-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HsBhNV3hc1HZOg8A4vhxJI4k5QHd1Cufd/nxYPvGFrEVPv1kP4a2Xhsy1ZXFEReu
 Hj4+6wvlcvyDomLrEmlGSA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001255467-08-000002.txt : 20080606
<SEC-HEADER>0001255467-08-000002.hdr.sgml : 20080606
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080606145321
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001255467-08-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080606
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080606
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080606

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES INC /VA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001008579
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		340 W MAIN ST
		STREET 2:		C/O HIGHLANDS UNION BANK
		CITY:			ABINGDON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24210

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		340 WEST MAIN STREET
		STREET 2:		C/O HIGHLANDS UNION BANK
		CITY:			ABINGDON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LITTLE ROBERT M JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001255467

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27622
		FILM NUMBER:		08885417

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6171 GUM HILL ROAD
		CITY:			ABINGDON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001008579</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES INC /VA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>None</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001255467</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LITTLE ROBERT M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6171 GUM HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRISTOL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>24202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Highlands Bankshares, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>965</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73.473</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert M. Little, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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