The literature has identified several explanatory typologies of highly skilled migration. Although those typologies tend to oversimplify reality they are useful for discussing policy implications and integration needs that different highly qualified migrant groups might have. This article analyses a typology of three different groups of highly skilled immigrants in Portugal: (1) highly skilled immigrants at entrance; (2) immigrants acknowledged as highly skilled after a process of recognition of qualifications or after achieving a higher education in the Portuguese education system; and (3) potential highly skilled immigrants. The characterization of these three groups allow to debate how the Portuguese opportunity structure – social, economic, legal and institutional frameworks – interfere not only in the effective integration of highly skilled immigrants in the country, but also on the attractiveness of the country for hosting those immigrants. The article analyses both the impacts of the Portuguese immigration acts (with a special visa for highly skilled immigrants since 2007 and transposition of the Blue Card Directive after 2012) and the results of measures and programmes that have been developed by public and private institutions targeting these immigrants.