Portugal Residency Timelines: The HQA® Advantage Over the Golden Visa 

We’ve seen it on primary news sources for the past year; Portugal’s Golden Visa is often riddled with delays and backlogs.

What once was the easy path to obtaining residency is now one that leaves investors stuck in limbo. With AIMA processing times reaching 2-3 years due to backlogs and policy changes, many investors have been waiting for approvals, biometrics appointments, and renewals for years. 

But what these news articles aren’t explaining is that obtaining residency in Portugal isn’t always this complicated, and that there are better alternatives to the golden visa. Not all residency permits in Portugal are treated equally by AIMA, and many professionals using alternative pathways experience timelines that differ significantly.  

The Alternative: The HQA® Advantage  

In February 2023, the Portuguese government officially endorsed Empowered Startups and its HQA® Visa Program. The HQA® provides accomplished professionals and investors with a pathway to Portuguese citizenship and EU residency outside the golden visa program. As a government-endorsed program, the HQA® offers a streamlined process with numerous advantages for qualified applicants and their families. From expedited processing to significant tax benefits, this program provides a comprehensive, low-maintenance route to establishing residency in Portugal. You can move from application to residency permit submission in a few months. 

Comparing Golden Visa and HQA® Timelines 

Stage 1: Both the golden visa and HQA® program start the process the same way: applications are filled out and submitted to AIMA, the agency responsible for processing foreign documents, permits, and visas in Portugal.  

Stage 2: The second step of the process is the in-person biometrics appointment with AIMA in Portugal. For the HQA®, appointments have been scheduled within 1-4 weeks of application submission. For the golden visa, this process can take upwards of three months.  

Stage 3: The last step is to receive your Portuguese residency permit. With the HQA®, permits are issued within 1 to 3 months of the biometrics appointment. With the golden visa, this process can take up to 3 years to complete due to backlogs.  

Based on the timelines, it’s clear that the Portuguese government is currently prioritizing the HQA® Visa Program over the golden visa. The HQA® brings in high-quality human capital to the country, alongside foreign direct investment that goes directly into R&D at local universities. This program brings innovation, talent, and money. It ties the investor to the country in meaningful ways, rather than the passive golden visa option that offers only one benefit: the money.  

Visit our HQA® Program page to learn more about the better visa option for Portugal.