Lunes, 21 Junio 2021

How to register a Portuguese Branch of a Foreign Association or Foundation

VolverThe Commercial and Corporate Law Department of Belzuz Abogados S.L.P. – Sucursal em Portugal, provides an overview on the necessary procedures to register a Portuguese branch of any Foreign Association or Foundation.

Under the Portuguese law, Associations can be described as a group of people who come together with common goals and interests, without any intended to profit. Belzuz Abogados has assisted several foreign and national Cultural and Recreational Associations as well as some Social Solidarity Associations; as per the Foundations, they are also considered as a non-profit entity, but endowed with a heritage dedicated to the pursuit of a social interest. Currently, there is a growing demand by these non-profit entities, for financing methods and solutions, such as European funds or governmental subsidies, which often justifies the demand for advice when structuring these operations - through Associations / internal Foundations, through registration of permanent representations in Portugal, etc.

A prior note to clarify that the referred branches are enrolled before the Central Register of Legal Persons (“FCPC”), a service of the Legal Persons National Register (“RNPC”).

To this end, and first, the Association / Foundation interested in establishing and registering its permanent representation in Portugal, must define its registered location (the corresponding registered offices or representation local) and appoint its legal representative (as necessary when a foreign commercial company intents to open a Portuguese branch). Please consider that, unlike the registered location that must naturally be located in national territory, the legal representative may not have nationality and / or residence in Portugal, for which it is only mandatory that the said representative has / obtains a Portuguese taxpayer number ("NIF"), as non-resident.

The General Meeting of the Association / Foundation shall subsequently, in accordance with its articles of association and law of incorporation, decide on the constitution and registration of the branch in Portugal, also defining the attributions, scope of activity and performance in Portugal, as well as defining which codes of economic activity ("CAE”) are corresponding.

To register the branch of the Association in Portugal it is mandatory to present not only the minute referred on the above paragraph, but also a copy of the document proving the legal existence of the entity in the country of origin, duly signed and certified by the competent official entity and the updated bylaws.

Given the current circumstances of limited public services, there is a growing recourse to the digitization of processes, which often justifies the online submission of such procedure. Thus, in cases where the application is submitted online by Belzuz Abogados, all documents may be electronically signed, provided that it is possible for the competent services to validate the signed signature, in accordance with the legislation in force.

Belzuz Abogados has assisted the registration and activity of many associations established in Spain or the United Kingdom’s branches in Portugal, where there are frequent doubts regarding the language of the documentation described in the previous paragraphs and the need to legalize the documentation issued and obtained abroad; in this regard, we hereby clarify that the translation and proper certification of all those documents is necessary, as long as they are not written in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English.

All documents can be signed electronically, provided that the application request is also electronically submitted, and it is possible for the competent services to validate the signatures, in accordance with the legal applicable terms.

At last, and in the event that the documents are not written in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English, it is mandatory to translate them and certify the translation.

Once registered, the Branch must also comply with the procedures related to opening activity by the Tax Authorities (“AT”) and comply with the legal obligations for the registration of the Beneficial Owner (“RCBE”).

The Commercial and Corporate Law Department of Belzuz Abogados S.L.P. – Sucursal em Portugal has professionals qualified to provide legal advice in clarifying any question regarding the opening of branches of Foreign Associations and / or Foundations in Portugal, as well as monitoring the respective procedures and applying to any European or internal funds or subsidies.

Departamento Derecho Mercantil y Societario | (Portugal)

 

Belzuz Abogados SLP

La presente publicación contiene información de carácter general sin que constituya opinión profesional ni asesoría jurídica. © Belzuz Abogados, S.L.P., quedan reservados todos los derechos. Se prohíbe la explotación, reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública y transformación total o parcial, de esta obra, sin autorización escrita de Belzuz Abogados, S.L.P.

Madrid

Belzuz Abogados - Despacho de Madrid

Nuñez de Balboa 115 bis 1

  28006 Madrid

+34 91 562 50 76

+34 91 562 45 40

Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.

Lisboa

Belzuz Abogados - Despacho de Lisboa

Av. Duque d´Ávila, 141 – 1º Dtº

  1050-081 Lisboa

+351 21 324 05 30

+351 21 347 84 52

Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.

Oporto

Belzuz Abogados - Despacho de Oporto

Rua Julio Dinis 204, Off 314

  4050-318 Oporto

+351 22 938 94 52

+351 22 938 94 54

Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.

Asociaciones

  • 1_insuralex
  • 3_chambers_global_2022
  • 4_cle
  • 5_chp
  • 6_aeafa