The Portugal HQA visa is a program for entrepreneurs ready to undertake a “highly qualified activity” in Portugal.
The HQA combines two key components: 1) setting up a business in Portugal or 2) investing in high-value research and development activities at one of Portugal’s universities.
This visa allows you to live and work in Portugal for up to four years. You can also bring your family with you.
But how different is it from the Portugal golden visa?
The Portugal HQA it’s often seen as a middle ground to getting Portuguese residency. Let’s see how these two programs differ and which works best for you.
HQA vs Portugal golden visa
More and more people are looking for ways to live a better life. And for many, that means moving to a new country. The Portugal HQA and the golden visa allow you to get residency in the country.
The Golden Visa program allows people from non-EU countries to live and work in Portugal. To qualify, you must invest €280,000 in Portuguese real estate or another golden visa investment option.
With the golden visa, you only need to spend a minimum of seven days per year physically in Portugal.
You can also choose whether or not to become a tax resident to take advantage of the Non-habitual resident scheme if it works for your worldwide income.
Although the changes of January 1st have restricted the purchase of residential properties in major cities.
It is possible to get healthy returns on investment in interior areas that are becoming popular tourist destinations.
One of the downsides to getting residency via the Portugal golden visa is the minimum threshold involved.
In contrast, the Portugal HQA with a one-time fee of €175,000, can put you on the pathway to Portuguese citizenship at a lower overall cost than the golden visa but with major trouble generating a return on investment.
If your business doesn’t make money, then you won’t make any return. The initial investment fee will end up being a sunk cost.
On the other hand, the golden visa investment in real estate or any other investment, chosen wisely and with the guidance of experts, will bring healthy returns on investment.
Would you rather take the traditional route of renting out real estate? Or would you rather put your faith in your faith to grow a successful startup?
It all comes down to what you want. Are you ready to retire early in Portugal or make money from your property, or are you invested to grow a business in the country?
In short, the Portugal Golden Visa and the High-Quality Applicant programs are both great ways to obtain a Portuguese residency.
However, there are key differences to remember when choosing which program is right for you.
The Portugal Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of 280,000 EUR, whereas the High-Quality Applicant program is 175,000 EUR with the possibility of not getting a return on your investment.