Introducing THE Portuguese Startup Visa for 2024: Only 175,000 All-In.

Want to obtain a Portuguese residency with the flexibility of a Golden Visa? The Portugal Highly Qualified Activity (HQA) Visa offers fully flexible minimum stays, and at only a third of the capital layout of a Golden Visa.

Find out more about the HQA Visa Program below, or contact us now for a free consultation…

WHY CHOOSE THE HQA VISA IN 2024…

Launched in 2019, the HQA Visa Program is an excellent option for foreign startup founders and established overseas businesses seeking to establish a low-hassle footprint in Portugal:

TOTAL FLEXIBILITY: Offering fully flexible minimum stay requirements and requiring very little hands-on involvement by founders, it meets the needs of busy foreign executives looking for a low-engagement, fast Portuguese residency solution. What’s more, the program also offers the same flexible residency requirements for spouses and dependent minor children, making the HQA Visa an excellent EU Plan B.

LOWER PRICE: And priced at only €175,000 ALL-IN, the HQA Visa’s total capital layout is 50% lower than that of a Golden Visa Fund Investment, and up to 2.8X cheaper than a fund based Golden Visa (priced at €500,000).

SUPERIOR YIELD: Opting for the HQA Visa Program over a Golden Visa means having an a minimum of €175,000 in remaining capital to invest in your own business, equities, crypto or other opportunities with a potential yield of more than 3.5% (gross), which is the maximum ROI you’d typically be looking at with a conventional fund or real estate based Golden Visa (and that’s outside of pandemic times).

Additional HQA Visa Program Benefits

ULTIMATE AFFORDABILITY:

Gain a Golden Visa equivalent residency for only €175,000 all-in – that’s only around 30% of the cost of the typical property based Golden Visa.

ULTRA LOW MINIMUM STAYS

The HQA Visa Program offers the same flexibility as the regular Golden Visa – you can therefore travel, and tend to your existing overseas business interests, as frequently as you want or need to.

APPLICATION PROCESSING SPEED:

HQA Visa applications are typically processed in under 30 days, and residency permits are issued within 60 days thereafter. You get the freedom, while we do all the heavy lifting.

TAX FRIENDLY JURISDICTION

HQA Residents are eligible for Portugal’s NHR Tax Program: In your first 10 years of residency, most foreign sourced can be brought to Portugal tax-free, and local income is taxed at a flat rate of only 20%.

FAMILY ELIGIBILITY

Obtain HQA residency for your spouse, minor children, and even your retired dependent parents (also, your spouse can legally work in Portugal).

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Obtain the right to do business and work within your Portuguese enterprise, and enjoy full back-office support and startup incubation services for a period of 36 months.

WORLD-CLASS PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

As a Portuguese resident, you and your family can gain access to Portugal’s world-class National Health Service (SNS), subject to completing a simple registration process.

CITIZENSHIP FOR FUTURE CHILDREN

Once you’ve held your HQA residency status in Portugal for 12 months+, any of your children born thereafter can become Portuguese citizens with ease.

Who is the Portuguese HQA Visa For?

While the HQA’s program is accessible to a wide range of potential applicants, including citizens of restricted countries, it tends to work best for startup founders, entrepreneurs and subject matter experts with the following backgrounds:

  • Information technology (IT)

  • Cryptocurrency and/or blockchain technology

  • DeFi (Decentralized Finance) startups

  • Medical and healthcare technology startups, including mobile MHealth service or platform providers

  • Biotech, nanotech and pharmaceuticals

  • eCommerce and consumer products (FMCG)

  • Digital communication technologies;

  • Electronics, processor chip and hardware technologies

  • Green and renewable energies

  • Industrial processing, services design, and business process optimization (BPO)

  • Software As A Service (SAAS) startups

  • Marketing Technology (MarTech; MAAS) startups

Based on your area of expertise, the HQA startup incubator team will help you identify a startup idea or business concept for your enterprise to explore by means of a funded research project.

HQA Visa vs Golden Visa

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HQA VS GOLDEN VISA: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

CONSIDERATION GOLDEN VISA (2024) HQA VISA (2024)
Minimum Investment 500,000+ excluding professional fees, transfer duties, taxes and exit costs. €175,000 ALL-IN
Application Process Duration 12 – 18 months 30 days to approval, 90 days to residency permits
Family Eligibility Yes  Yes
Road to Permanent Residency & Citizenship Yes Yes
Minimum In-Country Stay Requirement Per Year 1 Week Per Year In-country stay exceptions
Portuguese Language Test Required No (Only when applying for Citizenship) No (Only when applying for Citizenship)
Non-Habitual Residency Program Eligibility Yes Yes
Professional Services Fees €20,000+  €0 – fees included
Passive Income Required No No
Medical Insurance Required Yes, initially Yes, initially
Portuguese Tax Number (NIF) Required Yes Yes

A fast, seamless application process

  1. Submit a copy of your passport, along with your basic documentation, updated resume  and a brief outline of your startup or business idea.

  2. Book a conference call with the Portugal startup incubation team.

  3. The startup incubator issues a Term Sheet.

  4. Submit all your required application documents, and transfer your incubation fee into a secured escrow account.

  5. Your application is submitted to the Portuguese immigration authorities.

  6. Your consular interview is set for around three weeks after your submission date.

  7. You travel to Portugal within 90 days for your SEF interview, and to apply for your Portuguese Residence Permit(s).

  8. You meet with the incubator and your future research team for business incorporation and strategic startup planning.

PLEASE NOTE: Your HQA residency is renewable at two years, and then again after 3 years. After being a resident of Portugal for 5 years or more, you can apply for either permanent residency or citizenship and a Portuguese passport.