This Programme, developed by the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (IAPMEI) and regulated by the Portuguese Ministry of Economy and Internal Affairs, aims to strengthen the innovation ecosystem by making Portugal a country open to entrepreneurship and people who want to prosper.
Startup Visa ensures a National Network of Incubators throughout the Portuguese territory. It guarantees that your business will be established with a network of entrepreneurs who are already operating in the ecosystem and are familiar with all the specific characteristics of the Portuguese and European markets.
Applications are made through an online platform and the Incubators will receive the projects that are considered relevant in their evaluation and criteria. The evaluation of the process will be made by IAPMEI, being also responsible for the final decision of the application.
Who can apply to StartUp Visa:
The programme can cover a maximum of 5 entrepreneurs per project who will be granted residence visas. Therefore, all entrepreneurs who wish to develop their project in Portugal may apply, even if they do not have an incorporated company, and/or entrepreneurs who already have business projects in their home countries and wish to create a branch in Portugal.
StartUp Visa Requirements:
Personal Info
- The applicant must be 18 years of age or older and simultaneously have no criminal record. Additionally, you must not be a permanent resident in the Schengen area.
Innovative Project
- To create an innovative project with a view to boosting international growth, taking into account technology and knowledge and, consequently, having the capacity to create qualified employment.
Financial Resources
- Financial resources corresponding to €5,150.00 in a private bank account in Portugal to constitute proof that you can be financially sufficent.
Approved Business Plan
- Submit a business plan, which must then be approved by one or more accredited incubators and the company must be physically incubated in one of them, under an agreement made in accordance with the Startup Visa programme.
Project Feasibility
- After demonstrating the viability of the project, it is fundamental to make known the prespectiva of the project in the long term (5 years), as well as its capacity to achieve the established objectives. Therefore, it must have a turnover greater than 325.000,00 euros/year and/or an asset value greater than 325.000,00 euros/year.
Benefits Start UP Visa
- The right to create a business plus have a life in Portugal.
- The StarUp Visa essentially grants you the travel rights of all European Union citizens in the Schengen Area, comprised of 26 European countries, without a new Visas. It’s ideal for those who want to travel through Europe to network and build corporate connections.
- Family reunification in Portugal: the family (including spouse, children, parents, or siblings dependent on either spouse) of the holder of a Portuguese residence permit can also live in the country.
- The option to apply for Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime, which is open to anyone who has the right to reside in Portugal (an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or a holder of a residence permit) and has not been a tax resident of the country in the previous 5 years.
- After 5 years of being a legal permanent resident, you might be eligible for permanent citizenship in the country, as part of Portugal residency program. However, it is important to note that citizenship is subject to a basic Portuguese language test.
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