Startup
Recognition
Startup Portugal helps you step by step in obtaining the recognition of your startup or scale up. You can apply for your status on the gov.pt portal.
Start your process hereRequirements for recognition
Startup Status
- To be a legally constituted entity in Portugal;
- To be under 10 years old;
- Having fewer than 250 employees;
- Having a turnover of less than 50 million;
- Not being the product of a spin-off or transformation or division of a large company, and not having a direct or indirect majority stake held by a large company;
- Fulfill one of the following conditions:
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- To be an innovative company with high growth potential, with an innovative business model, products or services, and which has been recognized as suitable by ANI – Agência Nacional de Inovação, S. A., in the practice of research and development activities or certification of the recognition process for companies in the technology sector;
- To have completed at least one round of venture capital funding;
- Having received investment from Banco Português de Fomento, S.A., or from funds managed by it, or from its subsidiaries, or from one of its equity or quasi-equity instruments.
(in accordance with Law No. 21/2023)
Do you not meet any of these requirements? See below how to obtain a Prior Declaration from Startup Portugal.
Scaleup Status
If they have been in operation for more than 10 years, have more than 250 employees, or a turnover of 50 million, entities can also apply for scaleup status, provided they are eligible to receive professionals under the Tech Visa program and meet the other conditions of the Law.
3 steps
to request certification
Reference documentation
Request for a Prior Declaration
All relevant documentation can be found in the Procedures Manual.
Prior Declaration from Startup Portugal
This process does not substitute the application for Startup or Scaleup recognition, but is an alternative for applicants who do not meet one of the requirements set out in paragraph 1 f) of Article 2 of Law 21/2023, while complying with all the others.
Recognition Benefits
The Scientific Innovation and Innovation Tax Incentive (IFICI) is a new instrument that promotes the establishment of talent and skilled labour, particularly professionals who have been abroad for at least 5 years and join recognized startups. They can benefit from a rate of 20% on their personal income tax for 10 years.
Revision of the stock options regime, which now pays a single effective rate of 14% in IRS, and only at the time of liquidation.
With the recognition you can be able to participate in Startup Programs like:
Benefits under entrepreneurship and innovation programs such as Mar2030.
FAQ’s
- Declaration of commencement of activity;
- IES Declaration;
- Permanent Certificate;
- Have one of the following documents:
- I-D Seal or Recognition of companies in the technology sector from ANI;
- or documentary proof from IAPMEI or CMVM that you have received a round of funding from a venture capital, venture capital or business angel;
- or documentary proof of investment by BPF;
- Tech Visa certification (in the case of Scale Up recognition).
See the “Recognition Benefits” section above.
- Startup Status:
See “Requirements for recognition of startup status” at the top of the page.
- Scale Up Status:
The status is awarded to companies that, although they may not meet the requirements of paragraphs 1 a), 1 b) and 1 c) of Article 2 of Chapter II of Law no. 21/2023 of 25 May, meet the other requirements of the law and hold the Tech Visa certification, under the terms of Ordinance no. 328/2018 of 19 December.
The process of Recognition of Startup or Scale Up Status requires the applicant entity to be a legal person. The form must be completed by board member or a lawyer with the capacity to legal represent the company. If you want your employer company to be able to hold Startup or Scaleup status, you should ask the management/administration to submit the form.
Complying with the terms defined in Article 2(f) of Law no. 21/2023 of 25 May or proceeding with the Request for a Prior Declaration are two viable ways to obtain Recognition of Startup and Scale Up Status.
The Request for Prior Declaration does not replace the request for Recognition of Startup or Scale Up Status, but is an alternative for applicants who do not meet, or have no way of proving, one of the requirements set out in Article 2(1)(f) of Law 21/2023 of 25 May, while complying with all the others.
The Request for Prior Declaration is made by filling in the following form (see the Manual of Procedures available above on the page for the information requested on the form).
If you apply for a prior declaration, you must wait until it has been finalized before applying for recognition of your startup or scale up status via the gov.pt portal.
- Recognition of Startup and Scale Up Status
Startup Portugal will analyse the request within 5 working days:
- Notification of the probable refusal of the application and for the exercise of the right to a hearing by the applicant, who may comment on the draft decision within 10 working days;
- Decision to approve the request.
- Request for Prior Declaration
30 working days.
A scale up is considered to be a legal person that, while not complying with the requirements set out in Article 2(1)(a), (b) and (c), holds a tech visa certificate, under the terms of Ordinance 328/2018, of 19 December, and complies with all the other requirements set out in Article 2(1) of Law 21/2023, of 25 May.
If a company no longer fulfils one of the requirements set out in the Law, it must notify Startup Portugal within 30 days. If the requirement is one of those listed in a), b) and c), the company will have to renew its status as a scale up.
IFICI enrolment must be carried out in the personal area of the Portal das Finanças. It must be completed by 31 March 2025.
After submitting the request, both in the case of the Recognition of Startup and Scale Up Status and the Request for Prior Declaration, the organisation receives an email notifying that the request has been made with the process number identified.