The Portugal Startup Visa (officially “StartUP Visa Portugal”) is a residence visa for non-EU entrepreneurs designed to attract investment, talent, and innovation capacity to Portugal. Administered by IAPMEI (Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation), the program provides a pathway for innovative entrepreneurs to establish and grow their startups while gaining legal residency in one of Europe’s most attractive destinations.
Launched as part of the broader Startup Portugal initiative, this program aims to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem and position Portugal as a leading European hub for entrepreneurship and technology-driven businesses.
Who is this visa for?
The ideal applicant is a non-EU/EEA/Swiss entrepreneur with:
What makes Portugal attractive for startups?
Portugal has rapidly emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic startup destinations, particularly attracting digital nomads and international entrepreneurs. The country offers:
Low cost of living = effective tax efficiency: Your money goes further in Portugal
Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime: Note: NHR program closed to new applicants in 2024, replaced by IFICI (Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation)
IFICI regime: 20% flat tax rate for eligible scientific and innovation activities (if you qualify)
Corporate tax: 21% (17% for first €50,000 for SMEs in interior regions and autonomous regions)
Tax residency: Spending 183+ days/year in Portugal makes you tax resident
No wealth tax: Portugal does not impose wealth tax on residents
Excellent public healthcare system (Serviço Nacional de Saúde – SNS)
Affordable private healthcare options (€300-€1,000/year)
Safe, family-friendly environment with low crime rates
Outstanding weather (300+ sunny days per year, mild winters)
Rich cultural heritage, UNESCO sites, vibrant arts scene
Excellent education system with international schools available
High quality of life at fraction of Northern European costs
Strong expat and international community
EU Single Market: Direct access to 450+ million consumers
CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries): Strategic gateway to Brazilian and African Portuguese-speaking markets (260+ million people)
Strategic location: Time zone advantage (overlap with Americas, Europe, Africa)
Trade agreements: European Union free trade agreements globally
Lisbon ranked among Europe’s top 20 startup ecosystems
Web Summit (one of world’s largest tech conferences) held annually in Lisbon
99 certified incubators across Portugal (including Azores and Madeira)
Growing success stories: Farfetch, Talkdesk, Feedzai, OutSystems
Strong sectors: Fintech, Tourism Tech, AI, SaaS, Renewable Energy, Maritime Tech
Active startup events, accelerators, and networking opportunities
Collaboration opportunities with Portuguese universities and research centers
Government support through Startup Portugal initiative
40-50% lower costs than London, Amsterdam, or Berlin
Better weather than Northern Europe (Mediterranean climate)
Easier visa process than UK or Germany
More affordable housing than major EU tech hubs
High English proficiency in business contexts
Welcoming culture for international entrepreneurs
Age: Must be 18 years or older
Nationality: Open to all non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
Education: No specific educational requirements (though relevant education strengthens application)
Experience: No mandatory prior business experience, but demonstrable expertise in your field is valued
Language: No Portuguese language requirement for visa (required for permanent residency after 5 years)
Clean criminal record (criminal background certificate required)
No previous immigration violations
Good character and intentions
Innovation and Technology Focus (assessed by IAPMEI)
Your project must meet ALL of the following criteria:
Evaluation Criteria (How IAPMEI Assesses Applications):
Applications are evaluated based on:
Sector Focus
Scalability & International Market Focus
Personal Funds (Proof of Subsistence)
Business Investment
For Startup Visa (Years 1-5): No Portuguese language requirement
Business operations can be conducted in English, particularly in Lisbon, Porto, and other urban centers. Portuguese universities and incubators typically operate in English for international programs.
For Permanent Residency (After Year 5): Portuguese language requirement (A2 level)
To qualify for permanent residency or citizenship after 5 years:
A2 level means:
Preparation:
Certified Business Incubator (Mandatory)
The most critical requirement is partnering with a certified Portuguese business incubator that is recognized by IAPMEI and registered with the National Network of Incubators (RNI – Rede Nacional de Incubadoras).
What incubators provide:
Important notes about incubators:
Finding a certified incubator:
Notable incubators:
Co-founders:
Key Personnel:
The Portugal Startup Visa follows a structured journey from idea validation to residence permit issuance, supported by certified incubators and IAPMEI approval.
Applicants begin by shaping their innovative idea into a viable business concept. This includes validating innovation and technology criteria, identifying target customers, defining the revenue model, conducting Portuguese and European market research, and preparing initial financial projections to assess feasibility.
A comprehensive business plan is developed covering the executive summary, innovation justification, market analysis, product or service description, technology roadmap, marketing and sales strategy, operations plan, management team, scalability, and international expansion strategy. This phase also includes creating a 10–15 slide pitch deck and a motivation letter explaining why Portugal is chosen, the applicant’s background, innovation potential, and economic contribution.
Applicants must identify and apply to IAPMEI-certified incubators aligned with their sector and location preferences. Applications typically include the business concept, pitch deck, and founder profiles. Incubators may conduct interviews or presentations before issuing an official letter of support, which is mandatory to proceed further in the Startup Visa process.
While working with the incubator, applicants gather all personal and business documentation, including passport, civil records, criminal background certificates, educational qualifications, CV, proof of funds, business plan, financial projections, motivation letter, and incubator approval. Documents must meet translation and apostille requirements where applicable.
With incubator approval secured, applicants submit their complete application through the IAPMEI Startup Visa portal. This includes uploading all business and personal documents and receiving a confirmation and tracking number upon submission.
IAPMEI evaluates applications based on innovation, scalability, market potential, team capacity, job creation, and relevance to the Portuguese economy. The evaluation typically takes 30–60 working days, after which successful applicants receive conditional approval to proceed.
Following IAPMEI approval, applicants must sign a formal contract with their incubator within 40 working days. Once signed, IAPMEI issues the Declaration of Participation in the Startup Visa Program, valid for 180 days, which is required for the visa application.
Applicants submit their visa application at the Portuguese consulate in their country of residence, including the Declaration of Participation, incubator contract, proof of accommodation, health insurance, and financial documents. The visa is typically issued as a 4-month entry visa, allowing travel to Portugal and attendance at the AIMA appointment.
After arrival, applicants attend their AIMA appointment to apply for a residence permit, which is usually issued for 2 years. Within the first 30 days, they must complete municipal registration, open a Portuguese bank account, enroll in healthcare, register tax activity, and establish their company in Portugal within the required timeframe.
Total government fees for single applicant: ~€175-€260
Incubator Fees
Standard monthly incubation services: €50-€400/month
This range depends on:
Typical fee structures:
Basic package (€50-€150/month):
Standard package (€150-€250/month):
Premium package (€250-€400/month):
First-year incubator costs: €600-€4,800 (€50-400/month × 12 months)
Important notes:
Premium “Turnkey” Programs: Some providers offer comprehensive packages including:
Minimum Investment or Capital Requirements
No mandatory minimum investment: There is NO required amount you must invest in your business to qualify for Startup Visa.
However:
Typical startup capital needs (varies greatly by business type):
Proof of Funds for Living Expenses
Minimum required in bank account:
For single founder:
For married couple/partners:
For each child:
Examples:
Practical recommendations:
Where funds must be:
Typical Professional Service Costs
Optional but commonly used services:
Immigration consultant/lawyer: €1,500-€5,000
Business plan writer: €1,000-€3,000
Translation services: €20-€50 per page
Apostille services: €50-€150 per document
Many entrepreneurs handle application themselves with incubator support, avoiding some professional service costs.
Ongoing Costs (First Year in Portugal)
Monthly Living Expenses:
Lisbon (most expensive):
Porto (second-largest city):
Smaller cities (Braga, Coimbra, Faro):
Annual living costs:
For family of four: €2,500-€4,000/month depending on location and lifestyle
Business Operating Costs (First Year):
Company formation and registration:
Ongoing business costs:
Minimum annual business operating costs: €5,000-€15,000 (very lean) Typical annual business operating costs: €15,000-€40,000
Healthcare Costs:
Public SNS (National Health Service):
Private health insurance:
Tax Obligations:
Corporate tax (IRC – Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Coletivas):
Personal income tax (IRS – Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares):
VAT (IVA – Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado):
Social Security contributions:
Renewal Costs (After Year 2):
Residence permit renewal fee: €85.05 per person
Continued incubator relationship: May or may not be required (depends on your situation and incubator contract)
Permanent Residency Application (After Year 5):
Total First-Year Investment Summary
Minimum scenario (very lean, living in smaller city):
Moderate scenario (realistic for most entrepreneurs):
Comfortable scenario (Lisbon, well-funded startup):
Family considerations:
Cost Comparison vs. Other European Startup Destinations:
Portugal offers 30-50% lower costs than:
This cost advantage is a major competitive benefit of Portugal’s Startup Visa.
Applications tend to fail when they present a traditional business disguised as innovative, such as a standard café or service operation that merely adds an online ordering system or basic website without introducing real technological innovation. In these cases, the technology angle is weak, and claims of innovation are superficial or unconvincing, making the business indistinguishable from many existing models. A lack of genuine technology focus is another common issue, where technology is mentioned but not central to the value proposition, represents only a minor improvement on an existing approach, or could be removed without fundamentally changing how the business operates.
Failure is also likely when the business model is strictly local, with no clear path to international expansion or scalability beyond a single city, region, or national market. Inherently local services such as traditional restaurants, local retail, or personal services struggle to demonstrate the growth potential expected. Finally, many applications are undermined by unrealistic financial projections, where there is no credible path to reaching €325,000 within five years. This often stems from unsupported assumptions, markets that are too small or overly competitive, or business models that simply do not scale to the required level.
No, you do NOT need to have a registered company before applying for the Portugal Startup Visa.
You can apply while your business is still in the concept/planning stage. However, you DO need:
After you receive your residence permit and arrive in Portugal, you must establish your company within the first year (this deadline can be extended twice if needed).
Many entrepreneurs apply with just an idea and business plan, then form the company after arriving in Portugal.
Yes, you can bring family members to Portugal through family reunification.
Eligible family members:
How it works:
Benefits for family members:
Financial requirements for family: You must demonstrate sufficient financial means to support family:
Required documents for family reunification:
If your startup fails during the initial 2-year period:
Your residence permit is tied to actively working on your startup. If the business fails:
Your options:
If your business fails during 3-5 year period (after renewal):
Similar situation:
Important context:
For renewal, you’ll need to demonstrate:
Key principle: Portugal wants to see you’re genuinely building a business, not just using visa as vehicle to stay in Portugal.
Estimated Overall Success Rate: 60-70% for well-prepared applications
Official statistics are not publicly released by IAPMEI, but based on immigration consultant reports and anecdotal evidence:
Breakdown by stage:
Stage 1 – Incubator Approval:
Success rate: 50-70% (varies greatly by incubator and application quality)
Most applications that fail do so at this stage
Incubators are selective and want viable businesses
Stage 2 – IAPMEI Approval (if you have incubator support):
Success rate: 80-90%
If a reputable incubator supports you, IAPMEI approval is likely
Most rejections at this stage due to documentation issues, not business quality
Stage 3 – Consulate Visa Issuance:
Success rate: 95%+
If IAPMEI approves and documents are complete, visa issuance is routine
Overall Success Rate:
Well-prepared applications: 70-80%
Average applications: 50-60%
Poorly prepared applications: 20-30%
Quote from immigration sources:
“If you prepare documents correctly, you have close to 100% chance of getting incubator support and visa approval.”
Portugal offers one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for innovative entrepreneurs. With no minimum investment requirement, 30-50% lower costs than Northern Europe, 300+ sunny days per year, and a clear path to EU residency, the Portugal Startup Visa provides an exceptional opportunity to build your business in a welcoming, affordable environment while gaining access to the European market.
1. Assess Your Eligibility
2. Develop Your Business Concept
3. Research Certified Incubators
4. Create Comprehensive Business Plan
5. Connect with Experts
