A startup visa to Europe is an entry permit for foreign entrepreneurs to create and develop innovative projects or companies in the territory of the state. The program is aimed at actively attracting specialists from all over the world to contribute to the economic growth of the EU countries.

Startup visa to the EU in 2025 is gaining popularity among qualified young people, as it opens up prospects for the realization of unique projects. The main advantage of this immigration program is the opportunity for talented innovators and entrepreneurs to move to one of the developed European countries and develop their business in the international market.

Advantages of startup visas in Europe

A startup, which allows you to obtain a residence permit in Europe, is a business project that has two key features – potential for growth and innovation. When requesting a visa, the entrepreneur must demonstrate his financial ability to realize his idea and further develop it. It is also important that the project corresponds to the national interests of the state – it must operate in a priority economic sphere for the country.

It is important to remember that the requirements for startups in different countries differ slightly from one country to another. At the same time, entrepreneurs who have received permission to enter the state have not only a number of rights, but also certain restrictions. As a rule, a startup visa provides you with such opportunities:

• long-term residence in the territory of the country that issued the visa;
• entrepreneurial activity;
• possibility of family reunification;
• obtaining a permanent residence permit after a certain period of successful company activity, including financial activity.

Obtaining a startup visa is available for a limited category of foreigners – you will need an innovative idea, qualified personnel (in some cases), and money for the implementation of the project. At the same time, there are alternative ways to immigrate to the EU on simplified terms, which you can learn about from our lawyers.

General requirements for obtaining a startup visa

The laws of European countries regulate the requirements for applicants for a startup visa, but their list depends on the specific state. The main conditions imposed on entrepreneurs are:

• a detailed and well-developed business plan that clearly demonstrates the innovativeness of the project and its prospects;
• documented proof of financial capacity to launch and develop the project on the territory of a European country;
• specialized education or experience and skills in the chosen field of activity;
• registration of the company on the territory of the selected country;
• compliance of the sphere of activity with the economic interests of the country and sometimes of a certain municipality where the entrepreneur is going;
• certificate or certificate of proficiency in the state language at the level required by law.

In addition, when considering an application for a startup visa, the applicant’s compliance with the conditions for issuing a residence permit is checked:

• stay in the territory of the state on legal grounds;
• availability of housing (own or rented);
• medical insurance, usually covering the costs of medical services in the amount of 30,000 EUR or more.

The process of obtaining a startup visa

1. Choosing a country for launching a startup.
   Programs for granting startup visas to foreigners in European countries differ from one another – each of them has its own requirements for the candidate. In addition to this factor, the applicant should take into account the cost of housing and living in the chosen country, as these expenses need to be covered independently.
2. Writing a business plan.
   The business plan should include a detailed lay-out of your idea, a thorough market analysis, forecasts of financial success and development. The main emphasis is placed on innovativeness and compliance with the needs of the selected country.
3. Preparing documents and obtaining a visa.
   It is necessary to collect dossier for visa application at the consulate or embassy (bank account statement, certificate of no criminal record, passport), as well as to provide a certificate of company registration or lease of office space, if such documents have already been executed. You can apply and pay the state fee at the diplomatic mission or online, then wait for the decision. As a rule, the visa issuance process takes from a few weeks to several months.
4. Starting a business.
   After arrival in the country, it is necessary to register your company, if it has not been done before, open a bank account and rent premises where the company will be based. When a new company is entered in the register, a state duty must be paid.
5. Applying for a residence permit.
   In order to apply for a residence permit, a start-up entrepreneur needs to collect a package of documents, which must include proof of legal stay in the country and legal business activity. The application is submitted to the migration service, where the candidate needs to provide his biometric data. Then it remains to wait for a response – the time of consideration of the application may vary, but most often it takes up to 3-6 months.

When applying for a residence permit, it should be remembered that it will be necessary to pay not only for the processing of the application by the migration service, but also for all associated costs – for example, the services of a certified translator, apostilization and legalization of documents.

Renewing a startup visa and obtaining a residence permit

Startup visas to European countries are residence permit and can be renewed, but in some countries this document is the basis for obtaining a residence permit. In order to renew the residence permit, the entrepreneur must fulfill certain requirements regarding the conduct and development of the business. The conditions for renewal in different countries may vary, but the main ones are the following:

• creation of jobs for citizens of the state;
• timely payment of taxes and fees in full;
• progress in the development of the enterprise in accordance with the business plan;
• permanent residence in the territory of the state;
• absence of delinquency.

Proof of compliance with the above criteria can be financial statements, information on investments attracted, data on the number of employees hired. The application for visa extension is submitted to the migration service, where, after consideration and a positive decision, you will be granted a new residence permit.

It is important to remember that an application for the extension of a startup visa must be submitted at least several months before the expiration of the previous document. A state duty must be paid for the extension of the visa. Depending on the country, you can extend your residence permit or apply for a residence permit after a certain period of time. In most European countries after 5-10 years of continuous residence you can obtain citizenship by naturalization procedure.

Overview of startup visas in various European countries

Choosing a place to get a startup visa is a rather complicated process, as it involves a lot of work to analyze the market for the proposed product, the legislative framework of the countries, as well as the amount of taxes and fees. In each country, the authorities regulate the stay and activities of startups in their own way.

France

The French Tech Visa (FTV) in France is designed for talented foreign professionals who can contribute to the establishment and development of the French tech ecosystem. The program is available for three categories of applicants – company founders, investors and employees. FTV gives you the opportunity to obtain a simplified procedure for a “talent passport” – a residence permit in France valid for 4 years.

The residence permit includes authorization to work in the declared field, it can be renewed if the grounds remain valid. The residence permit also allows the entrepreneur to bring his/her family (spouse and joint children) with him/her, with family members being entitled to employment in any field of activity. For the FTV of a company founder, the project must be recognized by government agencies and institutions or by a public company.

Foreign business founders in France are subject to the following requirements:

• recognition of the project by the country, state or local government institutions or public companies;
• availability of funds for living expenses, in an amount corresponding to the minimum wage (21,621.60 EUR per year without tax deduction as of November 1, 2024).

As an employee of a startup established in France, you can obtain a residence permit if the employing company is recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty. Your annual salary must be at least 43,234.20 EUR and your employment contract with the employer must be signed for a period of 3 months or more.

The procedure for obtaining FTV should be started 3 months before your planned arrival in France. You will have to pay a tax of 200 EUR and stamp duty for the residence card of 25 EUR. A long-term visa to enter France will cost 99 EUR. If a startup entrepreneur moves to France with his/her family (spouse, minor children), it is necessary to pay for a visa (99 EUR per person) and a residence card for the spouse (225 EUR).

You can apply for a long-term resident card (valid for 10 years) after 5 years of residence in the country with a residence permit, at the same time you can apply for citizenship.

Portugal

Portuguese StartUP Visa is a residency card for attracting talented entrepreneurs and professionals, as well as investment and innovation potential to the country. The holder of such a document can transfer an existing startup to the territory of Portugal or create a new one in the country. To successfully pass the stages of obtaining a visa, residence permit and work permit, it is important for you to fulfill the following conditions:

• to start and develop an activity that aims to produce innovative goods or services, as well as projects with a focus on technology and science;
• have clear prospects of creating jobs for qualified employees;
• demonstrate the potential to achieve an annual turnover and/or asset value above 325,000 EUR per year after 5 years of operation.

A startup visa in Portugal is a special residence permit, when applying for such a permit the entrepreneur needs to meet the following requirements:

• provide bank statements with the amount of 5,146.8 EUR per person per month;
• prove that the candidate’s permanent place of residence is outside the Schengen zone;
• provide proof of absence of debts to tax and social services.

The program for immigrant entrepreneurs is based on cooperation with incubators certified by the National Network (RNI – Rede Nacional de Incubatoras). These organizations are located all over the country and have specific areas of activity, so it is necessary to choose the most suitable one from the list and apply for participation.

Once your request is approved by IAPMEI (Agência para a Competitividade e Inovação – Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation), you need to sign an agreement with the incubator and send it to the StarUP Visa portal, and then wait for approval to grant you a startup visa. Cooperation with the organization lasts for 5 years.

The entrepreneur’s spouse and minor children may be granted a residence permit, the duration of which coincides with the startup period and can be extended. Family members must apply for reunification at AIMA (Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), wait for approval and then apply for a visa within 90 days.

The startup visa is issued for a period of 2 years and can be extended for three-year periods. The cost of the document is 90 EUR and the application processing time for startups is up to 60 days. To obtain Portuguese citizenship, it is necessary to live in the country for at least 6 years.

Spain

Entrepreneur Visa Program in Spain allows an innovative entrepreneur to obtain a residence permit in the country together with his/her family members (spouse/partner, children and other relatives in care). The Startup Visa allows the entrepreneur to reside and develop entrepreneurial activities in Spain for 3 years with the possibility of extension. The legislation stipulates certain requirements for startups:

• provision of a positive report on the innovation project issued by ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovacion S.A. – National Innovation Company), which must be obtained through the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Division;
• proof of financial means in an account or a stable income sufficient for the candidate’s living expenses (600 EUR per month) and the maintenance of his/her family, if applicable (300 EUR per relative per month).

A Spanish startup visa can be obtained while in the country on a tourist visa or while abroad, with a processing time of 10 days. An important factor when applying for an entrepreneurial residence permit in Spain is a detailed business plan. Spanish law does not specify a minimum investment in the company or economy. Letters from your potential investors and future customers who are interested in the project are taken into account when considering the visa application.

Startup visa in Spain is issued for a year, a residence permit for entrepreneurs can be obtained for 3 years with the right to extend for another 2 years. You will be able to obtain a residence permit after 5 years of stay in the state on legal grounds. It will be important to prove the economic efficiency of your enterprise and its stable development. Citizenship can be obtained through the naturalization procedure after 10 years of residence in the country.

Great Britain

The Innovator Founder Visa is a visa for entrepreneurs who want to start an innovative business in the UK. The project must be approved by the authorized organizations Innovator Founder and Scale-up on the criterion of potential development to the level of local enterprises, and it is important that it differs from the existing ones on the market.

In order to obtain a startup visa, a foreigner must have a B2 level of English and prove it by passing the SELT (Secure English Language Test), providing a GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) certificate from a British school or evidence of an academic qualification obtained by studying at a higher education institution in English.

The Innovator Founder Visa is not available to entrepreneurs who can obtain another type of visa to work in the UK, but switching to an IFV from another type of permit is allowed during their stay in the country. The UK Startup Visa is granted for 3 years and allows you to bring family members with you. The visa can be renewed for a similar period of time an unlimited number of times. All processes related to renewing the visa or granting a permanent resident card must be approved by the authorized Innovator Founder and Scale-up authorities.

A decision on granting a novator visa is made within 3 weeks if you apply from abroad and costs 1,433 EUR. If the application is completed in the UK, it takes 8 weeks and costs 1,788 EUR. If necessary, you can get a quicker response by using the priority service and paying an additional 602 EUR – it will take 5 working days. The applicant will also be charged a medical fee of 3,755.75 EUR.

Family members can obtain a residence permit as persons supported by the entrepreneur. The residence permit for the accepted party has a duration similar to the duration of the innovator’s startup visa. At the same time, the inviting person must be financially able to support relatives (337 EUR for a spouse and 379 EUR for a child per month).

UK citizenship can be obtained with an indefinite residence permit (issued on application after 3 years of residence in the country on a startup visa), but for this purpose it is necessary to live in the country for at least 12 months with a valid residence permit.

Netherlands

Dutch Startup Visa (DSV) – a permit to reside and operate in the Netherlands for one year for innovative entrepreneurs from outside the EU. It is possible to change to DSV from another visa type. For 12 months you need to start an innovative business and introduce a new product/service to the market under the guidance of a local coordinator.

The visa application together with a step-by-step schedule of business creation and development is reviewed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND – Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst), and the business plan is evaluated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO – Rijksdienst Ondernemend Nederland). The main requirements for startups are as follows:

• joint work with the local coordinator;
• registration of the entrepreneur in the Register of Enterprises of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK – Kamer van Koophandel);
• availability of financial means for living and starting a business in the country (at least 17,834 EUR for a year).

The cost of a startup visa in the Netherlands is 380 EUR. After the permit expires, you need to apply for a residence permit on the basis of self-employment or any other, if you meet the requirements. The startup visa does not apply to family members. Entrepreneurs can obtain citizenship by naturalization procedure after 5 years of running a successful business.

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Estonia

StartUp Visa in Estonia is issued to foreign entrepreneurs within the framework of the government initiative Enterpise Estonia, and the project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The program also covers talented specialists who can be invited to work in local innovative companies. The legal framework of the state regulates certain requirements for startups, the main one being that they must be technologically advanced to solve large problems.

A startup visa can be obtained for projects approved by the Startup Commitee organization. The entrepreneur must have financial means for living in the country in the amount of 800 EUR per month. The visa application should contain the maximum amount of information about the business idea and its implementation plan, as well as financial forecasts for the next 2 years of activity. It takes about 10 working days for the Startup Commitee organization to review your request.

When you arrive in Estonia, you need to apply for a Schengen D visa at the Police Board. Then you should register your company in the Estonian Commercial Register and fill in an application for a residence permit for entrepreneurship valid for up to 5 years. It takes about two months to process your request and the residence permit is issued within 30 days. The residence permit can be extended for a maximum of 10 years. Estonian citizenship can be obtained through the naturalization procedure after 5 years of residence in the country on the basis of a residence card.

The process of selecting the most suitable EU country and the optimal immigration program is better to entrust to an experienced specialist who is well acquainted with the nuances of the legislation and will help you in a short period of time to obtain documents for living, working and doing business in the European Union.

How to choose a country to apply for a startup visa and launch an innovative project

Thanks to a large number of different immigration programs for entrepreneurs, it is possible to choose a country where the implementation of your innovative idea will allow you to successfully develop your business and enjoy all the benefits of citizenship status in the future. Let’s consider the main differences between the conditions of startup visas in the countries where they are available:

Advantageous alternatives to obtaining residence permit on the basis of startup visa

Obtaining a startup visa to an EU country gives an aspiring entrepreneur the opportunity to realize internationally his unique innovative ideas and eventually become a citizen of a European country. At the same time, opening such a visa has a number of disadvantages in comparison with other ways of obtaining residence permit in Europe, for example:

• high requirements to the idea, business plan, financial capabilities and qualifications of the entrepreneur;
• the complexity of the visa application procedure, involving the collection of extensive dossiers;
• the need to regularly renew a visa or obtain other permits to stay in the country;
• strict approach of the authorities to the assessment of business development criteria (e.g., the requirement to create a certain number of jobs within a clear timeframe);
• high level of competition among startup visa applicants.

Simplified citizenship programs will allow you to move to Europe much faster and easier, while receiving a full range of rights and privileges. To learn more about the available options of immigration to the EU, as well as to choose the most suitable one, the company’s specialists will help you during a free consultation. With the support of experienced lawyers, you will be able to obtain a passport of a European country within a year at minimal cost and without much effort.