What is the HQA Visa to Portugal?
Portugal seeks to attract highly skilled professionals such as developers, analysts, and scientists, offering them special conditions for relocation. Qualified individuals holding a higher-education degree and either an employment contract or a job offer in Portugal are eligible to apply for an HQA Visa.
The HQA visa facilitates obtaining a Portuguese residence permit within four months from its issuance. Additionally, after two years, the residence permit can be renewed for a further three years.
The name of the visa varies depending on the country from which it is applied. For instance, citizens of Kazakhstan applying through the Consulate of Portugal in Astana are issued a D3 visa, while a similar document obtained within Portugal for highly qualified activities is known as an HQA visa.
To be eligible for the Portugal D3 Visa, applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
- Possess a higher education diploma or certificate from a recognized educational institution.
- Have a one-year employment contract or a promise of a contract for 12 months or more.
- Earn a minimum salary of €1,528 a month, which is three times the IAS social support amount of €509 in 2024. Lawyers at Immigrant Invest recommend aiming for a monthly income of at least €1,900 for a higher likelihood of success
5 benefits of the Portugal Highly Qualified Activity Visa
Here are some of the benefits of obtaining residency in Portugal with the HQA Visa.
1. Increased freedom of travel. Portugal residents can spend up to 90 out of 180 days in another country within the Schengen area.
2. Family reunion in Portugal. The spouse, children, parents, and siblings who are dependent on one of the spouses can join the main applicant.
3. Acquisition of Portuguese citizenship. After 5 years with a residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence or the country's passport.
4. Lower costs. Obtaining a Portugal D3 Visa does not require investments, unlike programs such as the Portugal Golden Visa, which require a minimum contribution of €250,000 to the country's economy.
5. Fast processing. The entire process of obtaining the visa can take around three months.
Who can get an HQA Visa?
HQA visa applicants represent a wide array of sectors, including fintech, healthcare and medical technology, science, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, nanotechnology, industrial processing, IT, blockchain, crypto, and e-commerce. They often work for or own businesses in these fields.
Specialists holding a higher-education diploma or relevant professional certificates are eligible to apply for a visa, provided that the job position outlined in their work contract aligns with the specialty indicated on their educational documents.
Specialists working in the following spheres can be eligible for a D3 tech visa in Portugal:
- Artificial Intelligence and machine learning;
- biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology;
- energy generation, carbon offsetting and renewables;
- healthcare and medical technology;
- eCommerce and mCommerce;
- Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG);
- digital communication and media;
- microchip and hardware technologies;
- industrial processing and process optimization;
- Marketing Technology (MarTech; MAAS);
- Information Technology (IT);
- AgriTech and SeaTech / BlueTech Startups;
- blockchain and crypto technology startups;
- Software As A Service (SAAS) enterprises.
The HQA visa can also be obtained by:
- a spouse;
- parents over 65;
- parents under 65 if financially dependent on the main applicant;
- children under 18;
- children over 18 if unmarried, studying, or financially dependent on the main applicant.
Cost and fees of an HQA Visa
To process an HQA Visa application, you must pay about €90. Issuing a residence permit card will cost €200. It is also important for the immigration service to provide health insurance worth €400.
A foreigner confirms the residence address in Portugal to obtain a residence permit. Renting an apartment depends on the region and starts from €500 per month.
Opening a bank account in Portugal is often required when signing a lease agreement. Payment of rent payments and utilities usually takes place in a non-cash way.
Other expenses for obtaining a visa and residence permit include the lawyer’s assistance and agents to find apartments. Their cost depends on the chosen company and its services.
List of documents to apply for an HQA Visa
The list of documents does not depend on the place of application and includes the following:
- a visa application form;
- 2 colour photos of 3x4 cm;
- an international passport and its copy;
- a certificate of no criminal records with an apostille;
- permission to check criminal records in Portugal;
- health insurance;
- an employment contract or a written promise of an employment contract for a period of one year with a salary of at least a certain amount;
- confirmation of qualification: the original diploma of higher professional education or other certificates with an apostille.
You must attach an HQA Visa and an apartment rental agreement when further applying for a residence permit.
How to get a D3 Visa in the country of citizenship or residency
Before collecting documents and submitting an application, a specialist concludes a job contract with a Portuguese employer or receives a written confirmation of employment after visa approval.
You can find a job in Portugal remotely. Then, an employment contract with a signature can be requested online. After that, the applicant performs the following steps.
1. Collects documents and fills out an online application form on the Embassy of Portugal's website.
2. Applies to the Portuguese Consulate and obtains a visa in the country of citizenship or where they have a residence permit. The term for issuing a visa is 60 days. With a favourable decision, the applicant receives a passport with a pasted visa.
3. Arrives in Portugal and receives a residence permit card. A D3 visa is issued for 4 months. During this time, its holder comes to Portugal to apply for a temporary residence permit to the AIMA migration service.
To obtain a residence permit, you will need a lease agreement or a certificate of ownership of an apartment in Portugal to confirm the place of residence.
4. Extends the residence permit card if they remain to work in the country. After two years, the status can be extended for another three years. You will need the same documents as when receiving a card.
Step-by-step process of obtaining an HQA Visa if staying in Portugal
To obtain an HQA Visa while already in Portugal and having a contract with a local employer, applicants can follow this step-by-step process, which allows for simultaneously securing a highly skilled activity visa and a residence permit.
You can sign up for an application to the Migration Service of Portugal by phone or on the website. Apply under Article 90.2.
On the appointed day, the applicant arrives at the office of the migration service with the documents. The list is the same as when applying outside of Portugal.
Consideration of documents takes about two months, after which the applicant receives a residence permit card.
A residence permit, upon renewal, is issued for three years. The applicant collects the same package of documents as when submitting the first application.
Other visa types in Portugal
Listed below are visas through which cosmopolitans can also obtain a residence permit in Portugal. The Golden Visa program is distinguished because it does not require prior obtaining of a national visa and immediately leads to a residence permit.
The D2 Visa is a national visa for entrepreneurs, a so-called business visa. You can get a D2 visa when you buy a Portuguese company or create a branch of a foreign company.
For the Startup visa to Portugal, applicants must submit a startup project. The entrepreneur receives approval from an accredited business incubator that will accelerate the startup and submits an application to the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, IAPMEI.
The Portugal Golden Visa is the state program of residence permit by investment. Applicants choose from five options, the most popular of which is the fund units purchase. Money on some options can be returned after five years. The minimum investment is €250,000.
The D7 visa to Portugal is an immigrant visa for foreigners with passive income. — sSuitable for retirees, freelancers and those who work remotely. The process of obtaining a visa begins with submitting documents at the Portuguese Consulate in the country of residency.
Comparing HQA Visa with other Portugal residency options
| Comparison criteria | HQA Visa | D7 Visa | Golden Visa |
| Investment | No | No | €250,000+ |
| Processing time | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
| Minimum income required | €1,528 per month | €820 per month — only passive income | No |
| Residence permit validity | 1 year, renewable for two 2-year periods | 2 years, renewable for 3 years | 2 years, renewable every 2 years |
| Renewal conditions | Maintaining your contract with a Portuguese company | Spending 1.5 years in a row or 16 months in total over 2 years in Portugal | Spending 7 days a year in Portugal |
Advantages of living in Portugal
In 2023, the number of foreign nationals living in Portugal exceeded a million, meaning that they make up more than 10% of the country’s population. Investors, families with children and pensioners choose Portugal because of its comfortable climate, low prices and proximity to the ocean.
Regions for an active life or a measured rest by the ocean. Lisbon and Porto are cities with the highest housing prices and well-developed infrastructure. Lisbon has all types of public transport, including the metro and even the city elevator.
Albufeira, Algarve and Madeira are districts with moderate prices and a leisurely pace of life.
Clean beaches. In 2023, Portugal received 432 Blue Flag awards for the cleanest and safest beaches. 91 of them are in the southern Algarve region.
Here are some of the Algarve Blue Flag beaches:
- Aljezur: Odeceixe-Mar, Amoreira-Mar, Monte Clérigo and Arrifana;
- Vila do Bispo: Cordoama, Beliche, Castelejo, Tonel, Mareta, Martinhal, Ingrina, Zavial, Salema, Almádena – Cabanas Velha and Burgau;
- Lagos: Luz, Porto de Mós, Meia Praia;
- Portimão: Alvor Poente, Évora Nascente, Vau, Três Castelos, Rocha and Marina.
A comfortable climate and more than 300 sunny days a year. The average temperature in January is between 5 and 10°C and July 20 and 27°C. In the south and west, Portugal is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Safety. Portugal is in the top ten of the 2023 Global Peace Index, ranking as the 7th safest country in the world. Locals are friendly to foreigners, especially families with children.
Quality higher education. Expat children can study for free in public schools in Portugal. Lessons are conducted in Portuguese. Also, the child can be sent to a private international school that teaches in English and French.
After school, you can enter a university in Portugal or abroad. Documents of Portuguese universities are recognized in other EU countries.
Key points about Portugal's Highly Qualified Activity Visa
- D3 and HQA are different names for the same highly skilled worker visa.
- Engineers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, managers and other intellectuals may qualify for an HQA visa.
- D3 visa applicants are required to have a minimum monthly income of €1,528.
- Documents on education with an apostille and an employment contract with an employer in Portugal must be attached to the visa application.
- If there is yet to be a contract, you may provide a written promise from the employer to hire for at least a year.
- Within 4 months from the date of issuance of the D3 visa, you must apply for a residence permit to the AIMA immigration service.
- Close relatives of the main applicant can get residence permits.
- The residence permit is issued for two years with the possibility of an extension for three years.
- After 5 years of living in Portugal in resident status, the main applicant and his family members can apply for permanent residence or citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
HQA is the Highly Qualified Activity Visa. The country is interested in attracting developers, analysts, scientists and other highly qualified specialists. A foreigner with an employment contract or a promise of a contract in Portugal and a higher profile education is eligible to participate in the HQA Visa program in Portugal.
Obtaining a D3 visa takes up to 2 months and does not require investment. Immediately after approval, the holders must apply to AIMA with documents for a residence permit.
Residents of Portugal enjoy the rights to:
- visa-free entry and travel in 26 Schengen countries;
- family reunion in Portugal. The second spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters who are dependent on one of the spouses will be able to join the main applicant;
- acquisition of Portuguese citizenship. After 5 years with a residence permit card, you can apply for permanent residence status or a Portugal passport;
You will need to confirm qualifications with a diploma, as well as provide an employment contract or a promise of such a contract from an employer in Portugal.
A foreigner can apply for an HQA/D3 visa in Portugal or at a consulate in their own country.
In Portugal, several programs allow you to obtain a residence permit — for investors, entrepreneurs, business people and freelancers. All of them enable family members to get a residence permit in the order of reunification.
The Portugal Golden Visa is the only option in which documents are submitted immediately to the AIMA to obtain a residence permit card. This method requires investment in one of several options of the applicant’s choice. The minimum investment amount is €250,000.
Portugal residents enjoy the rights to:
- visa-free entry and movement in the countries of the Schengen zone;
- family reunification, including spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters who are dependent on one of the spouses;
- opportunity to apply for Portugal’s special tax regime for non-permanent residents of the NHR;
- obtaining permanent residence or citizenship of Portugal after 5 years of living in the country;
- access to education and healthcare in Portugal.
To obtain a D1 or a D3 visa in Portugal, it is necessary to provide evidence of a working contract, or its guarantee, with a Portuguese company. However, the D3 visa additionally requires proof that the applicant is a highly qualified specialist with a minimum salary of €1,528 per month.
