Most people who put off opening their activity are imagining a morning lost at a tax office with queue tickets and paper forms. That ended years ago.
Today you open your activity online, in 20 minutes, without leaving the sofa. Here is the complete process.
What you need before you start
Just three things:
- NIF — your tax identification number (9 digits)
- Finance Portal password — the same one you use to check invoices in e-fatura
- CAE — your activity code (explained below)
If you do not yet have a Finance Portal password, request one at a Loja do Cidadão (citizen services office) or through the Chave Móvel Digital (Digital Mobile Key).
Step 1 — Log in to the Finance Portal
Go to www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt and click Iniciar Sessão (top right corner).
You can log in three ways: NIF + password, Citizen Card (with reader), or Digital Mobile Key. Use whichever you prefer.
Step 2 — Navigate to activity registration
In the portal menu, look for:
Serviços → Atividade → Início de Atividade
A form appears. Do not worry — most fields are pre-filled with your data.
Step 3 — Choose your activity type
The form asks whether you are a Trabalhador Independente (Independent Worker) or Empresário em Nome Individual (Sole Trader/ENI).
For the vast majority of freelancers — designers, programmers, consultants, translators, photographers, content creators — the right answer is Trabalhador Independente. Simpler, fewer obligations, no mandatory accountant.
Step 4 — Choose your CAE (activity code)
The CAE identifies what you do professionally. Some common examples:
| Activity | CAE |
|---|---|
| Graphic design | 74100 |
| Programming | 62010 |
| Business consulting | 70220 |
| Photography | 74200 |
| Artistic creation | 90030 |
| Sports training | 85510 |
In the form, type keywords describing your activity and suggestions appear. Choose the one that best describes what you do.
If you choose the wrong one: it is not a disaster. You can change your CAE later under Serviços → Atividade → Alterar Atividade. It takes 5 minutes.
Step 5 — Choose the simplified regime
When the form asks for your taxation regime, choose Regime Simplificado (Simplified Regime).
Why? Because the simplified regime automatically applies a deduction coefficient (0.75 for services — the state assumes 25% of what you invoice represents costs). You do not need to keep expense receipts or hire an accountant.
Switching to organised accounting (contabilidade organizada) only makes sense if you have very high professional expenses or very high invoicing.
Step 6 — Set your start date
You can choose:
- Today — the most common choice
- A future date — if you want to start invoicing in a few days
- A past date — if you have recently done some work that needs to be formalised
Step 7 — Fill in additional details
The form asks for your fiscal address (pre-filled), your place of work (you can write “At home” if you work from home), and your contact details.
Step 8 — Submit and save the confirmation
Click Submeter. The system processes the request and generates a PDF confirmation. Save that PDF — it is proof that your activity is open.
That is it. You can now issue invoices.
After opening activity: two important steps
Register on Segurança Social Direta Open segurancasocial.pt and register as an independent worker. Do this promptly after opening your activity — it is a separate obligation from the tax authority and does not happen automatically.
Choose certified invoicing software By law, you must issue invoices using software certified by the AT. The Finance Portal has this functionality, but dedicated software is faster and keeps everything organised.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an employment contract and open freelance activity at the same time? Yes. It is perfectly legal to combine employed work with freelance activity. Many people start this way.
Do I need to go to the tax office in person? No. The entire process is online. Opening, changing, and closing your activity — all done on the Portal.
When do I start paying taxes? IRS for your first year is paid in the annual declaration of the following year (April to June). Social Security contributions are exempt for the first 12 months of activity.
✅ In summary
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The process is online and takes 20 minutes — Finance Portal → Serviços → Atividade → Início de Atividade. Choose Trabalhador Independente, correct CAE, simplified regime.
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After opening, register on Segurança Social Direta — they are separate systems; one does not automatically feed the other.
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With FIZ certified invoicing is ready as soon as you open your activity — issue your first recibo verde in minutes.
