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Finding a Coworking Space in Portugal

Researched and written with AI tools from official sources. How we make our guides

How to choose a coworking space in Portugal, what to check before you sign, and how invoices, VAT, and tax deductions work if you are self-employed.

The Portugal Brief 5 min read

Finding a Coworking Space in Portugal

Last verified: October 2026.

Who this is for

  • You live in Portugal, work remotely or freelance, and want a desk outside the home.
  • You are self-employed with a Portuguese NIF and want to invoice and deduct the cost.
  • You are here for a short stay and need somewhere reliable to work for a few days.

Not for you if: you still need permission to live here and work remotely. Read Getting the D8 Digital Nomad Visa for Portugal first.

A coworking space is a shared office you pay for by the day or the month. You do not need one to work remotely in Portugal. A space makes sense when you need stable internet, a quiet place for calls, or company. Prices vary widely, and no official price survey exists, so compare a few. If you are self-employed, ask for an invoice with your NIF: the cost can count towards your work expenses, and you pay VAT at 23% on the mainland.

The types of membership

Coworking spaces sell the same few products under different names. Know the terms before you compare prices.

  • Day pass. One day at any free desk. Good for testing a space or for short stays.
  • Hot desk (also roaming or flexible desk). Access to any free desk for a month. You clear your things away each evening.
  • Part-time membership. A set number of days a month, at a lower price than a hot desk.
  • Fixed desk (also dedicated or resident desk). Your own desk, usually with a locker.
  • Private office. A lockable room for one person or a small team.
  • Meeting rooms. Booked by the hour. Members often get some hours included.
  • Business address and mail handling. A postal address without a desk. Read the tax section below before you use one.

Always ask whether a quoted price includes VAT. Many spaces quote business prices before VAT.

What to check before you sign

Use a day pass before you pay for a month. During that day, work through this list.

  1. Test the internet. Run a speed test at your desk and during a video call. Ask whether there is a backup line.
  2. Find the call space. Check how many phone booths there are and whether you must book them.
  3. Listen to the noise. Visit at the busiest time, usually mid-morning. Ask about quiet zones.
  4. Check the opening hours. Ask whether members get access in the evening and at weekends.
  5. Read the contract. Look for the minimum term, the notice period, and whether the price rises after an introductory month.
  6. List what is included. Coffee, printing, lockers, meeting room hours, and guest passes are often extras.
  7. Check heating and cooling. Older buildings can be cold in winter and hot in summer.
  8. Look at access. Check public transport, step-free access, and parking.
  9. Ask about invoices. Confirm the space issues a proper invoice (fatura) with your NIF on it.

Invoices and tax if you are self-employed

This section applies if you are self-employed in Portugal and issue green receipts (recibos verdes), or if you pay through a Portuguese company.

Always give your NIF. Give your tax number when you sign up. The invoice then appears in e-Fatura, the tax authority's invoice system, under your name. See Validating Your Invoices on e-Fatura in Portugal.

If you use the simplified regime. Most freelancers do. In a listed profession you pay tax on 75% of your income, and on 35% for other services. The law then asks you to show costs of at least 15% of that income. An automatic allowance covers part of it: €4,587.09 for 2026, or your social security contributions if higher. If your service income is under about €30,580, the allowance alone usually covers the 15%.

If you earn more, other costs count, including rent for premises used for your work and other services linked to your work. A coworking membership fits here. On the Portal das Finanças, mark the invoice as linked to your professional activity by the end of February of the next year. If you use the space only partly for work, it counts at 25%.

If you have full accounts. Your certified accountant books the membership as a business cost.

If you are new to green receipts, read Registering as Self-Employed (Recibos Verdes) in Portugal for the full rules.

VAT on your membership

Coworking is charged at the standard VAT rate: 23% on the mainland, 22% in Madeira, and 16% in the Azores. A price of €100 plus VAT is €123 on the mainland.

  • If you charge VAT to your clients, you can usually reclaim the VAT on your coworking invoice.
  • If you are exempt from VAT because your turnover is €15,000 or less, you cannot reclaim it. The VAT is simply part of your cost.

If you are an employee

The work expense rules above are for self-employed income. They do not apply to a salary. If you work remotely for an employer under a written telework agreement, your employer must cover the extra costs that working away from the office causes you. Ask your employer whether it will pay for a coworking membership.

Business addresses

Some spaces sell an address for your post and your invoices. As an individual, your tax address (domicílio fiscal) is where you usually live, and you must keep it up to date with Finanças. A company's tax address is its registered office. Ask an accountant before you put a coworking address on invoices or official forms.

Free places to work

You do not have to pay to find a desk and Wi-Fi.

  • Municipal libraries. Ask at your local library whether it has free Wi-Fi and work tables. Check opening hours, as many close at weekends and in August.
  • The Nomad Village in Ponta do Sol, Madeira. The Digital Nomads Madeira project runs a free working space at the John dos Passos Cultural Centre. It offers desks, chairs, and internet from 09:00 to 18:00.
  • Your town hall. Some councils run business incubators or creative hubs with low-cost desks. Ask at your câmara municipal's economic development office.

Working from cafés

Laptops are common in Portuguese cafés, but the traditional café (pastelaria) is built for a quick coffee, not a long stay. A few habits keep you welcome:

  • Order something every hour or so.
  • Avoid the lunch rush, roughly 12:30 to 14:30, when cafés need every table.
  • Take calls outside, or use headphones and keep your voice low.
  • Ask before you plug in, and respect any "no laptops" sign.
  • Use a VPN on any public network.

If you find yourself in the same café every day, a hot desk may cost about the same and give you a better chair.

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change often; check the official source before you act.

Sources

This guide is written from official sources and, where relevant, organisations' own websites.

Last verified October 2026. Rules and fees change; check the official source before acting.

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