Redomiciliation of Companies
Foreign Company Incorporation and Corporate Redomiciliation
Expanding internationally often requires more than simply establishing a new company. Whether you are incorporating a foreign company, relocating an existing business to another jurisdiction, or redomiciling a company to or from Portugal, careful legal, tax and regulatory planning is essential to ensure compliance and long-term efficiency.
Since 1996, Madeira Corporate Services (MCS) has advised international investors, multinational groups, entrepreneurs, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals on cross-border corporate structuring. Working alongside independent lawyers and other specialist advisers, we assist clients in evaluating the most appropriate jurisdiction for their business activities while ensuring compliance with Portuguese, European Union, OECD and international tax standards.
Our services include assistance with:
- Foreign company incorporation in leading international jurisdictions.
- Company redomiciliation to Portugal, including the Madeira International Business Centre (MIBC), where legally available.
- Corporate migration from Portugal to another jurisdiction, where appropriate.
- Cross-border reorganisations, mergers and corporate restructurings.
- Holding company structures for international investments.
- International tax and corporate governance planning.
- Ongoing corporate, accounting and compliance support.
Every jurisdiction offers different legal, tax and commercial advantages. The appropriate solution depends on your business activities, ownership structure, operational substance, regulatory obligations and international expansion strategy. Rather than promoting a particular jurisdiction, MCS provides independent, jurisdiction-neutral advice to help clients identify the structure that best supports their commercial objectives while meeting all applicable legal and tax requirements.
Our experience extends well beyond Portugal. Over the past three decades, we have assisted clients with cross-border corporate projects involving both European Union and non-EU jurisdictions, always prioritising transparency, economic substance and international compliance.
In addition to companies, MCS coordinates the establishment of private foundations, trusts and other wealth-planning structures through a network of independent legal professionals, ensuring that succession planning, asset protection and international estate planning arrangements are tailored to each client’s personal and business circumstances.
Whether you are looking to incorporate a foreign company, transfer a company’s registered office to Portugal, redomicile a Portuguese company abroad, or build an internationally compliant corporate structure, MCS provides the multidisciplinary expertise needed to manage the process efficiently from planning through implementation.
Not sure where to start?
Since 1996, MCS has assisted international investors, entrepreneurs, family offices, ultra-high-net-worth individuals and businesses with foreign company incorporation, corporate redomiciliation and cross-border structuring. Working alongside independent lawyers and other specialist advisers, our tax team helps clients assess the legal, tax, governance and substance requirements associated with establishing or relocating a company across jurisdictions.
Our experience includes structuring foreign entities in accordance with applicable Portuguese, European Union, OECD and international compliance standards. This involves considering beneficial ownership disclosure, economic substance, corporate governance, transfer pricing, controlled foreign company rules, permanent establishment exposure, anti-money laundering requirements and ongoing tax reporting obligations.
The appropriate jurisdiction depends on the nature of the business, the location of its management, shareholders, employees, customers, assets and commercial operations. MCS therefore adopts a jurisdiction-neutral approach, assessing both European Union and non-EU options based on their legal certainty, regulatory framework, treaty network, operational requirements and suitability for the client’s objectives.
In addition to foreign companies and corporate redomiciliation, MCS can coordinate the establishment of private foundations, trusts and other international wealth-planning structures in cooperation with independent lawyers. These arrangements may be considered for succession planning, estate organisation, asset holding, family governance and long-term wealth preservation, subject to the applicable legal and tax rules in each jurisdiction.
Whether the objective is to incorporate a foreign company, redomicile a company to or from Portugal, establish an international holding structure or organise a private wealth vehicle, MCS provides coordinated tax and corporate support from the initial planning stage through implementation and ongoing compliance.
Help
Frequently asked questions about moving to Portugal (or Madeira Island)
What is company redomiciliation?
Company redomiciliation is the cross-border transfer of an existing company’s registered or statutory seat from one jurisdiction to another, for example by moving a company’s seat to Portugal or transferring a Portuguese company abroad.
Depending on the laws of the jurisdictions involved, the process may allow the company to continue under the law of the destination jurisdiction instead of incorporating a new entity. However, redomiciliation is not available in every jurisdiction or for every legal form and may involve a formal cross-border conversion, corporate approvals, creditor and shareholder protections, tax analysis and registration formalities.
MCS advises on potential redomiciliation to or from Portugal, including to Madeira where legally available, working alongside independent lawyers and specialist advisers. Each case should be assessed individually to confirm eligibility, corporate and tax consequences, and the applicable regulatory requirements.
What redomiciliation and cross-border corporate services does MCS offer?
MCS assists with foreign company incorporation in leading international jurisdictions, company redomiciliation to Portugal (including the MIBC, where legally available), corporate migration from Portugal to another jurisdiction, cross-border reorganisations, mergers and restructurings, holding company structures for international investments, international tax and corporate governance planning, and ongoing corporate, accounting and compliance support. The work is carried out alongside independent lawyers and other specialist advisers.
Can I transfer my company’s registered office to Portugal?
Yes, subject to the applicable legal conditions. MCS assists with company redomiciliation to Portugal, including to the Madeira International Business Centre (MIBC) where legally available, so that an existing foreign company can transfer its registered office rather than incorporate a new entity. The process is coordinated with independent lawyers and specialist advisers and takes into account the legal, tax, governance and substance requirements of moving a company across jurisdictions.
Can I move a Portuguese company to another country?
Yes, where appropriate. MCS advises on corporate migration from Portugal to another jurisdiction, helping redomicile a Portuguese company abroad while managing the legal, tax and compliance implications. Because every jurisdiction offers different legal, tax and commercial advantages, the suitable destination depends on the business’s activities, ownership structure, operational substance and expansion strategy. The process is coordinated with independent lawyers and specialist advisers.
Does MCS recommend a specific jurisdiction, or only Portugal and Madeira?
Neither. MCS takes a jurisdiction-neutral approach and, rather than promoting a particular location, provides independent advice to identify the structure that best supports the client’s objectives. Its experience extends well beyond Portugal, covering both European Union and non-EU jurisdictions, with examples such as company incorporation in Malta. The appropriate jurisdiction depends on the business activities, management location, ownership, substance, regulatory obligations and treaty network.
What compliance issues does MCS consider when relocating a company?
MCS structures foreign entities and redomiciliations in line with applicable Portuguese, European Union, OECD and international compliance standards. This involves considering beneficial ownership disclosure, economic substance, corporate governance, transfer pricing, controlled foreign company rules, permanent establishment exposure, anti-money laundering requirements and ongoing tax reporting obligations. The aim is a structure that is transparent and compliant, not only tax-efficient, assessed case by case with independent advisers.
Can MCS help set up trusts, private foundations or international wealth-planning structures?
Yes. Alongside company work, MCS coordinates the establishment of private foundations, trusts and other international wealth-planning structures through a network of independent legal professionals. These may be considered for succession planning, estate organisation, asset holding, family governance and long-term wealth preservation, subject to the applicable legal and tax rules in each jurisdiction. Arrangements are tailored to each client’s personal and business circumstances.
Want to talk with us?
Contact us to discuss the most appropriate jurisdiction and structure for your business, investment or international expansion objectives, with due consideration given to taxation, regulatory compliance, economic substance, corporate governance and ongoing reporting obligations.