Главная » News » Startup Visa for Highly Qualified Activity in Portugal (HQA)
Startup Visa for Highly Qualified Activity in Portugal (HQA)
No time to read
The Portuguese HQA (Highly Qualified Activity) Visa is considered a beneficial alternative to the Golden Visa, offering similar advantages at a significantly lower investment threshold.
The HQA Visa is designed for entrepreneurs and investors who want to establish their own startup in Portugal in partnership with a Portuguese university.
Visa recipients receive extensive support from Portugal’s leading startup incubator for three years while developing their research project and/or creating intellectual property.
The HQA program combines two key components:
Starting a business in Portugal and
Investing in research and development at a Portuguese university.
📌 Investment
A one-time fee of €175,000 to fund the company, with the possibility of returning your funds through the creation of a successful startup.
In comparison, the minimum investment option for Portugal’s Golden Visa starts at €280,000.
Benefits of the Highly Qualified Activity (HQA) Visa
✓ Minimal Stay Requirement: Only 7 days per year in Portugal are necessary.
✓ No Job Creation or Asset Requirements: Unlike most other EU startup visa programs, the HQA has no requirements for job creation, asset value, or income.
✓ Family Inclusion: Your family members can be included in the HQA visa application. This includes your spouse, children, and parents (if they are financially dependent and/or over 65 years old). Additionally, your spouse is entitled to work in Portugal.
✓ Short Approval Times: All HQA visa applications must be processed within 30 days.
✓ Investment Guarantee: The HQA program offers a guaranteed full refund of your investment if your visa application is denied.
✓ Tax Residency Flexibility: You can choose whether or not to become a tax resident of Portugal.
✓ Access to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: After just 5 years, investors can apply for Portuguese citizenship and a passport.
Who is the Portuguese HQA Visa for?
The HQA visa in Portugal is an excellent option for entrepreneurs looking to launch a research startup in one of Europe’s most favorable markets. This type of residence permit is also referred to as a “Plan B” due to its low stay requirements and a clear path to Portuguese citizenship and passport.
Available Ways to Obtain Residency in Portugal in 2023
You can obtain residency in Portugal through the following programs:
D7 Visa: For financially independent individuals (non-investment visa)
D2 Visa: Business immigration to Portugal
Startup Visa: For launching new startups
HQA Visa: For highly qualified activities
Golden Visa: For real estate purchase and investment
Digital Nomad Visa: For remote workers
Family Reunification Visa: For joining family members in Portugal
Luhina Iryna Head of department Visas and Immigration Ukraine
In 2006 graduated from the National Aviation University (NAU), Kiev with a degree in Philology, Translation. Irina Lugina has many years of successful work experience in large companies with a voluminous workflow. Within Feod Group specializes in: visa support by category for financially ...
In 2006 graduated from the National Aviation University (NAU), Kiev with a degree in Philology, Translation. Irina Lugina has many years of successful work experience in large companies with a voluminous workflow. Within Feod Group specializes in:
visa support by category for financially independent foreigners, visas for entrepreneurs and investors in the EU, Great Britain and the USA.
preparation and compliance of packages of documents for registration of companies in low-tax jurisdictions, opening bank accounts.
obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence in Ukraine on the basis of marriage and through company registration.