# Countries with startup or entrepreneur visa routes

Snapshot: approved-static-6fbe9b847dfeb5d6

Current entrepreneur and startup pathways by destination with route-specific official evidence.

- Canonical: /reports/startup-and-entrepreneur-visa-countries/
- Last checked: 2026-07-15

## Answers

### Australia

AU entrepreneur_startup — Requirements: Fees: Official Fee Fields Reviewed; Purpose: attract exceptionally talented migrants who can contribute to Australia and create jobs or improve productivity; Dependants: Eligible Family Members Can Be Included; Processing: Invitation Stage; Official Processing Time Guide Linked; Eligibility: Invitation Required; Exceptional Achievement Record; Expression Of Interest Required; Entrepreneur Category Explicitly Listed; Established Or Emerging High Calibre Leader; Work Rights: Allowed; Renewability: Permanent Route; Duration Validity: Permanent; Route Family Mapping Basis: The official overview explicitly names entrepreneurs. No generic startup claim is made.; Settlement Or Citizenship Progression: Citizenship If Eligible Stated
- Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/visas-for-innovation/national-innovation-visa
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Austria

Red-White-Red Card for start-up founders — Route scope: The official route is for founders who meet the applicable start-up criteria, including an innovative product, service, process or technology, a coherent business plan and personal influence on management.
- Source: https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/start-up-founders/
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Canada

entrepreneur startup — Route scope: Canada's Start-up Visa is an entrepreneur permanent-residence route, but new applications are paused except applicants with a valid 2025 commitment certificate applying by June 30, 2026.
- Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/start-visa.html
- Checked: 2026-07-15

### Czechia

CZ entrepreneur_startup — Route scope: Czech long-term residence permit for seeking employment or starting a business after qualifying Czech university study or scientific research.
- Source: https://ipc.gov.cz/en/visa-and-residence-permit-types/third-country-nationals/long-term-residence-permits/long-term-residence-permit-for-the-purpose-of-seeking-employment-or-starting-a-business/
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### Denmark

Start-up Denmark residence and work permit — Requirements: Conditions: business in Denmark or Danish branch; innovative business idea; contribution to economic growth and new jobs; Route Subject: entrepreneur with innovative business idea; Residence Layer: residence and work permit
- Source: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-apply/Work/Start-up-Denmark
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Finland

Finland residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://migri.fi/en/start-up-entrepreneur
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### France

entrepreneur startup — Route scope: Long-stay visa/residence route for creating or taking control of a French business under passeport talent créateur d’entreprise; France-Visas states a real and serious project and at least EUR 30,000 investment.
- Source: https://www.france-visas.gouv.fr/talents-internationaux-et-attractivite-economique
- Checked: 2026-07-15

### Germany

DE entrepreneur_startup — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__21.html
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### Ireland

Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/what-are-my-options-for-working-in-ireland/coming-to-work-for-more-than-90-days/start-up-entrepreneur-programme-step/
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### Italy

Italia Startup Visa for non-EU innovative startup founders — Duration: 1 year
- Source: https://www.mimit.gov.it/it/impresa/competitivita-e-nuove-imprese/start-up-innovative/programmi
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### Japan

Japan Startup Visa — foreign entrepreneur preparation route — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/economy/startup_nbp/startup_visa.html
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### Latvia

LV entrepreneur_startup — Requirements: Founder Scope: non-EU startup founders; Maximum Validity Years: 3; Residence Permit Route; Startup Based In Latvia; Maximum Founders Per Startup: 5; Application Package Described
- Source: https://www.liaa.gov.lv/en/media/7604/download
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Lithuania

Startup Visa Lithuania — Route scope: Startup Lithuania describes the Startup Visa as a streamlined residence route for innovative non-EU entrepreneurs building an innovative startup in Lithuania, with evaluation of the business idea and a temporary residence permit application on that basis. The Migration Department provides the corresponding official Startup Visa route page and MIGRIS application context.
- Source: https://www.startuplithuania.com/visaemployee/
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Luxembourg

Residence permit for job search or business creation after studies — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/immigration/plus-3-mois/ressortissant-tiers/etudiant/sejour-luxembourg-apres-etudes.html
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### Malta

Malta Startup Residence Programme — Requirements: Programme: Malta Startup Residence Programme; Route Subject: startup founders and co-founders; Initial Permit Years: 3; Successful Completion Extension Years: 5
- Source: https://startup.residencymalta.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Malta-Startup-Residence-Programme-Eligbility-and-Requirements-V4-August-24.pdf
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Netherlands

NL entrepreneur_startup — Requirements: Facilitator: reliable mentor/facilitator with signed cooperation contract; Applicant Role: active part in organisation; more than shareholder or financier; Innovation Tests: new product or service in the Netherlands; new technology in production, distribution or marketing; new way of working and organising
- Source: https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/start-up
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### New Zealand

Entrepreneur Work Visa — business start-up stage — Route scope: Official INZ Entrepreneur Work Visa business start-up section.
- Source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/entrepreneur-work-visa/
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### Poland

Business-activity temporary residence permit for startup founders; no dedicated startup permit — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://www.mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/kategorie-informacji/mozliwosci-legalizacji/spoza-ue-kontynuacja-pobytu/zezwolenie-czasowy/dzialalnosc-gospodarcza/wprowadzenie/
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Portugal

PT entrepreneur_startup — Requirements: Iapmei Role: IAPMEI declaration and pre-registration evidence are named by AIMA; Legal Basis: Art. 89(4) REPSAE; Renewal Period Years: 3; Documentary Requirements: passport; criminal record; address declaration; Tax Administration registration; Social Security registration; Temporary Residence Validity Years: 2; Innovative Company Or Project Condition: proof of an innovative-based company integrated into a certified incubator
- Source: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/empreender/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-imigrantes-empreendedores-startup-visa-art-89-o-n-o-4
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Romania

Commercial / business activities — Route scope: The official IGI page describes commercial/business activity residence for a shareholder or management/administration member; the route is mapped to entrepreneur_startup, without claiming a separate startup scheme.
- Source: https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/business-activities/
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Saudi Arabia

Entrepreneur Residency — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://pr.gov.sa/product-details-entrepreneur-residency
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Slovakia

Business-activity temporary residence for an entrepreneur or startup founder; no separate startup visa asserted — Route scope: See the linked official authority page for the current requirements.
- Source: https://www.minv.sk/swift_data/source/policia/hranicna_a_cudzinecka_policia/pravne_predpisy/404-ACT-Of-21-October-2011-On-Residence-of-Foreigners-and-Amendment-and-Supplementation-of-Certain-Acts.pdf
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Slovenia

Starting a business and obtaining a single residence and work permit — Route scope: How can non-EU nationals start a business in Slovenia? / Procedures for obtaining a single residence and work permit
- Source: https://spot.gov.si/en/info/how-can-non-eu-nationals-start-a-business-in-slovenia/
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### South Korea

KR entrepreneur_startup — Documents: Route Code: D-8-4; Portal Category: Investment (투자); Official Label Ko: 기술창업
- Source: https://www.visa.go.kr/openPage.do?MENU_ID=10102
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### Spain

ES entrepreneur startup — Route scope: Spain offers an entrepreneur residence route under Law 14/2013 for adults developing an innovative entrepreneurial/business activity of special economic interest to Spain; ENISA favorable assessment covers the applicant profile, business plan and economic value/innovation.
- Source: https://inclusion.gob.es/en/web/unidadgrandesempresas/emprendedores
- Checked: 2026-07-15

### Sweden

SE entrepreneur_startup — Requirements: Route Name Official: Residence permit to run your own business in Sweden; Maximum Permit Years: 2; Business Funds Required; Personal Maintenance Sek: Child: 50000; Spouse: 100000; Applicant: 200000; Business Operation Required; First Application Outside Sweden; Business Ownership Minimum Percent: 51
- Source: https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/work/employee-or-self-employed/self-employed-people.html
- Checked: 2026-07-13

### United Arab Emirates

Golden visa for entrepreneurs — Route scope: Golden visa page: eligible categories table; Entrepreneurs; 5 years; proof of innovative or technical projects, project-value documents, and letter from business incubator or relevant authority in the emirate.
- Source: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visas/golden-visa
- Checked: 2026-07-14

### United Kingdom

Innovator Founder — Eligibility: endorsement by an endorsing body; applicant has a key role in day-to-day management and development
- Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-innovator-founder
- Checked: 2026-07-15

### United States

US entrepreneur_startup — Route scope: International Entrepreneur Rule parole for an entrepreneur with a central and active role in a qualifying U.S. startup with substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation.
- Source: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/international-entrepreneur-rule
- Checked: 2026-07-13

## Method

Select current sourced routes in the entrepreneur_startup family, keep one route per destination, publish available conditions and link the responsible authority.

## Boundary

This report is a route directory, not an eligibility decision or legal advice. Verify the linked authority before applying.
