Which countries offer a startup / entrepreneur visa visa?

VisaPassage tracks 55 countries offering a startup / entrepreneur visa route — 32 with fully verified government fees, processing times and rights, and 23 more at summary level. Every entry is checked against official sources and describes typical eligibility, never a promise of approval.

Does a startup / entrepreneur visa visa lead to permanent residency?

In 23 of the tracked startup / entrepreneur visa routes there is a statutory path to permanent residency — the fastest reaches PR 3 years in Serbia. These are statutory minimums and may vary by individual circumstances; they are never a guarantee.

Can you work on a startup / entrepreneur visa visa?

Work rights vary by country: 31 of the tracked startup / entrepreneur visa routes carry some form of work permission — see the Rights column in the comparison table for each country's specific terms. Confirm against the official source before relying on it.

Visa types · Work & Self-Employment

Startup / Entrepreneur Visa visa

Residence for founders building an innovative company, often requiring an approved business plan or incubator.

32 countries with verified fees and rights · 23 more offered at summary level.

						Rights
Austria Red-White-Red Card – Start-up Founders	€218	—	—	—	5 years	Work: Self-employment in own start-up Residency after 5 years Family: Family get RWR Card plus; spouse can work
Brazil Brazil Innovation/Startup Investor Residence (RN 13/2017 reduced threshold)	—	—	—	—	4 years	Work: Run own startup/business Study: Study permitted Residency after 4 years Family: Family reunion allowed
Cyprus Cyprus Startup Visa	€120	56 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Run own innovative startup Study: Permitted alongside residence Residency after 5 years Family: Family included; spouse labour access
Denmark Start-up Denmark Residence Permit for Entrepreneurs	DKK 3,060	60 days	—	—	8 years	Work: Work only in the approved self-employed business. Study: Study permitted alongside running the business. Residency after 8 years Family: Spouse/partner and children under 18 may accompany.
Estonia Estonia Startup Visa / Residence Permit for Start-up Business	—	90 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Work on own start-up Study: Study permitted alongside business Residency after 5 years Family: Spouse and minor children may join
Finland Finland Residence Permit for a Start-up Entrepreneur	€650	—	€1,210	—	6 years	Work: Main activity must be startup entrepreneurship; other work also allowed; not employer-bound. Study: May study alongside the startup. Residency after 6 years Family: Family members may apply on the basis of family ties, subject to an income requirement.
France France Talent Card - Business Creator / French Tech Visa	€99	—	€1,867.02	—	5 years	Work: Create/run your business Study: Study permitted Residency after 5 years Family: Talent-Famille; spouse may work
Hungary Hungary Job-Seeking or Business Start-Up Residence Permit	HUF 26,000	60 days	—	270 days	—	Work: Start business / take up job within 3 mo
Ireland Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)	€350	—	—	—	5 years	Work: Own start-up business only Residency after 5 years Family: Family included
Israel Israel Innovation Visa for Foreign Entrepreneurs	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Only on own startup; no outside employment
Italy Italia Startup Visa	€116	30 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Run innovative startup; self-employment Study: Study permitted Residency after 5 years Family: Family reunification, priority
Japan Japan Startup Visa	¥3,000	—	—	—	10 years	Work: Business-tied startup prep activity Study: Study allowed alongside startup activity Residency after 10 years Family: Spouse/child may apply
Latvia Latvia Startup Visa (Residence Permit for Innovative Product Development)	€100	60 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Work in own startup Study: Study permitted alongside residence Residency after 5 years Family: Spouse and minor children included
Lithuania Lithuania Startup Visa	€160	60 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Authorises developing and running the approved startup. Study: May study alongside the startup activity. Residency after 5 years Family: Family members may apply for residence permits together with the founder.
Malaysia Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP)	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Run own tech startup; 1 or 5 yr Family: 5-yr pass: spouse+children dependants
Malta Malta Startup Residence Programme	€750	—	—	—	5 years	Work: Own startup business Study: Residents may study Residency after 5 years Family: Spouse/partner and dependent children
Mauritius Mauritius Occupation Permit — Innovator	—	30 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Run and work in the innovative start-up Study: Resident; may study Residency after 5 years Family: Dependants may obtain linked permits
Netherlands Netherlands Start-up Residence Permit	€423	90 days	€1,606.08	365 days	5 years	Work: Founder; self-employed work Study: Study allowed alongside venture Residency after 5 years Family: Family included as dependents
Portugal Portugal StartUP Visa	€110	60 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Run incubated startup business Study: Study permitted Residency after 5 years Family: Family reunification included
Qatar Qatar Mustaqel Entrepreneur Visa (5-Year Residency)	QAR 5,000	—	—	—	—	Work: Self-sponsored; work independently Study: Residency permits study Residency: 5-yr renewable residency Family: Sponsor family to Qatar
San Marino San Marino High-Tech Company / Startup Residence	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Authorises work/management within the certified high-tech company. Study: Resident family members may enrol in local education. Residency: Annual permit; long-term residence depends on conversion to a stable residence category over time. Family: Residence can be obtained for the shareholder/administrator and their family.
Saudi Arabia Saudi Premium Residency — Entrepreneur	SAR 4,000	—	—	—	—	Work: Self-sponsored; may work & own business Study: Full access; no restrictions Residency: Premium Residency; renewable/permanent Family: Spouse, children & parents included
Serbia Serbia Temporary Residence for Start-up Founders	—	15 days	—	—	3 years	Work: Authorised to run the registered start-up. Study: May study alongside the activity. Residency after 3 years Family: Family join via family reunification.
Singapore Singapore EntrePass	SGD 105	42 days	—	—	—	Work: Run own SG startup Residency: May apply for PR after ~2 yrs Family: Dependant's Pass for spouse & children
South Korea Technology Startup Visa D-8-4 (OASIS)	—	—	—	—	5 years	Work: Work tied to own startup Study: OASIS program study allowed Residency after 5 years Family: Spouse & children via F-3
Spain Spain Entrepreneur (Startup) Visa	—	28 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Work rights for innovative project Study: Study permitted Residency after 5 years Family: Joint; family has immediate work rights
Sweden Sweden Residence Permit to Look for Work or Start a Business	SEK 2,200	210 days	—	270 days	4 years	Residency after 4 years
Taiwan Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa for Foreigners	NT$4,200	30 days	—	—	5 years	Work: May operate the startup, but employment by it requires a separate work permit under the Employment Service Act. Study: May study while resident. Residency after 5 years Family: Spouse, minor children and disabled adult children may obtain dependent ARCs.
Thailand Thailand SMART Visa S (Startup)	THB 10,000	30 days	—	—	—	Work: Run startup; no separate work permit Family: SMART-O dependents; spouse may work
Tunisia Tunisia Startup Act - Labelled Startup Founder	—	—	—	—	5 years	Work: Founders work in their labelled startup; the Label exempts them from the standard work-contract authorisation. Residency after 5 years
United Arab Emirates UAE Golden Visa (Entrepreneurs)	AED 1,100	5 days	—	—	—	Work: Work without employer sponsorship Study: May live, work or study Residency: 10-yr renewable Golden residence; no PR Family: Sponsors spouse, children, parents
United Kingdom UK Innovator Founder Visa	£1,357	21 days	—	—	3 years	Work: Run own business, no other job Study: Study allowed Residency after 3 years Family: Dependants allowed

Sort by any column. Fees are shown in each program's own currency and are government fees only. Blank cells (—) mean we haven't verified that fact — never that it is zero. “PR in” is a statutory minimum and may vary.

Also offered by

Countries where we track this route at summary level only — no verified fee or processing data yet, so they aren't comparable in the table above.

Golden Residency Visa (entrepreneur/talent track) and investor residenceBahrain
Founders of Bahrain-registered companies can self-sponsor an investor residence permit, and the 10-year renewable Golden Residency includes tracks for entrepreneurs/talented individuals and business investors (BHD 100,000 in a Bahraini company).
Professional Card (Beroepskaart / Carte professionnelle)Belgium
No dedicated startup visa; non-EU founders apply for a regional Professional Card (Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia) proving the project's economic value or innovation plus financial means (roughly EUR 12,000-18,000), combined with a long-stay D visa, typically renewable up to 5 years.
StartUp Visa (High-Tech and/or Innovative Project Certificate)Bulgaria
Ministry of Innovation and Growth issues a free certificate (decided in 30 days, valid 1 year) for high-tech/innovative projects, leading to a long-term D visa and residence permit; supporting evidence such as a patent, a BGN 100,000+ investment commitment or a Seal of Excellence is required.
Start-Up Chile / Visa TechChile
Founders accepted into the CORFO-backed Start-Up Chile accelerator (open cohorts in 2026) receive equity-free grants of roughly USD 15,000-100,000 plus a temporary work/residence visa, and the separate Visa Tech fast-tracks work visas for tech founders and professionals sponsored by Start-Up Chile or InvestChile.
Visa M - Empresario (Business Owner)Colombia
Foreigners who incorporate a Colombian company and invest at least 100 minimum monthly wages (~COP 175 million, ~USD 45,000) qualify for a Migrant business-owner visa granted 1-3 years, leading to resident status after 5 years.
Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs (GEP); StartmeupHKHong Kong
Entrepreneurs joining or establishing a business assessed to substantially benefit Hong Kong's economy (favourable treatment for startups backed by government-supported programmes such as the StartmeupHK Venture Programme) get an initial stay of up to 3 years; no fixed minimum capital.
Astana Hub residency / Digital Nomad Visa (B9-1)Kazakhstan
Tech founders who register a Kazakh entity and are accepted as Astana Hub technopark residents get tax exemptions and visa support; the B9-1 visa (introduced Feb 2025) gives IT founders/specialists with an Astana Hub petition a one-year residence visa with a path to permanent residence.
Class G Permit (specific trade, business or consultancy)Kenya
Foreign entrepreneurs investing in a specific trade, business or consultancy in Kenya (typically proof of about USD 100,000 capital) can obtain a Class G work permit, issued for 1-2 years and renewable (KES 250,000/year).
Article 19 self-sponsorship residenceKuwait
No startup visa; foreign business owners/partners holding a valid Kuwaiti commercial licence (foreign ownership usually requires a Kuwaiti majority partner outside KDIPA approvals) can obtain Article 19 self-sponsored residence (fee KWD 500).
Luxembourg
No dedicated startup visa; non-EU founders obtain an authorisation to stay as a self-employed worker via a business permit, a viable business plan and adequate capital (typically EUR 25,000-50,000) plus means of subsistence; permit valid 1-3 years, renewable.
IT Visa (Moldova Innovation Technology Park)Moldova
Founders, shareholders and managers of Moldova Innovation Technology Park resident companies qualify for the IT Visa programme with simplified residence and work rights for up to 4 years, extendable.
Montenegro
No dedicated startup visa; foreigners who register a Montenegrin company (share capital from EUR 1) and employ themselves as executive director receive a 1-year temporary residence and work permit, renewable annually with permanent residence after 5 years.
Norway
Residence permit for self-employed persons: requires skilled-worker qualifications, a sole proprietorship in Norway and expected business income of at least NOK 242,966/year; granted 1 year at a time with renewal and a 3-year path to permanent residence.
Investor ResidencyOman
Foreigners who register/own a company in Oman qualify for an investor residence visa tied to the entity, with 5-year (OMR 250,000) and 10-year (OMR 500,000) long-term investor residency tiers for larger investments.
Business-Investor Visa (SIFC)Pakistan
No dedicated startup visa exists, but foreign entrepreneurs can use the NADRA online Business-Investor and SIFC visa categories granting multiple-entry visas of up to 5 years with no announced minimum investment threshold.
Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)Philippines
No dedicated startup visa; foreigners aged 21+ who invest at least USD 75,000 in qualifying Philippine corporations (including their own new company in eligible sectors) receive indefinite residence while the investment is maintained.
Long-stay visa for commercial activities (D/AC)Romania
Non-EU shareholders/administrators of a Romanian company can get a D/AC long-stay visa with a business plan endorsed by the economy ministry and proof of funds of at least EUR 100,000 (for LLC shareholders), followed by a renewable residence permit.
Slovakia
No dedicated startup visa; non-EU entrepreneurs can obtain temporary residence for the purpose of business (sole trader or company executive) with a business plan and financial means, granted for up to 3 years and renewable.
Slovenia
No dedicated startup visa; non-EU founders use the single residence-and-work permit on entrepreneurship grounds, generally requiring an own company with at least EUR 50,000 invested in fixed assets, or 6 months' employment of an EU/Slovenian national, or EUR 10,000 turnover in 6 months.
Investor VisaSri Lanka
No dedicated startup visa; under the revised investor category (first visas issued 2025) foreigners investing at least USD 100,000 get a 5-year residence visa (USD 200,000 for 10 years), covering founders investing in their own Sri Lankan company.
Switzerland
No dedicated startup visa; non-EU founders may receive a quota-limited L or B permit under Art. 19 FNIA if the canton and State Secretariat for Migration find the business in the overall economic interest (innovation, investment, job creation).
Diia CityUkraine
Ukraine's special legal-tax regime for tech companies remains in operation during martial law and lets foreign founders/specialists of Diia City resident companies obtain work and temporary residence permits under simplified rules, though the related uResidency e-residency scheme has paused new applications and wartime conditions apply.
IT Visa (IT Park Uzbekistan)Uzbekistan
Founders and executives of IT Park resident companies (founders must hold a stake of at least USD 30,000 under the March 2026 rules) qualify for a multiple-entry IT Visa of up to 3 years, extendable in-country, with residence and property-purchase rights.