How to Get Portugal Startup Visa: The 2026 Ultimate Guide

What is the Portugal Startup Visa?

The Portugal Startup Visa is a residence visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss founders. It is designed to attract international entrepreneurs who want to move to Portugal and launch or expand their innovative businesses.

The Startup Visa, also known as the Portugal Innovation-Based Visa, is for founders who actively manage a scalable business – not passive investors.

The eligibility criteria are regulated by Normative Order No. 4/2018. It provides a temporary residence for foreign entrepreneurs who can create qualified jobs in Portugal and partner with a certified Portuguese incubator.

The visa was launched on 15 March 2018 by IAPMEI and the Ministry of Economy to attract highly qualified professionals with strong market potential. Startup Visa holders can boost the Portuguese economy and produce innovative goods.

Since its launch, the visa has helped the start-up ecosystem, particularly in cities such as Lisbon and Porto, become technical hubs.

Key Benefits of the Portugal Startup Visa Program

The Startup Portugal Visa can provide many advantages for foreign entrepreneurs, such as:

• Portugal residency at affordable costs – Unlike the Golden Visa Portugal, which requires a fixed sum of at least €250,000, the Startup Visa has no minimum investment amount. Instead, the main applicant must have at least €10,440 to cover living expenses for a year, which is roughly based on 12 times the Portuguese Social Support Index (IAS).
• Large start-up ecosystem – In 2025, the country reached 5,091 startups, representing an 8 percent increase from last year, according to the Portugal Startup Ecosystem, the sector employs about 28,000 people and creates €2.856 billion in turnover.
• Move to Portugal: You can use the Startup Visa to gain temporary Portugal residency and sponsor dependent family members. To renew the residence permit, you must have a permanent home there or spend at least six months per year (or eight non-consecutive months) in Portugal.
• Visa-free travel to Schengen countries: A Portugal residence permit allows you to travel anywhere in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180 day period. You don’t need to apply for a visa.
• Tax benefits: Portugal has a double tax agreement with over 70 countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and China. Foreign entrepreneurs, startup founders, and high-value investors on a Startup Visa program may qualify for the NHR 2.0 tax benefits. The Portugal NHR 2.0 offers a flat 20 percent income tax rate on qualifying Portuguese-sourced income for certain professions, as well as special tax incentives.
• Citizenship in five years: Based on current laws, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residence, passing an A2 language test, and showing ties to the local community. Although the Portuguese Nationality Law aims to increase the pathway to citizenship from five to ten years (or seven years for CPLP/EU nationals), the reform has not been approved yet.
• Citizenship for children born in Portugal: If you hold legal Portuguese residency for at least one year and are living in Portugal when your child is born, the child may obtain Portuguese citizenship at birth. A Portugal passport has visa-free access to 124 countries and allows dual citizenship. According to the Global Citizen Solutions, Global Passport Index, the Portuguese passport ranks 28^th.

What are the Portugal Startup Visa requirements?

To meet the Portugal Startup Visa requirements, you must meet the eligibility criteria for the main applicant and the project you apply for.

For entrepreneurs, the requirements include:

• Be over 18 years old
• Reside outside the EU/EEA
• Have a clean criminal record
• Have at least €10,440 in the bank to sustain yourself
• Rent or own property in Portugal to live in

You must have money to support yourself, your business, and dependent family members (such as a common law partner or unmarried children).

There are no strict requirements for specialized education or work experience. But business certificates, relevant experience, and management team skills can increase your chances for a successful Startup Visa application.

For the innovative business projects, the requirements include:

• A letter of support from a certified Portuguese startup incubator
• Develop business activities in Portugal
• Business scalability and potential to enter global markets
• Creating qualified employment
• Potential to achieve an asset or turnover value of at least €325,000 annually in five years

The business must focus on innovation, technology, and growth. For example, instead of opening a traditional accounting firm, you can open a network of tech-driven accounting platforms that hire virtual sellers and IT specialists for software development.

NIF and Portuguese bank account

To apply for the Portugal Startup Visa program, you need a NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal or Portuguese tax number) and ideally a Portuguese bank account to sign contracts, pay taxes, manage living expenses, and business development.

You can obtain a NIF Portugal at your local tax office (Serviço de Finanças) or a citizen’s shop (Loja de Cidadão) with all the necessary documents. If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you must appoint a fiscal representative, such as an accountant or lawyer who is a Portuguese tax resident.

Note: Once you register your startup business in Portugal, you can apply for a company NIF number, which is separate from your personal NIF tax number.

Criminal background check

A clear criminal record certificate is often required from every country where you have lived for more than a year. The document should be no older than three months at the time of application and must usually be translated into Portuguese.

If you do have a criminal record, it doesn’t automatically disqualify you from the visa, as eligibility varies based on the nature and seriousness of the offense.

If your record includes crimes that could result in a prison sentence in Portugal, it may affect your Portugal Startup Visa application. In such cases, it is best to consult an immigration specialist.

Designation of a tax representative

A tax representative (representante fiscal) is a resident in Portugal who acts on behalf of a non-resident individual or company to communicate with Portuguese tax authorities. For non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, it is mandatory to appoint a fiscal representative to obtain a NIF or take care of taxes in Portugal.

Personal financial requirements

As a main applicant, you will need:

• At least €10,440 as proof of funds
• At least €3,132 per dependent child or €5,220 for a partner in savings to cover general living expenses
• Enough capital to cover the business activities during the incubation period
• No minimum startup investment required

Note: Total costs vary depending on your location. To better estimate your living expenses, check our ultimate guide to the cost of living in Portugal.

Innovative business requirements

Your startup should offer knowledge-based, technology-driven, and innovative solutions.

The most popular sectors include:

• Commerce
• Electronics
• Communication
• Information technology
• Healthcare
• Biotechnology
• Consumer products and services
• Energy

Proof of accommodation in Portugal

Proof of secure accommodation in Portugal must be provided. This can be a rental contract or property ownership documents. In some cases, a letter of invitation from a legal resident may be accepted, but authorities generally prefer formal housing arrangements.

Read more about how to become a permanent resident in our guide on the Portugal residency visa.

Travel insurance cover for at least 12 months

For the Portugal Startup Visa, you need travel and health insurance. It should last for the duration of your stay, which often means 12 months. The cost can vary from €200 to €800 per year, based on the coverage, age, and pre-existing conditions.

Portugal’s healthcare offers universal coverage to residents and citizens. However, as a temporary resident, you don’t qualify for free public healthcare. As a result, local authorities require proof that you can cover the healthcare costs while residing in Portugal.

How to Get a Portugal Startup Visa: Step-by-Step Process

To obtain the Startup Visa, you must have a project related to technology and innovation. The project must be approved by a certified business incubator and submitted to the IAPMEI, Portugal’s Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation.

Here is a step-by-step guide for the Portugal Startup Visa application process.

Step 1: Check if you are eligible

To meet the eligibility criteria, you must be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen without an active residency in Portugal at the time of the application. You must prove to the immigration authorities that you plan to actively manage an innovative business in Portugal. Only applicants aged 18 and over can apply, provided they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses.

Step 2: Prepare a strong startup project

You need a detailed business plan that demonstrates your startup’s potential for growth, innovation, and focus on technology. Providing authorities with market research and financial projections can improve your chances of a successful application.

Step 3: Get support from an IAPMEI-certified incubator

There are 100 certified incubators in Portugal. You should choose at least one local startup incubator, pitch your idea, and obtain a declaration of interest.

Step 4: Submit the application to IAPMEI (online)

Register your application on the IAPMEI Startup Visa online platform. Fill in the personal details, project information, and attach the necessary documents.

IAPMEI needs around 30 business days to approve the application, while the business incubator has 40 business days to sign the incubation contracts. You have five days to accept the agreement, after which you wait an additional 20 days to register your incubation plan with the incubator.

Step 5: Apply for the Startup Visa at the Portuguese consulate

Once IAPMEI approves your project, submit your visa application at the Portuguese consulate in your home country.

Portugal’s Startup Visa processing times vary from two to four months. Receiving a residency permit can take an additional four months or longer, depending on the backlog and consulate.

Step 6: Travel to Portugal and apply for the residence permit

Enter Portugal with your Startup Visa and apply for a temporary residence permit at the local Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) office. You can provide them with a Portuguese NIF number, bank account details, and health or travel insurance.

The residency permit initially lasts for two years, but the Portugal Startup Visa duration can be renewed for an additional three years. After five years of legal residency and passing an A2 language test, you can apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship.

How much is a Startup Visa in Portugal?

The Startup Visa is less expensive than the Golden Visa in Portugal, with total costs ranging from €6,000 to €8,000 for self-application, while assisted processing can exceed €12,000.

Here is the total Portugal Startup Visa cost breakdown for 2026:

• Visa application fee: €90
• Residence permit fee: €85.05
• Business incubator fee: €100+ per month (not including co-working spaces)
• Additional administrative fees: €300 – €700
• Supporting document expenses: €400+
• Business capital requirements: About €5,000 seed capital
• Legal support (optional): €2,000 – €5,000

If you want to make the most of the Startup Portugal program incentives, contact our division at Global Citizen Solutions (GCS). They are a migration consultancy offering immigration services for the Portuguese Startup Visa. With expert help, you can tap into international markets and streamline the application and evaluation process.

Tax implications for Portugal Startup Visa

Source: PWC Portugal

Startup Visa vs Other Portugal Visas

Portugal offers a wide range of residency options, including the following:

• Portugal D7 Visa for individuals with sufficient passive income to support themselves in the country. It is also known as a retirement visa.
• Portugal D3 Visa for highly qualified individuals, such as senior executives, IT specialists, and researchers.
• Portugal Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers seeking to relocate to Portugal.
• Family Reunification Visa in Portugal allows individuals to relocate to the country if they have a family member who is a legal resident.
• D2 Visa Portugal for entrepreneurs seeking to move to Portugal.
• Portugal Golden Visa for high-net-worth individuals interested in residency by investment. Although you may have heard that the Portugal Golden Visa is ending, that’s not the case for 2026.

Portugal Startup Visa vs D2 Visa

Both the D2 and the Portugal Startup Visa are entrepreneur visas, but they target different types of businesses and foreign investors. The Startup Visa requires a business incubator to support an innovative, scalable business, while the D2 is for any kind of business without an incubator.

Portugal Startup Visa Checklist

Entrepreneurs need the following documents for the Portugal Startup Visa application:

• Letter of motivation
• Copy of a valid passport
• Criminal record certificate
• Residence authorization document
• Bank statements
• Business plan
• CV (curriculum vitae)
• Project presentation file
• Declaration of interest (business incubator support letter)

Goldcrest: How We Can Help You 

Goldcrest is a buyer’s agent that is based in Lisbon. We provide expert, impartial advice on real estate investments and how to buy property in Portugal. From scouting out the perfect property through to property acquisition, we have you covered throughout the process.

If you are looking to purchase property in Portugal, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of skilled experts is available to solve all your real estate doubts, helping you with the property search and offering insightful expertise and strategic advice.

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