Is the HQA Visa Still Available? Status and Law Changes
Is the HQA visa still available? Yes. The residence visa and permit for highly qualified activity remain in Portuguese law, and private providers still sell investment packages. What has changed is the path around it: family rules, AIMA deadlines and, above all, the time to citizenship. This page tracks every change and what we are still waiting for.
Last verified: 20 October 2026
Current status
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| D3 visa and article 90 permit | Available |
| Investment packages | Offered by private providers |
| Legal minimum investment | None |
| Family 2-year wait | Not applied to article 90 permit holders |
| Citizenship | 10 years of legal residence (7 for EU nationals and nationals of countries where Portuguese is an official language) |
| AIMA decision deadline | 90 days, extendable by 30 |
| Government fees | Changed on 1 March 2026; new amounts not yet confirmed by us |
The family rule is explained on the family page. The citizenship rule is explained in the citizenship guide.
Law changes
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Date | Change | What it means for HQA |
|---|---|---|
| 23 October 2025 | Lei 61/2025 changed the foreigners law | A 2-year wait for most family reunification; article 90 families exempt |
| 15 December 2025 | Acórdão 1133/2025 | An earlier draft was partly struck down. This row records that event. It is not support for any current rule. |
| 1 March 2026 | New AIMA fee table | Government fees changed; exact amounts not yet confirmed |
| 19 May 2026 | Lei Orgânica 1/2026 in force | Citizenship after 10 years for most nationals |
| 11 September 2026 | Lei 62/2026 in force | AIMA must decide residence applications within 90 days, extendable by 30 |
What we are waiting for
- The new nationality regulation. It will set the language level and test format for citizenship, and may clarify when the residence clock starts.
- Official AIMA fee amounts. We will publish them once we can confirm them from an official source.
- Clear guidance on presence for package holders. We have not found official guidance on "no minimum stay" claims. The absence limits in the law are explained separately.
Get notified when the rules change
Our free HQA due diligence checklist comes with an optional email when the rules change.
Thank you. The checklist is ready to download.
Download the checklistDisclaimer
This page gives general information, not legal advice. Rules change. Speak to a qualified Portuguese lawyer before you commit money.