Portugal's Startup Visa is the country's official route for non-EU founders with a scalable, internationally-minded idea.
Who is eligible?
- At least 18 years old, with a valid non-EU/EEA/Swiss passport
- A clean criminal record
- An innovative idea with real growth and international scalability — not a local business
- Acceptance and backing from an IAPMEI-accredited incubator or accelerator
- Proof of funds for living costs; up to five co-founders can apply together on one project
How it works
- Find an accredited incubator. They assess and accept your idea and team, then issue a letter of support.
- File the visa application together with the incubator's support letter and identity/financial documents.
- Arrive and incorporate in Lisbon, Porto or another Portuguese startup hub.
- Build with incubator support and work toward the five-year path to permanent residence.
The ecosystem today
Startup funding in Portugal grew from €800M in 2022 to more than €1.8B in 2025. The country has produced genuine unicorns — including Talkdesk and OutSystems — and has permanently hosted Web Summit since 2016.
Who this suits
Portugal is a strong fit for teams with a tighter budget than the Netherlands or Denmark who still want an international ecosystem and a clear route to permanent residence. The key point: incubator acceptance is the entry bar, so the idea needs to be genuinely defensible and scalable — not just a local business plan.