Tech Visa - Lamares, Capela & Associados

For whom?

Tech Visa is a certification program aimed at companies with headquarters or a permanent establishment in Portugal, to simplify the granting of visas or residence permits to nationals of countries outside the European Union, highly qualified, who wish to develop their activity there.

Note: The company certification is valid for two years and renewable for equal periods.

CONDITIONS

For Companies:

Without prejudice to compliance with other legal requirements that may be applicable, Tech Visa business applications are evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:

Be legally constituted;
Do not have debts to social security and tax administration;
Do not have salaries in arrears;
Not be considered companies undergoing restructuring;
Identify in the application the technical areas of qualification that are preferred under the “Tech Visa” program, according to the National Qualifications Catalog;
In the case of companies established more than three years ago, they have a positive net position, evidenced by the latest available Simplified Business Information (IES);
To develop an activity of production of internationalizable goods and services;
Obtain a positive evaluation of the application in the following evaluation criteria:
- Market potential;
- Guidance for external markets.

For highly skilled workers:

Highly qualified workers must meet the following requirements:

Be a third-country national and not reside permanently in the European Union;
Have the tax situation regularized before the tax administration and social security, when applicable;
Do not have a criminal record;
Be 18 years of age or older;
Perform highly qualified activity demonstrated through the fulfillment of one of the following requirements:
- To have a level VI minimum qualification in accordance with ISCED -2011;
- In the case of workers with a level of qualification V, professional upper technical course, according to ISCED-2011, must demonstrate to have exceptional specialized technical skills, obtained through minimum experience of 5 years;
- Employment contract or promise of employment contract with a minimum duration of 12 months;
Have a minimum annual salary equivalent to 2.5 times the Index of Social Support;
Have a command of the Portuguese, English, French or Spanish language appropriate to the duties to be performed.

Note: Inland companies wishing to benefit from this program can hire up to 80% of workers simultaneously under Tech Visa. The remaining companies may not exceed 50%.

Benefits

For companies:

Acquiring the certification, the company can issue terms of responsibility to highly qualified foreign workers that it intends to hire, and it is no longer necessary to obtain an opinion issued by the Foundation for Science and Technology, IP, previously qualified, thus streamlining the process with the competent entities.

For highly skilled workers:

To enter and remain in Portugal and in the other countries that are part of the Schengen area without visa requirements;
To family reunification;
Access to a residence permit;
Reconcile your residence permit with the Non-habitual Resident Statute (NHR);
To Portuguese nationality (at the end of 5 years)