Non-UK Resident Company Formation for Portugal 

If you’re based in Portugal and want to register a UK limited company, this package gives you everything you need from incorporation to a trading address, bank account, and ongoing compliance support without setting foot in the UK. Form My Company is a Companies House Authorised Agent, which means your application is filed correctly the first time, by people who know exactly what they’re doing.

What the Non-UK Residents Package Includes

Ready to Trade Limited Company

A ready-to-trade limited company is a brand-new private limited company incorporated under the Companies Act 2006, filed directly with Companies House  the UK’s official registrar of companies. It is legally distinct from its owners, carries limited liability protection, and can enter into contracts, open bank accounts, and trade immediately upon registration. This is not a shelf company or a dormant entity purchased second-hand; it is a fresh incorporation in your chosen company name.

What you receive is a fully incorporated UK limited company, ready to invoice clients, sign agreements, and operate from day one. For a Portugal-based founder, this removes the single biggest barrier to entering the UK market: not knowing how to navigate the UK registration system from abroad.

Business Bank Account

A business bank account is a dedicated commercial account held in your company’s name, separate from any personal finances. Under UK company law, mixing personal and business funds creates significant accounting and tax complications. A dedicated account is not optional if you intend to trade properly.

As part of this package, Form My Company helps facilitate access to a UK business bank account, including options that offer up to £155 cash back. For a Portuguese resident, having a UK-based business account means you can receive payments in GBP, pay UK suppliers, and present a credible, professional face to British clients, all without a UK residential address.

International Delivery of Documents

International delivery means your physical incorporation documents are shipped directly to your address in Portugal via tracked international post. Companies House issues physical certificates as the legal record of your company’s existence, and having them in your hands matters for bank applications, client contracts, and government tenders.

You will not need to arrange a UK forwarding address or rely on a third party to receive and scan your documents. They arrive at your door.

Limited Company Included

The Companies House government filing fee of £100 is included within this package. This is the statutory fee payable directly to Companies House for registering a new company — it is a non-negotiable government charge, not a service fee.

Knowing this fee is included means there are no surprise line items when you check out. The price you see covers the government charge in full.

Fastest Online Filing Submission

Companies House accepts applications through its Web Incorporation Service and via authorised software. Form My Company uses direct software filing, which is processed faster than paper applications and, in most cases, faster than self-filed web applications.

For a founder in Portugal who needs their company to be active quickly to sign a contract, apply for a grant, or launch a product, speed of registration is not a minor detail. It is often the deciding factor.

Premium 12-Month Company Filing Service

Every UK limited company must file a Confirmation Statement (formerly Annual Return) and annual accounts with Companies House each year. Missing these deadlines results in financial penalties and, ultimately, compulsory strike-off, meaning your company is dissolved.

This package includes a premium 12-month filing service covering your first year’s compliance obligations. For a Portugal-based director unfamiliar with UK filing calendars and HMRC deadlines, having this managed for you is not a luxury  it is essential protection for your company’s legal standing.

VAT Registration

VAT (Value Added Tax) registration is the process of registering your company with HMRC so it can charge, collect, and reclaim VAT on eligible transactions. Voluntary registration is available to any company below the £90,000 threshold; mandatory registration applies above it. Being VAT-registered also signals credibility to larger UK clients who require VAT invoices.

Form My Company handles the HMRC VAT registration application on your behalf, saving you the complexity of navigating HMRC’s portal from a non-UK address and ensuring the application is submitted correctly.

Dormant Accounts Filing Service 

If your company is not yet trading, it is classed as dormant under UK company law and must still file dormant accounts with Companies House each year. Alternatively, if your company is active, you can apply the £110 credit towards your accounting needs.

Either option ensures your compliance obligations are covered in year one, whichever trading status applies to your situation.

PAYE Registration

PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is the HMRC system through which employers deduct income tax and National Insurance from employee salaries before payment. If you intend to pay yourself or any employee a salary through your UK company, PAYE registration is a legal requirement.

Form My Company registers your company as an employer with HMRC as part of this package, so you can run payroll from the outset without administrative delays.

Trading Address, Registered Address & Directors’ Address Bolton BL1

Under UK company law, every limited company must have a registered address in the UK, a physical address where official correspondence from Companies House and HMRC is received. Directors are also required to provide a service address, which is publicly listed on the Companies House register.

This package provides all three address types: trading, registered, and directors at Form My Company’s Bolton BL1 premises. For a Portugal-based director, this satisfies the legal requirement for a UK address while keeping your personal Portuguese address off the public register entirely.

Printed Share Certificates & Certificate of Incorporation

A share certificate is the legal document evidencing ownership of shares in a limited company. A Certificate of Incorporation is the official document issued by Companies House confirming your company legally exists. Both are required for bank account openings, investor negotiations, and legal agreements.

You receive printed, physical versions of both documents shipped to Portugal  not just digital copies, giving you the originals that financial institutions and legal professionals typically require.

Digital Incorporation Certificate, Articles of Association, Share Certificates & Company Register

Alongside the printed documents, you receive fully digital versions of all core company documents: the Incorporation Certificate, Articles of Association (the legal rulebook governing how your company is run), Share Certificates, and your statutory Company Register.

Digital copies mean you can share documents instantly with accountants, solicitors, banks, or clients wherever you are in Portugal without waiting for the post.

Free Accountancy Consultation

A free one-to-one accountancy consultation with a UK-qualified accountant gives you the opportunity to ask the questions that matter most in your first weeks of trading: how to set up bookkeeping, when to register for VAT, and how to pay yourself tax-efficiently.

For a Portugal-based director navigating two tax jurisdictions, this consultation alone can save hundreds of pounds in avoidable mistakes.

HMRC UTR Number

A Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) is the 10-digit number HMRC assigns to your company for Corporation Tax purposes. Without it, you cannot file your company tax return or communicate with HMRC about your tax affairs. It is one of the first things your accountant will ask for.

Form My Company ensures your UTR is applied for as part of your setup, so you are not left chasing HMRC yourself from abroad.

Web Authentication Code

The Companies House web authentication code is a unique code that allows you to file changes to your company, such as updating director details or filing your Confirmation Statement, directly through the Companies House website.

For a Portugal-based director managing a UK company remotely, this code is essential. Without it, you cannot make statutory updates to your company’s record.

Online Company Manager

The Online Company Manager is a secure dashboard through which you can view, manage, and monitor all your UK companies in one place, including deadlines, filings, documents, and corporate records.

For founders running multiple entities or managing a UK company remotely from Portugal, having a single organised portal prevents missed deadlines and keeps your statutory records accessible at all times.

PVC Code (Personal Verification Code)

The Personal Verification Code is part of Companies House’s identity verification requirements, introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. All directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must verify their identity.

Form My Company guides you through this process, ensuring your verification is completed correctly, a step that many overseas founders find confusing when attempting it alone.

Exclusive Partner Offers, Lifetime Support & Advice

Exclusive partner offers give you access to discounted tools and services relevant to running a UK business, from accounting software to legal templates. Lifetime support means you can return to Form My Company with questions at any point, not just during registration.

For a Portugal-based director who will inevitably encounter new compliance questions as their company grows, having ongoing access to expert guidance is worth more than any one-off service.

Free .co.uk Domain Name

A .co.uk domain is the most trusted and recognised web address for UK businesses. It signals legitimacy to British customers, helps with local search visibility, and is one of the first things UK clients look for.

Your free .co.uk domain is included in the package, ready to connect to a website, email system, or landing page the moment your company is live.