Chapter I · Scope of application

Article 4 Companies carrying on business in Portugal

Artigo 4.º · Sociedades com actividade em Portugal

Código das Sociedades Comerciais · Decree-Law No. 262/86 · consolidated text checked 26 October 2026

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1. A company whose effective seat is not in Portugal but which wishes to carry on business here for more than one year must establish a permanent representation and comply with Portuguese law on commercial registration.

1 - A sociedade que não tenha a sede efectiva em Portugal, mas deseje exercer aqui a sua actividade por mais de um ano, deve instituir uma representação permanente e cumprir o disposto na lei portuguesa sobre registo comercial.

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2. A company which fails to comply with the preceding paragraph nevertheless remains bound by acts performed in its name in Portugal; the persons who performed those acts and the company's managers or directors are jointly and severally liable with it.

2 - A sociedade que não cumpra o disposto no número anterior fica, apesar disso, obrigada pelos actos praticados em seu nome em Portugal e com ela respondem solidariamente as pessoas que os tenham praticado, bem como os gerentes ou administradores da sociedade.

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3. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the court may, on the application of any interested party or of the Public Prosecutor, order a company which fails to comply with paragraph 1 to cease carrying on business in Portugal and order the liquidation of its assets situated in Portugal.

3 - Não obstante o disposto no número anterior, o tribunal pode, a requerimento de qualquer interessado ou do Ministério Público, ordenar que a sociedade que não dê cumprimento ao disposto no n.º 1 cesse a sua actividade no País e decretar a liquidação do património situado em Portugal.

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4. The preceding paragraphs do not apply to companies carrying on business in Portugal under the freedom to provide services as provided for in Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December.

4 - O disposto nos números anteriores não se aplica às sociedades que exerçam actividade em Portugal ao abrigo da liberdade de prestação de serviços conforme previsto na Directiva n.º 2006/123/CE, do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 12 de Dezembro.

What we checked in this article

Permanent representation is not described as a tax permanent establishment; joint and several liability and the services exception are retained.

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Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

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