StartUP Visa (D2 Residence Permit for Entrepreneurs)
Tech Visa and StartUP Visa programs, incubator endorsement pathway leading to D2 residence permit.
Portugal's StartUP Visa (D2) is one of Europe's most accessible founder routes, run jointly by IAPMEI and AIMA. Founders partner with a certified incubator to launch a scalable tech venture and unlock a 5-year path to EU citizenship.
Project must be technology-based, scalable, and add value to the Portuguese economy. IAPMEI publishes the list of certified incubators; their technical committee scores innovation, scalability, founder skills and growth potential before issuing the incubation declaration.
No minimum capital required by law. Recommended seed: €5k–€25k for company setup, incubation and runway. Proof of personal funds: €6,096/year (12× IAS).
Family reunification under Law 23/2007 — spouse, minor children and dependent parents. Application can be filed concurrently with the main D2 visa. Family members receive identical residence rights and full labour-market access.
Eligible for Portuguese (and EU) citizenship after 5 years of legal residence. Requires A2 Portuguese (CIPLE exam), no criminal record over 3 years' imprisonment threshold, and effective ties to the community. Dual nationality fully permitted.
Residence path: D2 permit (2 + 3 years) → Permanent residence after 5 years → Portuguese citizenship after 5 years of legal residence (A2 Portuguese, clean record). One of the fastest EU citizenship pathways for founders.
The StartUP Visa pre-approval can be obtained while in Portugal, but the D2 visa itself must be issued by a Portuguese consulate in your country of residence.
Not for the visa. A2 Portuguese (basic conversational) is required only after 5 years for citizenship.
Most IAPMEI-certified incubators charge a fixed contract fee (€1,500–€6,000/yr) and do not take equity. Some accelerators offer equity-for-investment deals separately.
Book a free 30-minute call with an Elite Study founder advisor. We map your eligibility, introduce you to recognised facilitators, prepare your business plan and support your application end-to-end to increase your readiness. Residence permit applications are submitted through recognised Dutch facilitators and assessed by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), or by the equivalent competent authority in other jurisdictions.
Elite Study Group provides independent Startup Visa advisory, business planning, and international business development services. Residence permit applications are submitted through recognised Dutch facilitators and assessed by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND); equivalent authorities apply in other jurisdictions (e.g. Business Finland, IAPMEI, ENISA, Mission French Tech). We do not guarantee any specific outcome — see our Legal Disclaimer for the full scope of our engagement.
Confirm your eligibility, investment threshold and realistic timeline with a senior advisor who handles founder visas across the EU and UK every week.