Visas

Startup and founder visas — build a company abroad

Residence permits designed for early-stage tech founders, startup employees, and entrepreneurs with a viable business plan.

01 AU Australia · Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional, Subclass 188) Business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs. · 52–104w processing · path to PR No floor 02 CA Canada · Start-up Visa Founders of qualifying innovative start-ups backed by designated investors. · 24–104w processing · path to PR No floor 03 FR France · Talent – Creation of Enterprise / Innovative Economic Project Non-EU founders establishing a business or innovative project in France. · 4–12w processing · path to PR No floor 04 IE Ireland · Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) Non-EEA founders with an innovative high-potential start-up. · 8–16w processing · path to PR No floor 05 JP Japan · Business Manager Visa Founders or senior managers of companies established in Japan. · 6–12w processing · path to PR No floor 06 JP Japan · Startup Visa (J-START / Future Creation) Foreign founders establishing innovative businesses in designated cities. · 6–12w processing No floor 07 MA Morocco · Investor / Entrepreneur Visa Foreign investors establishing qualifying Moroccan businesses. · 8–24w processing · path to PR No floor 08 NL Netherlands · Startup Visa Non-EU founders with an innovative business plan and a recognised facilitator. · 8–12w processing No floor 09 NZ New Zealand · Entrepreneur Work Visa Founders of businesses in New Zealand. · 16–52w processing · path to PR No floor 10 SG Singapore · Tech.Pass Established tech executives, founders, and product leaders. · 4–10w processing SGD 22,500 11 SG Singapore · EntrePass Foreign entrepreneurs starting or operating an innovative business in Singapore. · 4–10w processing · path to PR No floor 12 KR South Korea · D-8 Corporate Investment Foreign-investment-funded employees and founders of Korean entities. · 4–10w processing · path to PR No floor 13 ES Spain · Startup / Entrepreneur Visa Non-EEA founders with an innovative business idea of strategic interest to Spain. · 4–8w processing · path to PR No floor 14 GB United Kingdom · Global Talent visa Leading or promising researchers, academics, and tech founders. · 4–12w processing · path to PR No floor 15 GB United Kingdom · Innovator Founder visa Non-UK founders of innovative scaleable businesses. · 3–8w processing · path to PR No floor 16 MX Mexico · Investor / Entrepreneur Visa Foreigners investing in Mexican companies or real estate. · 4–10w processing · path to PR No floor 17 ZA South Africa · Business Visa Entrepreneurs investing in a South African business. · 12–24w processing · path to PR ZAR 5,000,000 18 ZA South Africa · Business Visa Foreign entrepreneurs investing in new or existing SA businesses. · 16–52w processing · path to PR ZAR 5,000,000

Frequently asked

What's the difference between a startup visa and a general entrepreneur visa?
Startup visas typically require endorsement by an accelerator, incubator, or approved innovation agency, and are aimed at scalable technology businesses. Entrepreneur visas are broader and usually have capital investment requirements instead.
Do I need customers / revenue to apply?
Most programs accept early-stage pre-revenue startups if you can demonstrate innovation, scalability, and capital runway. Letters of support from endorsers substitute for revenue in most cases.