Portugal Startup Visa in 2026

The Portugal Startup Visa is a special immigration program for foreigners seeking to launch innovative businesses in Portugal. It focuses on technology-based projects with the potential to grow and be scalable in the international market. This visa is ideal for individuals with a successful startup in their home country that is no older than 4 years, as well as those still in the idea stage. The program provides a 2-year Portuguese residence permit, renewable upon request. For comparison, Spain offers a 3-year residence permit to founders of innovative companies, and France offers a 4-year permit.

Portugal is home to over 4,700 active startups that provide jobs for over 26,000 people. Well-known unicorns such as Feedzai, Sword Health, and Outsystems were founded in Portugal. Entrepreneurs choose Portugal in part because of government support, tax incentives, and access to additional funding from AICEP, Portugal Ventures, and other organizations.

Portugal Startup Visa Program requirements

The Portuguese Startup Visa program is a government initiative aimed at attracting foreign entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs simply need to propose an innovative business idea with the potential to expand internationally. They must also create jobs and demonstrate that the company will be highly profitable within 5 years.

A maximum of 5 entrepreneurs can receive a startup visa for a single project. Important: The program must focus on innovation and technological excellence. For instance, opening a clothing store is considered a local business and would not qualify for this program. However, if you develop an AI-powered app where customers can upload their photos and virtually try on products, your idea might be approved.

Advantages of the Portuguese Startup Visa

Businesspeople choose the Portuguese startup visa for the following reasons:

• There is no financial threshold, meaning there is no need to invest hundreds of thousands of euros immediately in a project.
• The opportunity to live in the country long-term: a residence permit is issued for 2 years.
• Access to grant programs: The project can receive additional funding for startup development through programs like the StartUP Voucher.
• The opportunity to immigrate with your family. A businessman can reunite with loved ones after receiving a residence permit.
• No language requirements: There is no need to learn Portuguese to obtain a residence permit.
• Tax flexibility: Startups operating in trade, agriculture, or manufacturing pay a reduced corporate tax rate of 17% on the first EUR 25,000 of income.
• The opportunity to obtain permanent residency: after 5 years, one can apply for permanent residency.

Many choose Portugal partly because it offers citizenship after 5 years of residence. However, major legislative changes are planned for the nearest future that will increase the required residency period to 10 years. Those planning to immigrate specifically to obtain a second citizenship through a startup should consider other countries. For example, France does not plan to tighten its immigration policy, and citizenship applications may be submitted after 5 years.

Applicant requirements

Residence permits based on a startup in Portugal are available to foreigners over the age of 18 who:

• have no criminal record;
• are not permanent residents or citizens of a Schengen Area country;
• have no outstanding tax or social security contributions to the Portuguese Social Security Fund;
• can prove they have at least EUR 6,270 in their bank account;
• intend to establish an innovative company in Portugal;
• perform management functions in the company and/or own a share of it or have voting rights equal to at least 10% of the authorized capital.

Startup requirements

To be approved for the project, a startup in Portugal must demonstrate the following:

• the potential to create new jobs beyond those filled by program applicants (at least 5 within the first 2 years);
• an innovative, technology-focused nature;
• growth potential within 5 years to reach a minimum annual turnover of EUR 325,000 or equivalent asset value.

Additionally, the project needs to have attracted the interest of at least one certified incubator. Your startup may be in the idea stage or you may have a company that has been operating in another country for no more than 4 years and want to develop similar activities in Portugal.

How to Obtain a Startup Visa and Residence Permit in Portugal Through a Startup

There are 5 stages to the process of obtaining a residence permit in Portugal through a startup:

1. Project development. Outline your company’s mission, goals, advantages, how your company is different from competitors, and its development prospects. Draw up a marketing and financial plan that demonstrates the required level of profitability will be reached within 5 years.
2. Submit an application for startup approval. Register on the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation’s (Agência para a Competitividade e Inovação — IAPMEI) website and fill out the form completely. Attach documents confirming your startup’s eligibility. All forms must be completed in English or Portuguese. You may submit your application to one or more incubators, which are companies that approve and support projects. A full list of incubators is available on the program’s official website.
3. Wait for approval and sign the incubation agreement. A decision on your application will be made within 30 business days and published on the portal within 3 business days. If the result is positive, you will have 40 business days to sign an agreement with one of the incubators that has expressed interest in your startup. If the incubator that initially expressed interest declines, you may sign an agreement with another incubator. You will then receive a declaration confirming your participation in the Startup Visa program.
4. Apply for a Startup Visa. Contact the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Submit an application for a residence visa along with 2 photos, your passport, proof of health insurance (tourist insurance is acceptable), and a certificate showing you have no criminal record to the government agency. You will also need to provide proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself in Portugal (at least EUR 870 per month) and an IAPMEI declaration. The application will be processed within 60 days.
5. Enter Portugal and obtain a residence permit. After the visa is approved, you have 4 months to arrive in Portugal and apply for a residence permit at the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA). The application is processed within 90 days. As a result, you will receive a residence permit valid for 2 years, renewable for 3-year periods.

List of required documents

To apply for a Portuguese residence permit through a startup, you will need to prepare the following:

• a passport;
• 2 identical passport-sized photographs (only if applying in the municipalities of Aveiro or Odivelas);
• a certificate of no criminal record from your country of citizenship or any country where you have lived for more than a year (with an apostille);
• a sworn declaration of your residential address in Portugal and proof of ownership of the property, or a landlord’s declaration;
• a Portuguese taxpayer identification number (Número de Identificação Fisca – NIF);
• a Portuguese social security number (Número de Identificação da Segurança Social — NISS);
• an IAPMEI declaration proving participation in the Startup Visa Program.

Costs

In 2025, an applicant will need approximately EUR 8,000 to obtain a Portuguese residence permit through a startup:

Comparison with Other Residence Permit Types

A Portuguese residence permit can be obtained for one of the following standard reasons: work, study, running a regular business, or family reunification. However, the country also offers other, more interesting programs.

A residence permit for digital nomads (Digital Nomad) is suitable for those who work remotely outside Portugal. A monthly salary of at least EUR 3,480 is required. The initial residence permit is issued for 2 years and can then be renewed for 3 years at a time.

The Portuguese residence permit by investment program is ideal for individuals seeking a simple immigration process and a stable economy. To obtain a residence permit, one must invest at least EUR 250,000 in the preservation of cultural heritage sites. Alternatively, you can invest at least EUR 500,000 in a research organization, an existing business (not necessarily a startup), or an investment fund. Investors are granted a 2-year residence permit with the option to renew. A residence permit does not require a residence visa, and the country only requires 7 days of annual visits.

Startup visas are available in both Portugal and neighboring Spain. We compared the main conditions of the two programs: