Entrepreneur and founder visas — building a business abroad

Innovator Founder visa

Endorsement-based visa for founders launching an innovative, viable and scalable business in the UK.

Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)

Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland.

D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment)

Residence visa for business owners, founders, and self-employed workers establishing activity in Portugal.

Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)

Residence permit for founders establishing an innovative business in Spain under the Entrepreneurs' Law.

Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur

Treaty-based self-employment residence for US nationals starting a business in the Netherlands.

Startup Visa (Netherlands)

1-year residence permit for founders working with a recognised Dutch startup facilitator.

Start-Up Visa (Canada)

Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.

EntrePass

Work pass for foreign entrepreneurs starting and operating a venture-capital-backed or innovative business in Singapore.

Business Manager Visa (経営・管理)

Visa for foreign nationals starting or managing a business in Japan — requires a physical office and at least ¥5 million in capital or 2+ full-time employees.

D-8 Corporate Investment Visa

Visa for foreign nationals investing in or managing a Korean corporation — requires minimum investment and creates a pathway to long-term residence.

Self-Employment Permit (Eget företag)

Residence permit for foreign nationals starting or running a business in Sweden — requires sufficient funds and a viable business plan.

Red-White-Red Card — Startup Founder

Dedicated RWR Card category for innovative startup founders — business plan assessed by an expert jury, no points calculation needed.

Start-up entrepreneur residence permit

Founder route for scalable startup businesses approved through Finland’s startup-entrepreneur process.

Professional Card for self-employment

Regional authorisation for non-EU nationals who want to work in Belgium as self-employed professionals.

Residence permit for self-employed workers

Luxembourg route for third-country entrepreneurs and independent professionals whose activity benefits the country.

Long-term residence for business

Czech residence route for third-country nationals carrying out business, licensed trade or company-management activity.

Temporary residence for business activity

Polish temporary-residence route for third-country nationals conducting business activity in Poland.

Startup Visa

Estonian route for non-EU startup founders and startup employees connected to qualifying startups.

Occupation Permit (Self-Employed)

Work and residence permit for a non-citizen running a one-person professional services activity in Mauritius.

Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy)

Work permit for a foreign national investing in and running a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession in Kenya.

Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs

Route under the General Employment Policy for people establishing or joining a business in Hong Kong as entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Resident Visa

A resident visa for foreign entrepreneurs starting or running an innovative business in Taiwan, reviewed against the Entrepreneur visa qualification directions.

Business Permit (foreign-owned company)

The Ministry of Interior authorisation a wholly or partly foreign-owned company needs to operate legally in Nigeria, and the precondition for obtaining an expatriate quota and CERPAC permits.

Residence via Company Founding / Self-Employment

Temporary residence based on founding or registering a Serbian company and working through it as a director or entrepreneur.

Temporary Residence for Business / Self-Employment

If you run a business or work for yourself through an Armenian company, this temporary residence is the route remote workers and founders use - Armenia has no separate digital nomad visa.

Business / Entrepreneur Permit

For foreign nationals running their own business in Rwanda: the business (entrepreneur) permit lets you reside on the basis of owning and operating a registered Rwandan business, applied for online through IremboGov.

Residence for Company Founders and the Self-Employed (Montenegro)

If you found or run your own company in Montenegro, this route gives you temporary residence and work rights tied to that business.

Self-Employment Residence (Slovenia)

If you are a third-country national who wants to run your own business or work as a sole trader in Slovenia, this route gives you residence tied to that activity.

Residence Permit for the Self-Employed (Iceland)

If you run your own genuine business in Iceland or are financially independent through it, this route gives you residence tied to that activity.

Startup Visa (Lithuania)

If you are a non-EU founder with an innovative business idea, Lithuania's Startup Visa is a fast route to residence to build your company.

Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania)

If you set up or run your own company in Lithuania, this route gives you residence tied to that genuine business activity.

Startup Residence Permit (Latvia)

If you are a non-EU founder building an innovative product, Latvia's startup residence route lets you live there while you develop the business.

Temporary Residence for Business / Self-Employment (Slovakia)

If you run a business or are self-employed in Slovakia, this route gives you residence tied to that enterprise - but recent rules added a quota and a business plan.