Companies from Portugal: rankings and buyer’s guide (2026)

Portugal has become one of Europe’s most popular nearshore destinations, with Lisbon and Porto attracting tech teams, good English and prices below Western Europe. This page is my guide to companies from Portugal for a foreign buyer – why a Portuguese partner is worth it, what the economy looks like right now and what to check before you hire – and the rankings of companies from Portugal are published one by one as I finish the research.

Why hire companies from Portugal

Companies from Portugal offer strong English, a time zone shared with the UK and Ireland, and a growing pool of developers, designers and marketers. A Portuguese partner knows the Portuguese market, how Portuguese buyers search and how to reach Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking markets. Portuguese firms are strong in software development, IT outsourcing, customer support and shared services, digital marketing and tourism.

The advantage is price: Portuguese rates are well below Western Europe, although Lisbon is noticeably more expensive than the rest of the country.

The Portuguese economy in 2026: the context for companies from Portugal

For companies from Portugal 2026 is a year of solid growth. In October 2026 the Banco de Portugal, in its October Economic Bulletin, raised its GDP growth projection for 2026 to 2.3% and expects growth of 1.8% in the following years, with inflation of 3.1% this year and 2.4% in 2027. Higher prices are pushing wages up, so Portuguese rates are rising from a low base.

Where companies from Portugal are based

Companies from Portugal are concentrated in the two big cities and a few university towns:

• Lisbon – digital agencies, PR, software, start-ups, shared service centres and most international firms.
• Porto – the second city: software houses, IT outsourcing, design and manufacturing in the north.
• Braga – software development, IT services and a large university near Porto.
• Coimbra – university spin-offs, IT and life sciences in the centre.
• Aveiro – telecoms, engineering and software on the coast.

How to hire companies from Portugal: VAT, invoices and checks

Companies from Portugal invoice in euros. For B2B services to a business in another EU country the reverse charge usually applies, so no Portuguese VAT (IVA) is added; services to businesses outside the EU are generally also invoiced without Portuguese VAT. Check the details with your adviser – this is not tax advice.

To check a company from Portugal, ask for its NIPC (9-digit company tax number), which also forms its VAT number (PT…), and look it up on the official company publications site (publicacoes.mj.pt) and the Portal da Empresa, where the commercial register certificate can be obtained. Confirm the VAT number in the EU VIES system. Portuguese companies report their annual accounts each year through the IES filing, but the details are not free to browse, so ask the firm for its figures.

Latest news from Portugal for buyers of companies from Portugal

Headlines from trusted English-language media in Portugal, refreshed automatically, plus the sources worth following if you work with companies from Portugal.

• Statistics Portugal (INE) – official statistics of Portugal
• Banco de Portugal – central bank economic projections
• AICEP Portugal Global – trade and investment agency
• Publicações Online – official company acts and registrations (NIPC search)
• Portal da Empresa – commercial register certificates and company services
• VIES – EU VAT number check

Companies from Portugal: FAQ

Short answers to the questions buyers ask most often about companies from Portugal.