What Is the HQA Visa? The Legal Basis in Plain English
What is the HQA visa? It is an informal name for Portugal's residence route for highly qualified activity, not the name of an official program. "HQA" stands for highly qualified activity. The route rests on two articles of Portugal's immigration law, Lei 23/2007, and there are several ways to qualify. Only one of them involves buying an investment package.
Last verified: 19 October 2026
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Key facts
Two legal tools. Article 61 covers the D3 residence visa. Article 90 covers the residence permit for highly qualified activity.
No investment in the law. Neither article mentions an investment amount.
Several ways in. A job contract, a research invitation, a certified company or a cultural activity can all qualify.
"HQA" is a label. Some companies use it as a brand name. The government does not run an "HQA program".
The two legal tools
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| D3 residence visa | Residence permit for highly qualified activity | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Article 61, Lei 23/2007 | Article 90, Lei 23/2007 |
| Where you apply | Portuguese consulate in your country | AIMA, in Portugal |
| What it does | Lets you enter Portugal to start the activity | Lets you live in Portugal and renew |
| How long | Two entries and a stay of up to 4 months | 2 years, then 3-year renewals |
The four ways to qualify for the permit
Under article 90, you need one of these:
- A job contract. An employment or service contract for highly qualified work with a Portuguese employer.
- A research or teaching invitation. An invitation from a university, polytechnic or research institution.
- A certified company. A statement from a company certified for the Tech Visa by IAPMEI, the Portuguese agency for business and innovation.
- A cultural activity. An activity recognised as being of national cultural interest.
The investment packages sold at about €175,000, reported by providers, October 2026, are a way to create the second or third situation: they set up a research project or a company that can give you a qualifying role. No government body sets or checks that price.
Related routes that are often confused with HQA
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| Route | What it is | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tech Visa | Hiring by a company certified by IAPMEI | Article 90, Portaria 328/2018 |
| StartUP Visa | A founder accepted into a certified incubator | Article 89 |
| Golden Visa | Residence through a legal minimum investment | Article 90-A |
| D7 visa | Residence for people with regular passive income | A separate visa type |
The difference matters. Families of article 90 permit holders are exempt from the 2-year family reunification wait. Article 89 families are not in that list, so the wait applies unless one of the exceptions does. The full list is on the family page.
The fuller comparison of HQA, the StartUP Visa and the Tech Visa is separate from the Golden Visa comparison.
Where the €175,000 fits in
Private providers sell packages that combine a company, an incubator place, a research project with a university and legal work. The package creates the activity. The visa and permit are still granted under articles 61 and 90.
That means two things:
- The €175,000 is a reported price, not a legal threshold. Article 90 does not set a minimum investment payment. Some private providers sell packages that include company and research-project services; their price and scope are provider-specific. The figure is reported by providers, October 2026. No government body sets or checks it.
- The visa is not bought. It is granted because you carry out a highly qualified activity in Portugal, and it stays valid only while you keep doing so.
Is the HQA visa legitimate?
The legal tools are in Portuguese law and have been there for years. The investment packages are private products. Some are well run, some are not. Judge each provider on its contract, its partners and its answers to hard questions.
Questions to ask any provider
Our free HQA due diligence checklist lists 15 questions to ask before you pay.
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Download the checklistFrequently asked questions
Is the HQA visa an official program?
No. "HQA visa" is an informal label. The official tools are the D3 residence visa (article 61) and the residence permit for highly qualified activity (article 90) of Lei 23/2007.
Is the HQA visa the same as the D3 visa?
The D3 is the visa you get at the consulate. The article 90 residence permit is what lets you stay. People use "HQA visa" for both together.
Do I have to invest to get the HQA visa?
No. A job contract with a Portuguese employer for highly qualified work can lead to the same permit without any investment.
Who decides my application?
The Portuguese consulate decides the visa. AIMA, Portugal's immigration agency, decides the residence permit.
Does "HQA®" mean a company owns the route?
No. Some companies use "HQA" in their branding. The legal route belongs to no company.
Disclaimer
This page gives general information, not legal advice. Speak to a qualified Portuguese lawyer about your own situation.