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Portugal Country Overview
Portugal Highly Qualified Activity Visa (HQA)

The Portugal HQA Visa program allows non-European Union citizens to obtain a residence permit in Portugal by investing in real estate. This visa program is intended to attract foreign investment and boost the Portuguese economy. To qualify for the visa, applicants must purchase property in Portugal with a minimum value of €500,000. In addition, the visa allows the holder and their family to live and work in Portugal and travel within the Schengen Area. The Portugal HQA Visa is a popular option for those seeking to relocate to Europe and take advantage of the country’s favorable tax laws and high standard of living.
Portugal HQA visa is a simplified route for investors to obtain residency in Portugal. The Portuguese Government launched the HQA visa in a bid to attract more talented professionals to Portuguese shores to help with R&D and innovation within the country. The HQA visa requires applicants to invest $175,000 into a Portuguese business of their own. This investment amount includes company formation costs and visa application fees.
An applicant must prove that they have the investment amount ready and transferrable to Portugal, and to qualify for the visa, they must also take part in a three-year business incubator program provided by a government-approved institution. Applicants must establish a new company in Portugal and invest their money in that company, but they do not have to manage the day-to-day activity of the company if they can provide a solid operational structure that allows it to function with minimal interaction on their part, allowing the HQA visa to have a passive investment component.
Applicants and their eligible family members will initially receive a four-month HQA visa, and they must then travel to Portugal to obtain a two-year HQA visa. After two years, HQA visa holders can apply for a three-year extension, and after five years of continuous residency, they can apply for permanent residence and citizenship. However, to qualify for permanent residence and citizenship, an HQA visa holder must have lived six months a year for five continuous years prior to applying. But the HQA visa does not require applicants to reside in order to renew their visa, meaning that if an HQA holder does not meet the requirements for permanent residence and citizenship, they can continue to renew their HQA visas perpetually as long as they continue to meet the conditions. The HQA is one of the fastest routes to gain residency in Portugal, as processing times average about three months for an application.
If you plan to visit Portugal for business or investment purposes, you may need to apply for a Portugal HQA visa. This visa allows you to stay in Portugal for up to a year and conduct business activities or invest in the country. However, the application process can be complex and time-consuming. That’s why we offer assistance with the application process to ensure everything is done correctly and efficiently. Our team of experts will help you gather all the necessary documents, fill out the application forms, and submit your application to the relevant authorities. With our help, you can increase your chances of getting your Portugal HQA visa approved.
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Qualification Criteria
To qualify for the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Program, an applicant must:
- Be over 18 years of age
- Have a clean criminal record
- Have the sufficient means to make an eligible investment ($175,000)
- Establish a new company in Portugal
- Take part in a three-year incubator program offered by a government-approved institute
- Obtaining health insurance in Portugal
Investment Options
The HQA only has one investment option, which is a $175,000 investment in a newly established Portuguese company.
Eligible Family Members
- A spouse of the main applicant.
- Financially dependent children who are enrolled in full-time education
The Process
The HQA has a simple process if you work with a trusted partner like MoveAnywhere who knows the intricacies of the program. The main steps are:
Day 1
MoveAnywhere will conduct preliminary due diligence on the client prior to signing
Month 1
MoveAnywhere will analyze your case and assist you in creating the business plan for your business
Month 2
Registration of the company in Portugal and opening a bank account
Month 3
Obtaining enrollment into a government-approved business incubator program
Month 3
Transferring the investment amount to the company’s bank account
Month 3
Registering for health insurance in Portugal and collecting all other necessary documentation
Month 4
Applying for the HQA visa
Month 6
Receive a four-month visa
Month 6
Travel to Portugal and receive the two-year HQA visa.
The Benefits
Portugal’s HQA visa comes with a multitude of benefits, including:
- Route to citizenship: For those who reside in Portugal, they can apply for citizenship after five years and obtain one of the most powerful passports in world, which grants visa free access to the EU, USA, Canada, UK, and many more.
- Visa free access to the Schengen Area: Portuguese residency holders can access the Schengen Area without the need to apply for a visa.
- Addition of family members: HQA visa holders can issue residency permits for their spouse and dependent children.
- Safe investment: An applicants investment stays within their grasp the entire time, making the HQA one of the safest investment immigration programs in the world.
- Quick processing time: The HQA visa requires, on average, three months of processing, making it one of the fastest Portuguese immigration routes, and the fastest investment migration program in Europe.
- Tax benefits: HQA visa holders can apply for Portugal's Non-Habitual Residency scheme, which fixes income tax at a favorable 20%, alongside other minor tax benefits.
- Minimal residency requirement and passive investment The HQA does not have a physical residence requirement to be renewed, and applicants can delegate their management responsibilities to make their investment more passive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Processing time for an HQA visa normally takes up to three moths, making it one of the fastest Portuguese immigration routes.
Applicants need to invest $175,000 to obtain an HQA visa. This money must be invested in a new business in Portugal.
MoveAnywhere will assist you in registering with a business incubator. We choose the best program depending on your background and proposed business.
Registering a business and opening a bank account in Portugal is very simple, and it usually does not take more than one week to do so.
Yes. As a holder of a Portuguese residency permit, you can access the Schengen Area visa free.
Yes. An investor can add their dependent children and spouse to the application.
No, the HQA does not require applicants to reside in Portugal to maintain their status, as their residency is linked to their investment. However, those looking to obtain permanent residence and citizenship must reside in Portugal.
All you need to do is contact MoveAnywhere to book a free, comprehensive consultation with one of our experts, and we can guide you through the entire process.