Guide
Startup & Entrepreneur Visas
What is a startup or entrepreneur visa?
A startup or entrepreneur visa grants residency to people who launch or run a business in the country, rather than take a job there. Depending on the program it may suit a funded startup founder, a freelancer, or an established business owner, and qualifying usually means showing a viable business plus enough capital or funds to back it. Most lead to permanent residency over time, and a few — like the Netherlands' DAFT treaty — are unusually accessible to specific nationalities.
About this guide
This guide compares startup, self-employment, and business-owner visas side by side — how much capital you need, who qualifies, and how the route leads to permanent residency — then links to a full breakdown of each.
Pathways compared
36
Countries covered
30
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Filter by
Norway Self-Employed Skilled Worker
Lowest
|
Business Residency | No set min (income/funds) | Self-employed skilled workers | 3 years | Yes |
Start-up Denmark
|
Startup Residency | No min (expert-panel approval) | Startup founders | varies | No |
Sweden Self-Employed
|
Business Residency | Funds for 2 yrs (~SEK 200k) | Self-employed | 5 years | Yes |
Germany Freelancer Visa
Lowest
|
Self Employment Residency | No set min (self-funding) | Freelancers (Freiberufler) | 5 years | Yes |
Ireland STEP
|
Startup Residency | €50,000 | High-potential startup founders | 5 years | Yes |
Singapore EntrePass
|
Business Residency | No fixed (funded/innovative biz) | Founders of venture-backed firms | Not straightforward | No |
Netherlands DAFT
|
Self Employed Residency | €4,500 business capital | US/Japanese self-employed (DAFT) | 5 years | Yes |
|
Netherlands Startup Visa
|
Startup Residency | No min (€20k funds) | Innovative founders (facilitator-backed) | 5 years | Yes |
Finland Startup Permit
|
Startup Residency | No min (Business Finland endorsement) | Startup founders | 4 years | Yes |
Belgium Professional Card
Lowest
|
Self Employed Residency | No set min (viable business) | Self-employed / business owners | 5 years | Yes |
UK Innovator Founder
Lowest
|
Entrepreneur Residency | No set min (endorsed) | Endorsed innovative founders | 3 years | Yes |
New Zealand Business Investor
|
Business Residency | NZD 100,000+ capital | Business founders | → residence | Yes |
Canada Self-Employed Persons
|
Self Employed Residency | Paused | Existing applications only | Paused until further notice | Limited Existing apps only |
|
Canada Start-up Visa
|
Entrepreneur Residency | Transition only | Valid 2025 commitment holders | PR on approval; apply by Jun 30, 2026 | Limited Transition only |
Austria Self-employed Key Worker
|
Business Residency | ~€100,000 (or macro benefit) | Self-employed key workers | 5 years | Yes |
|
Austria Start-up Founder
|
Startup Residency | €50,000 (half own capital) | Innovative startup founders | 5 years | Yes |
Japan Business Manager Visa
|
Business Residency | JPY 30M (~$200k) | Managers (3+ yrs exp / master's) | 10 years | Yes |
Israel Innovation Visa
Lowest
|
Business Residency | No set min (innovation track) | Tech entrepreneurs | Not a PR path | No |
Malta Startup Residence
|
Entrepreneur Residency | €25,000 (tangible investment) | Innovative startup founders | 5 years | Yes |
Spain Entrepreneur Visa
Lowest
|
Entrepreneur Residency | No set min (favorable report) | Innovative entrepreneurs | 5 years | Yes |
|
Spain Self-Employed Work
Lowest
|
Self Employment Residency | No set min (business plan + funds) | Self-employed workers | 5 years | Yes |
France Profession Libérale
|
Self Employment Residency | ~€21,876 (SMIC) funds | Self-employed professionals | 5 years | Yes |
Cyprus Startup Visa
|
Entrepreneur Residency | €20k (solo) / €50k (team) | Innovative startup founders | Not a PR path | No |
Italy Startup Visa
|
Entrepreneur Residency | €50,000 | Innovative startup founders | 5 years | Yes |
Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa
|
Startup Residency | TWD 2M (~$62k) or endorsement | Innovative entrepreneurs | 5 years (APRC) | Yes |
Estonia Startup Visa
|
Entrepreneur Residency | No min (Startup Committee endorsement) | Innovative startup founders | 5 years | Yes |
Czech Business Residence
Lowest
|
Self Employment Residency | No set min (trade license + funds) | Self-employed (živnostenské) | 5 years | Yes |
Andorra Entrepreneur Program
|
Entrepreneur Residency | €50,000 deposit + company | Entrepreneurs / company owners | 10 years | Yes |
|
Andorra Self-Employed Residence
|
Self Employed Residency | €50,000 deposit + business | Self-employed / company owners | 10 years | Yes |
Portugal D2 Visa
Lowest
|
Entrepreneur Residency | No minimum (~€10,440 funds) | Founders & entrepreneurs | 5 years | Yes |
|
Portugal Independent Professional
Lowest
|
Self Employment Residency | No minimum (contract + funds) | Independent professionals | 5 years | Yes |
Chile Self-Employed Residency
Lowest
|
Self Employed Residency | No set min (activity proof) | Self-employed | ~2 years | Yes |
Georgia Business Residence Permit
Lowest
|
Business Residency | No set min (business activity) | Business owners | 10 years | Yes |
Bulgaria Startup Visa
Lowest
|
Entrepreneur Other | No set min (certified startup) | Innovative startup founders | 5 years | Yes |
Armenia Business Residence
Lowest
|
Business Residency | No set min (register a company) | Business owners | Varies | Yes |
Paraguay SUACE Residency
Lowest
|
Entrepreneur Residency | No set min (register business) | Business owners | 3 years | Yes |
No pathways match that filter.