Entrepreneur & Startup Visas
Programs for founders launching or relocating a business
Who this fits
Founders at seed-to-Series-A stage building a scalable, fundable business — tech, biotech, or similar — who can show traction (revenue, prior funding, or an accelerator/investor letter) and need a legal base from which to operate, hire, and raise capital. Best suited to people building something genuinely innovative and growth-oriented, not just a personal services or lifestyle business.
Who this does not fit
A solopreneur running a freelance consultancy or e-commerce store often assumes 'entrepreneur visas' apply to any self-employed person — most programs are gated by an endorsing body or investor panel specifically screening for innovative, scalable, job-creating businesses, and reject conventional small-business plans outright.
Top gotchas
- Endorsement bottlenecks: routes like the UK Innovator Founder visa require sign-off from an approved endorsing body before the visa application even starts, and rejection at that stage is common.
- Company-domicile mismatch: relocating yourself while keeping the company incorporated at home can create an unintended permanent establishment and dual corporate tax exposure.
- Minimum capital proof: even 'no minimum investment' programs still require verifiable personal funds (often $50k-$200k+) to show you can support yourself and the business.
- Job-creation targets: several entrepreneur/investor visas require hitting hiring or revenue milestones within a set window to keep or renew status.
- Personal vs. corporate tax residency diverge: moving yourself doesn't automatically move where the business is taxed, and getting this wrong can trigger exposure in two countries at once.
Editor's top 3 for this profile
- 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🇸🇬 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🇵🇹 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.
Want the algorithmic ranked list of every match? See best-for Entrepreneur & Startup Visas →
All programmes matched to this profile
59 programsThailand Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
Thailand THA
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Malaysia DE Rantau Digital Nomad Pass
Malaysia MYS
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$2,000/mo
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
UAE Golden Visa
United Arab Emirates ARE
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Dubai Freelance Visa (TECOM / Free Zone Permit)
United Arab Emirates ARE
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Georgia Remotely from Georgia Programme
Georgia GEO
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$2,000/mo
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
Estonia EST
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$4,860/mo
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-06-01
Costa Rica Rentista Visa
Costa Rica CRI
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
$2,500/mo
Citizenship
7y
Verified 2026-04-20
Panama Friendly Nations Visa
Panama PAN
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
UK Global Talent Visa
United Kingdom GBR
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
6y
Verified 2026-04-20
UK Innovator Founder Visa
United Kingdom GBR
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
4y
Verified 2026-04-20
Germany Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler)
Germany DEU
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Germany Job Seeker Visa
Germany DEU
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
France Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)
France FRA
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Netherlands DAFT Visa (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty)
Netherlands NLD
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Netherlands NLD
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$4,000/mo
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
United States USA
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
United States USA
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Canada Start-Up Visa
Canada CAN
Processing
14mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
3y
Verified 2026-04-20
Australia Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858)
Australia AUS
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
4y
Verified 2026-04-20
Australia Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188)
Australia AUS
Processing
18mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa
Japan JPN
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Japan Business Manager Visa
Japan JPN
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Singapore EntrePass
Singapore SGP
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
8y
Verified 2026-04-20
Singapore Employment Pass
Singapore SGP
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$3,700/mo
Citizenship
8y
Verified 2026-04-20
Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)
Singapore SGP
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$22,000/mo
Citizenship
8y
Verified 2026-04-20
South Korea D-8 Investor Visa
South Korea KOR
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
India Business Visa
India IND
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
India Employment Visa
India IND
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$2,080/mo
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Poland Temporary Residence Permit
Poland POL
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-04-20
Lithuania Startup Visa
Lithuania LTU
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-04-20
Indonesia Golden Visa
Indonesia IDN
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Georgia Small Business / Individual Entrepreneur Visa
Georgia GEO
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-04-20
Estonia Startup Visa
Estonia EST
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
8y
Verified 2026-04-20
Philippines Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)
Philippines PHL
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
France Talent Passport — Innovative Startup Founder (Création d'Entreprise)
France FRA
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-26
US L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa
United States USA
Processing
4mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-05-05
Switzerland Self-Employment Permit
Switzerland CHE
Processing
6mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-05-05
Austria Red-White-Red Card
Austria AUT
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-05-05
Czech Long-Term Residence — Investment / Business
Czech Republic CZE
Processing
4mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-05-05
Belgium Self-Employed Professional Card
Belgium BEL
Processing
6mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-05-05
Italy Self-Employment Visa
Italy ITA
Processing
9mo
Min. Income
$9,500/mo
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-05-09
Sweden Self-Employment Permit
Sweden SWE
Processing
4mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-05-13
Brazil Investor Visa (VITEM XIV)
Brazil BRA
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
4y
Verified 2026-06-01
Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa
Cyprus CYP
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
$3,850/mo
Citizenship
7y
Verified 2026-06-01
South Korea F-2 Long-Term Resident Visa
South Korea KOR
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-06-01
Spain Self-Employment (Autónomo) Visa
Spain ESP
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
$2,520/mo
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-06-01
Spain Startup Visa (Entrepreneur Visa – Law 14/2013)
Spain ESP
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-06-01
Turkey Turquoise Card
Turkey TUR
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-06-01
UAE Green Visa
United Arab Emirates ARE
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$4,085/mo
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-06-01
Vietnam DT Investor Visa
Vietnam VNM
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-06-01
United States EB-1A Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
United States USA
Processing
8mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-07-07
United States EB-2 National Interest Waiver
United States USA
Processing
10mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-07-07
Korea F-5 Permanent Residency
South Korea KOR
Processing
4mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-07-07
UAE Blue Residency Visa
United Arab Emirates ARE
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-07-07
Cape Verde Residency-by-Investment to Naturalisation
Cape Verde CPV
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
$0/mo
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-07-07
Georgia 1% Individual Entrepreneur Tax Regime
Georgia GEO
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-07-22
Portugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Worker Visa
Portugal PRT
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
$820/mo
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-07-22
South Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS)
South Korea KOR
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-07-24
Singapore Tech.Pass
Singapore SGP
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
$16,650/mo
Citizenship
8y
Verified 2026-07-24
These programmes are grouped by how they are typically marketed and which applicants they practically suit — not by endorsement. Verify every detail on the programme page and with official sources before acting.