Check and reserve the proposed company name
Agency: Guiché Único (Registry)
Entrepreneurs must obtain a certificate attesting the uniqueness of the company name in order to proceed with company registration.
Time and cost: 1 day, included in procedure 2
Pay the registration fee
Agency: Bank
Fees are paid at a commercial bank and a receipt of payment must be presented to the One-Stop Shop (Guiché Único) at the moment of the company incorporation.
Time and cost: 1 day, STN 5,150
Register the company and obtain a taxpayer identification number
Agency: Guiché Único (Registry)
The incorporation of the company at the Guiché Único (One-stop Shop of the Company Registry) requires presentation of the following documents:
- Application form duly completed;
- Certificate attesting the uniqueness of the company name (which may be obtained at the Guiché Único);
- Signed copy of the by-laws (the Guiché Único provides model by-laws that can be used, but the parties may opt to use a different model of by-laws other than those offered by the Guichet Único);
- Proof of payment of the single fee for the incorporation of the company;
- Document attesting the identity of the signatories or the identity of their representative. In case the incorporation is done by a representative, a power of attorney.
Upon receipt of a new application, the Guiché Único will prepare a notice of incorporation, a certificate of company registration and a tax identification number (requested by the Guiché Único to the Tax Authorities).
Regarding the advertising of the incorporation, the company may opt to advertise its incorporation in the Official Gazette of the One-stop Shop or in a national newspaper. The copy of the published record can be obtained as early as the day following the incorporation in the Guiché Único.
Time and cost: 3 days on average, included in procedure 2
Obtain and legalize the special company books
Agency: Ministry of Finance
Companies must obtain and legalize mandatory books. Some books (i.e., the general assembly and the board of directors’ books) must be stamped by the Ministry of Finance.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Declare the company’s start of operations to the Tax Authorities
Agency: Tax Authorities (Direcção dos Impostos)
Once companies have been incorporated at the One-Stop Shop (Guiché Único), a declaration of start of operations (declaração de início de actividades) must be presented to the Tax Authorities (Direcção dos Impostos), as per. Art. 107 of Law 10/2009 of October 8, 2009. This declaration shall be submitted at least 15 days prior to the start of activities.
Time and cost: 1 day, STN 12,600
Register the employer and employees for Social Security
Agency: Social Security Authority
Employers must register employees with the relevant social security authority within 30 days of tax registration.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
