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THE CITIZENSHIP DESK

Best Visas For Entrepreneur & Startup Visas

Programs for founders launching or relocating a business

Last verified 2026-07-07

Editor's top 3

A short, opinionated shortlist. For the full algorithmic ranking of every programme matched to this profile, scroll to the ranked list below.

  1. 1
    🇬🇧 UK Innovator Founder Visa

    United Kingdom

    No minimum investment requirement since the 2023 reform, a defined endorsing-body pathway, and settlement in as little as 3 years for founders with genuinely scalable, innovative businesses.

  2. 2
    🇸🇬 Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)

    Singapore

    A 5-year renewable pass with no job offer or endorsement body needed for high-earning founders and executives, plus a natural base for Asia-Pacific expansion.

  3. 3
    🇵🇹 Portugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Worker Visa

    Portugal

    A low-cost EU entrepreneur/self-employment route built around a straightforward business plan, with a 5-year path to citizenship for founders who want an EU base without the UK's endorsement hurdle.

Full ranked list

Every programme tagged for this persona, scored by the criteria below. Score is a heuristic for ranking, not a recommendation.

Scoring methodology

Baseline 50 for every programme that lists this persona as a fit. Persona-specific criteria (income threshold, family inclusion, citizenship timeline, processing speed, presence requirements) add weight. Each programme's detail page has the full sourced facts.

  1. 1
    🇹🇭 Thailand Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

    Thailand

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  2. 2
    🇲🇾 Malaysia DE Rantau Digital Nomad Pass

    Malaysia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  3. 3
    🇦🇪 UAE Golden Visa

    United Arab Emirates

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  4. 4
    🇦🇪 Dubai Freelance Visa (TECOM / Free Zone Permit)

    United Arab Emirates

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  5. 5
    🇬🇪 Georgia Remotely from Georgia Programme

    Georgia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  6. 6
    🇪🇪 Estonia Digital Nomad Visa

    Estonia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  7. 7
    🇨🇷 Costa Rica Rentista Visa

    Costa Rica

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  8. 8
    🇵🇦 Panama Friendly Nations Visa

    Panama

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  9. 9
    🇬🇧 UK Global Talent Visa

    United Kingdom

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  10. 10
    🇬🇧 UK Innovator Founder VisaEditor's pick

    United Kingdom

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  11. 11
    🇩🇪 Germany Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler)

    Germany

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  12. 12
    🇩🇪 Germany Job Seeker Visa

    Germany

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  13. 13
    🇫🇷 France Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)

    France

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  14. 14
    🇳🇱 Netherlands DAFT Visa (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty)

    Netherlands

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  15. 15
    🇳🇱 Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

    Netherlands

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  16. 16
    🇺🇸 E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

    United States

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  17. 17
    🇺🇸 O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa

    United States

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  18. 18
    🇨🇦 Canada Start-Up Visa

    Canada

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  19. 19
    🇦🇺 Australia Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858)

    Australia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  20. 20
    🇦🇺 Australia Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188)

    Australia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  21. 21
    🇯🇵 Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa

    Japan

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  22. 22
    🇯🇵 Japan Business Manager Visa

    Japan

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  23. 23
    🇸🇬 Singapore EntrePass

    Singapore

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  24. 24
    🇸🇬 Singapore Employment Pass

    Singapore

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  25. 25
    🇸🇬 Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)Editor's pick

    Singapore

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  26. 26
    🇰🇷 South Korea D-8 Investor Visa

    South Korea

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  27. 27
    🇮🇳 India Business Visa

    India

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  28. 28
    🇮🇳 India Employment Visa

    India

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  29. 29
    🇵🇱 Poland Temporary Residence Permit

    Poland

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  30. 30
    🇱🇹 Lithuania Startup Visa

    Lithuania

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  31. 31
    🇮🇩 Indonesia Golden Visa

    Indonesia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  32. 32
    🇬🇪 Georgia Small Business / Individual Entrepreneur Visa

    Georgia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  33. 33
    🇪🇪 Estonia Startup Visa

    Estonia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  34. 34
    🇵🇭 Philippines Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)

    Philippines

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  35. 35
    🇫🇷 France Talent Passport — Innovative Startup Founder (Création d'Entreprise)

    France

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  36. 36
    🇺🇸 US L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa

    United States

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  37. 37
    🇨🇭 Switzerland Self-Employment Permit

    Switzerland

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  38. 38
    🇦🇹 Austria Red-White-Red Card

    Austria

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  39. 39
    🇨🇿 Czech Long-Term Residence — Investment / Business

    Czech Republic

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  40. 40
    🇧🇪 Belgium Self-Employed Professional Card

    Belgium

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  41. 41
    🇮🇹 Italy Self-Employment Visa

    Italy

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  42. 42
    🇸🇪 Sweden Self-Employment Permit

    Sweden

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  43. 43
    🇧🇷 Brazil Investor Visa (VITEM XIV)

    Brazil

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  44. 44
    🇨🇾 Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa

    Cyprus

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  45. 45
    🇰🇷 South Korea F-2 Long-Term Resident Visa

    South Korea

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  46. 46
    🇪🇸 Spain Self-Employment (Autónomo) Visa

    Spain

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  47. 47
    🇪🇸 Spain Startup Visa (Entrepreneur Visa – Law 14/2013)

    Spain

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  48. 48
    🇹🇷 Turkey Turquoise Card

    Turkey

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  49. 49
    🇦🇪 UAE Green Visa

    United Arab Emirates

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  50. 50
    🇻🇳 Vietnam DT Investor Visa

    Vietnam

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  51. 51
    🇺🇸 United States EB-1A Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability

    United States

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  52. 52
    🇺🇸 United States EB-2 National Interest Waiver

    United States

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  53. 53
    🇰🇷 Korea F-5 Permanent Residency

    South Korea

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  54. 54
    🇦🇪 UAE Blue Residency Visa

    United Arab Emirates

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  55. 55
    🇨🇻 Cape Verde Residency-by-Investment to Naturalisation

    Cape Verde

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  56. 56
    🇬🇪 Georgia 1% Individual Entrepreneur Tax Regime

    Georgia

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  57. 57
    🇵🇹 Portugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Worker VisaEditor's pick

    Portugal

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  58. 58
    🇰🇷 South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS)

    South Korea

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50
  59. 59
    🇸🇬 Singapore Tech.Pass

    Singapore

    • ✓Listed as a fit by the programme's own data
    50

Want the narrative editorial companion? See the Entrepreneur & Startup Visas profile → (who fits, who doesn't, top gotchas).

Sources & last verified

  • Last verified