Lowest-investment residence routes — entrepreneur and investor visas ranked
Investor and entrepreneur visas vary enormously in capital requirement, from EUR 4,500 (DAFT, US nationals only) to EUR 500,000+ (Portugal Golden Visa fund route). The table below lists headline thresholds — additional costs (lawyers, due diligence, annual operating costs) are not included.
| Destination | Route | Indicative capital | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Innovator Founder visa | Endorsement body fees (varies by body) plus visa application fee and IHS £1,035/year. | Innovator Founder visa |
| Republic of Ireland | Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) | Stamp fees €300 per year; funding requirement €50,000 minimum. | Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) |
| Republic of Ireland | Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed) | Not applicable. | Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed) |
| Portuguese Republic | D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment) | Visa around €90; residence permit around €170. | D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment) |
| Portuguese Republic | Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) | Investment plus government fees typically €5,000+ on issuance, additional for family. | Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) |
| Kingdom of Spain | Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013) | Variable. | Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013) |
| Kingdom of Spain | Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025) | Not applicable. | Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025) |
| Kingdom of the Netherlands | Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur | Around €1,500. | Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur |
| Kingdom of the Netherlands | Startup Visa (Netherlands) | Around €350 (plus facilitator arrangement costs). | Startup Visa (Netherlands) |
| United Arab Emirates | UAE Golden Visa | AED 2,800–3,800 depending on emirate, plus medical and Emirates ID fees. | UAE Golden Visa |
| United Arab Emirates | UAE Investor / Partner residence visa | Variable by emirate and authority. | UAE Investor / Partner residence visa |
| Canada | Start-Up Visa (Canada) | CAD 2,140 principal applicant plus family. | Start-Up Visa (Canada) |
| United States of America | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program | I-526/I-526E USD 11,160; I-829 USD 9,525; plus regional-center or direct-project fees set privately. | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program |
| United States of America | E-2 Treaty Investor | DS-160 USD 315 (reciprocity-adjusted); I-129 USD 1,015 (for in-country change of status). | E-2 Treaty Investor |
Every row links to a visa page where the underlying primary source and last-reviewed date are shown.