Portugal replaced the classical NHR regime on 1 January 2025. IFICI — often called "NHR 2.0" — keeps a 20% flat rate on qualifying income but applies to a narrower set of roles: research, innovation, highly qualified positions at certified startups and export-heavy companies.
The classical NHR closed to new applicants on 1 January 2025. IFICI replaces it but is materially narrower. Classical NHR was effectively available to any high-income relocator under a broad list of "high-value added" activities; IFICI is targeted at research, innovation, and highly-qualified roles in specific sectors.
The headline mechanics are similar — 20% flat rate, 10-year validity, foreign-income exemption for most categories — but eligibility now hinges on the nature of the role, the certification of the employer, and the applicant's formal qualifications.
Each category has specific legal definitions and certification requirements; your advisor will confirm which category (if any) fits your exact role and employer.
Income from other categories — dividends, capital gains, rental income — is taxed under the standard Portuguese rules, with exemptions that depend on the source country's treaty with Portugal. For founders, the practical consequence is that your salary or director income can qualify for the 20% rate, while your payout from exit or recurring dividends has separate treatment.
IFICI (Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação) is Portugal's replacement for the classical NHR regime. NHR closed to new applicants on 1 January 2025; IFICI — often called "NHR 2.0" — targets a narrower set of roles but keeps a headline 20% flat rate.
The regime is narrower than classical NHR. Qualifying activities include: higher-education teaching and scientific research, employment at certified innovative startups, highly qualified roles at export-heavy companies (over 50% of revenue from exports), and specific roles in strategic sectors (science, technology, healthcare, green energy). Applicants must have at least a Level 6 EQF qualification plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Level 8 (PhD).
Qualifying Category A (employment) and Category B (self-employment) income is taxed at a flat 20%. Most income earned abroad is exempt from Portuguese taxation (though it is still counted for rate-determination purposes on other income). The regime is valid for 10 consecutive tax years.
Applicants who were Portuguese tax residents in any of the previous 5 years, or who previously benefited from NHR or another special regime. You must also become a Portuguese tax resident on or after 1 January 2024 to be eligible for IFICI.
If your role within your startup is a qualifying highly-skilled position and the company is a certified innovative startup (or meets the export-revenue threshold), your employment or director income from the company can qualify. Passive income from company ownership (dividends, capital gains on sale) has separate treatment and should be reviewed with a Portuguese tax advisor.
The 20% flat rate applies specifically to qualifying employment/self-employment income. Dividends and capital gains have their own Portuguese tax treatment and depend on the source country's treaty with Portugal. This is the section most founders get wrong — review it carefully with a local tax advisor before structuring payouts.
Application is made to Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT) via the Portal das Finanças, typically after establishing tax residence. Applications have deadlines tied to the year in which residence is established — miss the window and you may forfeit that year of eligibility. Work with a Portuguese tax advisor to avoid procedural errors.
Existing NHR beneficiaries keep their current regime for its remaining 10-year term. Transition rules applied for applicants who were in process at the end of 2024. IFICI is forward-looking for new residents.
No. This page is an overview of the regime's publicly documented structure and is current as of 2026. IFICI eligibility hinges on specific role definitions, sector certifications, and procedural deadlines that a qualified Portuguese tax advisor should validate for your situation before you act.
IFICI is established in Article 58-A of the Estatuto dos Benefícios Fiscais (EBF), introduced by Law 82/2023 (the Portuguese State Budget for 2024) and implemented by Portaria n.º 352-A/2024. Official guidance is published by the Portuguese Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira) via Portal das Finanças.
This page is informational, not tax advice. IFICI eligibility depends on role-specific and sector-specific certifications that require case-by-case assessment. Always validate your situation with a qualified Portuguese tax advisor before relying on the regime.
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