Portugal HQA residency visa business incubation program FAQ
Commonly asked questions about the program
Read more...Builds partnerships between Portuguese academia, state-backed R&D facilities, industry, and the world’s transnational business leaders.
Creates a more innovative Portugal and delivers economic benefits to the people who matter most – the citizens of Portugal.
FORMERLY PORTUGAL ANGEL VISA
Leverage legislation designed to attract highly qualified professionals to stimulate R&D in Portugal.
View required documents for
Highly Qualified Activity visa (art. 61.º)
Benefit from services provided by Empowered Startups, a recognized transnational business incubator
Keep your freedom to manage your other commitments.
Provide strategic direction to your own R&D driven startup.
Seed an option on your future in the EU by contributing to Portugal’s growth.
Designed specifically for highly qualified transnational business professionals.
The Portugal Highly Qualified Activity residency visa business incubation program represents a partnership between Empowered Startups, the transnational business incubator, and top tier research facilities in Portugal. Program participants are selected based on level of expertise and demonstrated ability to provide strategic direction to an innovative R&D-driven venture.
The Selection Process follows three clear steps:
Empowererd Startups has partnered with Portuguese R&D facilities to deliver the Portugal Highly Qualified Activity residency visa business incubation program.
Paul Girodo, MBA is expert in transnational entrepreneurship, scaling startups, and designing leading edge immigration products that deliver clear benefits to the governments, start-up ecosystems, and most importantly the citizens of countries accepting transnational business class migrants. As Co-Founder of Empowered Startups he helped build it into the largest deal flow provider to the Government of Canada’s Start-up Visa Program. He also leads Empowered’s delivery of new leading edge fast-track business investor class migration programs for entrepreneurs in Portugal and France with a growing number of established incubators in both countries. His industry interests range from combating human trafficking with his father (former Team Leader for INTERPOL Group of Experts on Corruption and Chief Human Factors Consultant in specialized drug and money laundering investigations with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to deep tech and social venture enterprises. He is a shareholder and director of many Canadian, French, and Portuguese companies.
After spending a little over a decade with a prominent law firm in Vancouver, primarily advising technology companies, research organizations, and corporate boards, Chris joined Empowered Startups Ltd. as President and General Counsel. Prior to taking on this role, Chris had acted as Empowered’s primary legal counsel since the organization’s inception. Chris also acted as an advisor on strategic issues and specific ventures incubated with the organization. As President and General Counsel Chris now oversees all Empowered’s operations and legal matters, working closely with the business incubator’s Board of Directors.
Separate and apart from his role with Empowered, Chris also continues to advise technology companies and other organizations through Lennon Law Corporation.
Laura co-created the Empowered Startups incubation programs in Portugal and France respectively, which she continues to lead. She has the honour and privilege of forming and nurturing important partnerships in the dynamic start-up ecosystems in Europe.
Prior to her role as Managing Director, Laura took responsibility for Empowered Startups’ key operational initiatives, at global and local levels, through her role as VP Int’l – Strategic Initiatives. Laura is a systems strategist, with over 15 years experience designing and implementing IT-enhanced organizational development systems. She served in senior leadership positions in service-driven organisations with distributed operations. Her specialty is in creating robust, scaleable and practical systems that allow for ad hoc adaptations within a variety of socio-economic contexts.
She holds an MBA in the Management of Technology and an M.A. in Educational Technology; Laura served as an immigrant settlement assistance volunteer for 3 years.
Shawn is a graduate of the University of British Columbia who has lived and worked all over the world. He is a dynamic leader and lifelong coach who believes in the inspirational power of the human spirit. His 6 years living and working in Central Europe has provided Shawn a global perspective on life and business. He has a proven track record of driving business results and fostering long term strategic global partnerships. Shawn has years of experience building and leading national sales and recruitment teams in multiple industries. His unique experience working for and with some of Canada’s most prestigious universities provides Empowered Startups with valuable insight.
Shawn is a passioned mentor, an avid sportsman, who is passionate about travel, people and relationship building.
Alex leads the operations of Brigantia-EcoPark, an IAPMEI-certified Start Up Visa incubator in northern Portugal, 90min outside of Porto. As a key co-creator of the Portugal Angel Visa protocol, he facilitates the partnerships with authorities and public bodies in Portugal. Empowered Startups first incubator in Portugal was launched within the well-appointed facilities of Brigantia-EcoPark.
Applications for admission to the Portugal Highly Qualified Activity residency visa business incubation program may be made directly to Empowered Startups, or through one of the program’s recognized agents, who offer priority processing.
Bitexco Financial Tower, Unit 4002, Floor 40, 2 Hai Trieu Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
www.harveylawcorporation.com
CONTACT
David Comtois
EMAIL
dcomtois@harveylawcorporation.com
PetroVietnam Tower Suite707 7th Floor Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
www.mnp.com.vn
CONTACT
Sylvia Ma
EMAIL
sylvie.ma@mnp.com.vn
Bitexco Financial Tower, Unit 1802, Floor 18, 2 Hai Trieu Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
cji-group.com
CONTACT
Pierre-Étienne Balthazar-Lacasse
EMAIL
pierre-etienne.lacasse@cji-legal.com
Lucky Plaza, Flat D, 3/F Lucky Plaza, Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai, HONG KONG
www.yimin-visa.com/
CONTACT
John Hu
EMAIL
johnhu@johnhu.com.hk
Unit 2505-6, 25/F, China Online Centre 333 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai HONG KONG
www.harveylawcorporation.com
CONTACT
David Comtois
EMAIL
dcomtois@harveylawcorporation.com
Suite 26, Mowj Tower, Sarafraz St, Abbas Abad Ave, Tehran, IRAN
www.cankash.com/
CONTACT
Kianoush Mahmoudi
EMAIL
kianoush@cankash.com
First Floor, Rosy Tower, No.7 Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai 600034, INDIA
www.investandsettle.com
CONTACT
Venkateswaran Palat Krishnan (Waran)
EMAIL
waran@investandsettle.com
22 Kamal El-Din Hussein Street, Cairo, 11799 EGYPT
www.new-border.com
CONTACT
Ahmed Gennidy
EMAIL
ag@newborder.co
Office 2, 3rd Floor, 107 Bree St, Cape Town 8001 SOUTH AFRICA
www.immigrationsouthafrica.com
CONTACT
Natalie Williams-Ashman
EMAIL
natalie@immigrationsouthafrica.com
201 – 4230 Gateway Drive, Whistler BC V8E 0Z8 CANADA
www.whistlerimmigration.com
CONTACT
Brooke Finlay
EMAIL
brooke@whistlerimmigration.com
1601-1239 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4R8 CANADA www.investorimmigrant.com
CONTACT
Afshin Sarhangpour
EMAIL
afshin@nimaria.com
Commonly asked questions about the program
Read more...Empowered Startups is a transnational business incubator, recognized in Canada, France and Portugal.
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Read more...Portugal Highly Qualified Activity Visa respects the privacy of its visitors.
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