Startup Visas
Entrepreneur and startup founder visas
Startup visas are designed for entrepreneurs looking to launch innovative businesses in a new country. Requirements typically include a viable business plan, proof of funding or investment, and sometimes acceptance into a government-approved incubator program.
25visa types
21countries
Compare Startup Visas
🇦🇺
Australia
Business Innovation & Investment Visa
Cost
AUD $6,660 (Business Innovation) to $9,455 (Significant Investor)
Processing
12-24 months depending on stream
Duration
5 years provisional, then permanent 888
Path to PR
Yes
🇯🇵
Japan
Business Manager
Cost
¥4,000 COE + visa fee + business setup costs
Processing
1-3 months for COE
Duration
1, 3, or 5 years, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
🇿🇦
South Africa
Business Visa
Cost
ZAR 1,520 government fee + business registration costs
Processing
8-12 weeks
Duration
Up to 3 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇷🇸
Serbia
Company Formation Residency
Cost
Company registration ~€300-500 + residence permit €154-230
Processing
30-60 days for residence permit
Duration
Up to 3 years, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
🇰🇷
South Korea
D-8 Investor/Startup Visa
Cost
~$90-130 USD visa fee plus company registration costs
Processing
4-8 weeks depending on complexity
Duration
1 year, renewable while business operates
Path to PR
Yes
🇸🇬
Singapore
EntrePass
Cost
S$105 application + S$225 issuance + S$30 MJV
Processing
8-12 weeks
Duration
1 year initial, renewable 1-2 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇨🇦
Canada
Entrepreneur Immigration
Cost
Provincial fees + Federal: ~$1,965 + investment capital
Processing
Provincial nomination: 3-12 months, Federal PR: varies
Duration
Permanent residence
Path to PR
Yes
🇨🇭
Switzerland
Entrepreneur Permit
Cost
CHF 100-300 permit + CHF 20,000-100,000 share capital
Processing
2-4 months
Duration
L permit (up to 1 year) or B permit (1-5 years)
Path to PR
Yes
🇹🇼
Taiwan
Entrepreneur Visa
Cost
Application fees plus business registration costs
Processing
2-4 months for Investment Commission review
Duration
1 year initial, renewable based on progress
Path to PR
Yes
🇪🇸
Spain
Entrepreneur Visa
Cost
€80 visa fee + business setup costs
Processing
1-3 months
Duration
2 years initial, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
🇪🇪
Estonia
e-Residency
Cost
€150 (5-year validity) + €265 company registration
Processing
3-8 weeks (background check)
Duration
5 years (renewable)
Path to PR
No
🇮🇱
Israel
Innovation Visa
Cost
Minimal visa fees; Tnufa grants available up to NIS 250,000
Processing
4-8 weeks
Duration
Up to 24 months, can transition to B/1 for up to 5 years
Path to PR
No
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
Innovator Founder Visa
Cost
£1,274 (outside UK) or £1,590 (inside UK) + £1,000 endorsement + £500 per check-in meeting + healthcare surcharge
Processing
3 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK)
Duration
3 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇨🇱
Chile
Investor Visa
Cost
Varies by nationality + InvestChile processing
Processing
6-8 months after InvestChile approval
Duration
1 year initial, extendable
Path to PR
Yes
🇧🇪
Belgium
Professional Card (Self-Employed)
Cost
€90 (enterprise counter) + D visa fees
Processing
Up to 120 days
Duration
2 years initially
Path to PR
Yes
🇹🇭
Thailand
SMART Visa
Cost
THB 10,000 application fee
Processing
30-60 days for BOI endorsement + visa processing
Duration
Up to 4 years depending on category
Path to PR
Yes
🇨🇱
Chile
Start-Up Chile Visa
Cost
Free (program handles visa costs)
Processing
Visa processed by Start-Up Chile after program acceptance
Duration
2 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇮🇪
Ireland
Startup Entrepreneur Programme
Cost
No visa fee, €300 IRP registration
Processing
6-8 weeks for evaluation
Duration
2 years (Stamp 4), renewable
Path to PR
Yes
🇦🇹
Austria
Start-Up Founders Visa
Cost
€160 application fee
Processing
8-16 weeks
Duration
Up to 2 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇯🇵
Japan
Startup Visa
Cost
Visa fee only, no capital requirement initially
Processing
1-3 months including municipality review
Duration
6 months to 2 years depending on municipality
Path to PR
No
🇪🇪
Estonia
Startup Visa
Cost
€60 (short-stay) or €80 (long-stay) + €265 company registration
Processing
10 business days (Startup Committee) + 30 days (visa)
Duration
Short-term: 12 months, TRP: up to 5 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇳🇱
Netherlands
Startup Visa
Cost
€423 + facilitator fees
Processing
Up to 3 months
Duration
1 year maximum
Path to PR
Yes
🇫🇷
France
Talent Passport - Innovative Business
Cost
€99 visa fee + €200 residence permit tax + €25 stamp duty
Processing
2-4 months
Duration
Up to 4 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇸🇬
Singapore
Tech.Pass
Cost
S$105 application + S$225 issuance
Processing
8 weeks
Duration
2 years, renewable for 2 years
Path to PR
Yes
🇲🇩
Moldova
Type D Long-Stay Visa
Cost
€50-90 depending on purpose
Processing
Approximately 30 days
Duration
Allows stays exceeding 90 days, specific duration based on purpose
Path to PR
No
🇦🇺 Australia Business Innovation & Investment Visa | AUD $6,660 (Business Innovation) to $9,455 (Significant Investor) | 12-24 months depending on stream | 5 years provisional, then permanent 888 | Yes | |
🇯🇵 Japan Business Manager | ¥4,000 COE + visa fee + business setup costs | 1-3 months for COE | 1, 3, or 5 years, renewable | Yes | |
🇿🇦 South Africa Business Visa | ZAR 1,520 government fee + business registration costs | 8-12 weeks | Up to 3 years | Yes | |
🇷🇸 Serbia Company Formation Residency | Company registration ~€300-500 + residence permit €154-230 | 30-60 days for residence permit | Up to 3 years, renewable | Yes | |
🇰🇷 South Korea D-8 Investor/Startup Visa | ~$90-130 USD visa fee plus company registration costs | 4-8 weeks depending on complexity | 1 year, renewable while business operates | Yes | |
🇸🇬 Singapore EntrePass | S$105 application + S$225 issuance + S$30 MJV | 8-12 weeks | 1 year initial, renewable 1-2 years | Yes | |
🇨🇦 Canada Entrepreneur Immigration | Provincial fees + Federal: ~$1,965 + investment capital | Provincial nomination: 3-12 months, Federal PR: varies | Permanent residence | Yes | |
🇨🇭 Switzerland Entrepreneur Permit | CHF 100-300 permit + CHF 20,000-100,000 share capital | 2-4 months | L permit (up to 1 year) or B permit (1-5 years) | Yes | |
🇹🇼 Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa | Application fees plus business registration costs | 2-4 months for Investment Commission review | 1 year initial, renewable based on progress | Yes | |
🇪🇸 Spain Entrepreneur Visa | €80 visa fee + business setup costs | 1-3 months | 2 years initial, renewable | Yes | |
🇪🇪 Estonia e-Residency | €150 (5-year validity) + €265 company registration | 3-8 weeks (background check) | 5 years (renewable) | No | |
🇮🇱 Israel Innovation Visa | Minimal visa fees; Tnufa grants available up to NIS 250,000 | 4-8 weeks | Up to 24 months, can transition to B/1 for up to 5 years | No | |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom Innovator Founder Visa | £1,274 (outside UK) or £1,590 (inside UK) + £1,000 endorsement + £500 per check-in meeting + healthcare surcharge | 3 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK) | 3 years | Yes | |
🇨🇱 Chile Investor Visa | Varies by nationality + InvestChile processing | 6-8 months after InvestChile approval | 1 year initial, extendable | Yes | |
🇧🇪 Belgium Professional Card (Self-Employed) | €90 (enterprise counter) + D visa fees | Up to 120 days | 2 years initially | Yes | |
🇹🇭 Thailand SMART Visa | THB 10,000 application fee | 30-60 days for BOI endorsement + visa processing | Up to 4 years depending on category | Yes | |
🇨🇱 Chile Start-Up Chile Visa | Free (program handles visa costs) | Visa processed by Start-Up Chile after program acceptance | 2 years | Yes | |
🇮🇪 Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Programme | No visa fee, €300 IRP registration | 6-8 weeks for evaluation | 2 years (Stamp 4), renewable | Yes | |
🇦🇹 Austria Start-Up Founders Visa | €160 application fee | 8-16 weeks | Up to 2 years | Yes | |
🇯🇵 Japan Startup Visa | Visa fee only, no capital requirement initially | 1-3 months including municipality review | 6 months to 2 years depending on municipality | No | |
🇪🇪 Estonia Startup Visa | €60 (short-stay) or €80 (long-stay) + €265 company registration | 10 business days (Startup Committee) + 30 days (visa) | Short-term: 12 months, TRP: up to 5 years | Yes | |
🇳🇱 Netherlands Startup Visa | €423 + facilitator fees | Up to 3 months | 1 year maximum | Yes | |
🇫🇷 France Talent Passport - Innovative Business | €99 visa fee + €200 residence permit tax + €25 stamp duty | 2-4 months | Up to 4 years | Yes | |
🇸🇬 Singapore Tech.Pass | S$105 application + S$225 issuance | 8 weeks | 2 years, renewable for 2 years | Yes | |
🇲🇩 Moldova Type D Long-Stay Visa | €50-90 depending on purpose | Approximately 30 days | Allows stays exceeding 90 days, specific duration based on purpose | No |