Really impressive stuff.
Tia Katarina
Freelancer
So so easy! Thank you guys. I've had endless bad experiences with lawyers over the years, but you somehow made this so straightforward. Did the NHR scheme all from outside Portugal. Recommend to all other digital nomads.
Ultan Miller
Digital Nomad
I spoke with Manuel and he was extremely professional and helpful and helped me make better sense of my situation, and recommended a set-up based on it. Would highly recommend this service to any digital nomads or expats planning to move to portugal
Karim
Digital Nomad
I am super grateful to the team of TouchDown for making my experience of moving to Portugal easy. I had 24/7 support and i was immediately given answers on all the questions I had. Going to recommend TouchDown to anyone who wants to get a Portuguese residence and tax efficient structuring.
Olesia Edelman
Freelancer
Planning to register as a Freelancer in Portugal? Watch this first
In this video, our in-house legal team breaks down everything you need to know before registering as a Freelancer.
Why use Touchdown?
We're a registered Portuguese law firm, you have a direct line into a team of world-class lawyers.
Meet the Touchdown Team
We respond within 24 hours and always communicate with clarity.
View our company mission
Over 100 customers use Touchdown for their freelancer activities every month.
Hear from our customers
What are the benefits of registering as a freelancer?
Freelancing or registering as self-employed in Portugal is incredibly tax efficient and simple. New freelancers have significantly reduced tax rates in the first 5 years, with further reductions for under 35s.
Simple Accounting
You can use the simplified accounting regime, which allows you to be taxed on your gross income minus up to 15% for expenses.
Optimised For Income
Freelancing is incredibly tax-efficient in Portugal. As standard, only 37.5% of your income is even considered for tax in your first year.
Benefits for Under 35s
Your tax rate is further reduced if you're under 35. This regime is known as U35 Jovem: pay as low as 0% in your first year.
Read our comprehensive 2025 Portugal Freelancer Guide
Our team has compiled the latest and most accurate information along with our hands-on experience to publish our 2025 Portugal Freelancer Guide. We lean on decades of combined experience and always track the latest regulatory and procedural changes.
Your most common questions, answered
More questions to ask? Reach out to our responsive team.
Deciding on freelancer registration or applying for the NHR 2.0 (IFICI) Regime is not easy and often requires professional evaluation. We published a blog covering this, which you can read here. In short, registering as a freelancer in Portugal is often more tax efficient if you earn less than 100,000 EUR per year and you're optimising for income.
Yes, Touchdown's Freelancer Subscription will cover everything: from initial registration to all of the reporting and filing you have to do on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. This includes initial registration, VAT returns, social security declarations, your annual Portugal income tax return and the issuance of all of your invoices.
In order to qualify to be a freelancer in Portugal, you need to be a Portuguese resident. Further, you have to be able to work as a contractor and issue invoices to clients: they can be individuals or businesses: inside or outside of Portugal.
As standard, this service includes five monthly invoices. Touchdown's team can handle more: just let us know during your consultation call.
Setting up as a freelancer in Portugal is a simple process. You need a Portuguese Fiscal Number (NIF) and your Finanças password. You'll need to register as a freelancer with Finanças first, and then start filing monthly, quarterly and annually. Touchdown's Freelancer Subscription Service takes care of all of your obligations, as well as the initial registration.
Filing monthly, quarterly and annually is not easy. You need to file official declarations carefully and accurately: but most importantly on time. Touchdown charges 165 EUR monthly to do this for you: covering all of your recurring obligations as well as the initial registration.
Touchdown is Portugal's leading relocation platform; backed by a veteran team of Portuguese lawyers. Think of Touchdown as both your relocation companion and personal legal team - everything you need to setup and thrive in your new home integrated into a single, simple to use platform. From visa and residency support, tax and business setup, to navigating life after you land, our team supports you every step of the way.
Touchdown was founded by product operators and veteran Portuguese lawyers. Our team blends years of experience building billion dollar software products and the experience of having helped hundreds of expats make Portugal their base. Two of Touchdown's founding partners are licensed and accredited Portuguese lawyers. You can read more about Touchdown and our team on our About Page.
