PORTUGAL

Empowered will suggest a business idea, typically based on the client’s background, in one of the following sectors:

• Biotechnology and pharmacology;
• Commerce and consumer products;
• Communication and media;
• Electronics;
• Energy;
• Industrial products;
• Information technology (IT);
• Medical / health.

Bragança, Portugal (a little to the Northeast of Porto, which is the closest international airport).

The Incubation Fee is EUR 175,000, of which EUR 25,000 will be used as share’s capitalization in the Portuguese business venture and pay for the business’s required services.

From one venture to another, the required services will be different, but certain basic services will be taken care of by Empowered Startups for all using the capitalization, including making the connection and obtaining authorizations with the government body and R&D facility, preparing the necessary business presentation documents together with the client, taking care of accounting, incorporation, corporate bank account opening, etc.

The participation of Empowered will be minimal and no third party will be involved in the shareholding, so it is to be expected that approximately 95% will be owned by the client and 5% by Empowered.

The Incubation has a 3-year duration, starting from the approval of the client’s Residence Permit application. In case of refusal, of course, the Incubation will not start, and the incubation fees will be refunded to the client.

The residence permit will be valid for 2 years, then renewed for a period of 3 years until the 5-year mark for the PR. Empowered’s incubation covers 3 years and as such they will help with the renewals of the permit

Once the Applicant has been granted a residence permit, it is possible to apply for residence permits for the following family members:

• The spouse or common-law partner
• Children under 18 years old
• Children of 18 years old or older who are mentally incapacitated
• Children of 18 years old or older as long as they are unmarried, financially dependent and would be enrolled as full-time students in Portugal
• Parents financially dependent (can be spouse’s parents too)

No, there is no physical time requirement in this program to meet the “resident” standard of the permanent residency. What matters is that the main applicant and the family:

• Have had a residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years with the SUV Portugal program;
• Have received the letter of support/contract through Empowered Startups of the Portuguese public body and R&D facility for the business venture;
• Have declared taxes in Portugal and have a social security number;
• Have kept a clean criminal record;
• Have reached a Portuguese language proficiency of CEFR A2 (can be waived under certain circumstances, notably showing personal active efforts to contribute to grow the business venture in Portugal).

The main applicant will need to attend in person at the SEF (immigration authorities) to activate the residence permit in Bragança once the landing visa is received and to provide biometrics, in addition to meeting with Empowered and other members of the R&D facility for strategic planning. The main applicant will also need to be present for each residence permit’s renewal (after year 2), but is of course encouraged to spend more time in Portugal to develop the business venture.

The language requirement can be waived for PR, at the discretion of local immigration authorities, upon the advice of local officials if it is judged that the client is trying to contribute to grow the business venture and the economy. Empowered Startups will help with their public body partner in Portugal, but it cannot be guaranteed as it is a case-by-case situation.

Step 1. Gather the following documents for KYC (+ sign MOU):

– Detailed CV indicating professional background;

– Passport information page;

Step 2. Schedule a Video call with incubator to make introductions and discuss the potential business idea;

Step 3. Incubator issues Term Sheet (+ sign HLG’s Service Agreement);

Step 4. HLG confirms the client’s money is in the HLG client’s account and sends back the signed Term Sheet to incubator;

Step 5. HLG processing team and client work through completing the application document checklist. Concurrently, the incubator helps writing client’s business action plan for Portuguese authorities AND securing the R&D letter from their public body/R&D facility partner facility who will work with them to develop the client’s proof of concept;

Step 6. Application with the incubator’s supporting letter and invitation letter from the public body is submitted to the responsible Portuguese Consulate. Within approximately 15 working days, the client will be asked to go to the Consulate for an interview to get the landing visa.

Step 7. Within approximately 90 days of the landing visa’s issuance (i.e. while the landing visa is valid), the client will travel to Bragança, Portugal to meet with local SEF authorities to complete the residence permit application’s procedures. The residence permit should be issued and activated on the spot;

Step 8. The client and the incubator meet for strategic planning, incorporation in Portugal, and to meet the public body/R&D facility partners to convert the invitation letter into the official contract of services. Incubator will help to settle the tax/social security/address matters as well.