Portugal's StartUP Visa is a dedicated residence program for international entrepreneurs seeking to establish innovative, technology-based companies in the country. The program enables non-Schengen area entrepreneurs to reside in Portugal while developing their startup within an IAPMEI-certified incubator. Up to 5 entrepreneurs may apply per project. The program is administered by IAPMEI (Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation), which evaluates applications and certifies incubators, while the visa is issued by Portuguese consular posts and residence authorizations are granted by AIMA. As of January 2026, 94 incubators hold IAPMEI certification.
For IAPMEI application:
For D2 visa (at consulate):
The D2 entry visa is valid for 4 months, during which the holder must enter Portugal and apply at AIMA for a residence authorization. The initial residence authorization is valid for 2 years from issuance, renewable for successive 3-year periods. Renewal requires demonstrating continued entrepreneurial activity and business progress. Residence authorization may be cancelled if the holder is absent from Portugal for 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months.
StartUP Visa holders may apply for family reunification after obtaining their residence authorization. Eligible family members include spouse or registered partner, children under 18, disabled adult children, unmarried adult children enrolled in full-time studies in Portugal, and financially dependent parents. The sponsor must demonstrate additional financial capacity: 50% of the annual minimum wage per adult dependant and 30% per minor dependant.
Holders who reside in Portugal for 183+ days per year become tax residents subject to Portuguese income tax (IRS) on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 48%. The IFICI tax incentive (formerly NHR) may apply for up to 10 years for qualifying activities, including employees of legally recognized startups, offering a flat 20% rate on eligible Portuguese-source income (requires not having been a Portuguese tax resident in the preceding 5 years). Corporate tax (IRC) is 21% on mainland Portugal. The 2023 Startup Law provides additional benefits including a favourable stock option regime taxed at 14% at the moment of liquidity.
The application follows a multi-step process: (1) research IAPMEI-certified incubators and request service quotations (incubator services typically cost up to EUR 90/month); (2) submit the application online via the IAPMEI platform with business plan, CV, and financial proof; (3) IAPMEI evaluates the project within 30 working days based on innovation, scalability, market potential, and team skills; (4) upon approval, sign an incubation contract with a certified incubator; (5) apply for a D2 residence visa at the Portuguese consulate (fee: EUR 110, processing up to 60 days); (6) enter Portugal and apply at AIMA for the residence authorization card (fee: approximately EUR 160–170, with 25% discount for online applications).
The business must be focused on technology and knowledge with innovative products or services. Traditional businesses without an innovation component do not qualify. IAPMEI assesses projects based on degree of innovation, business scalability, market potential, management team skills, and potential for creating qualified employment in Portugal. The entrepreneur must maintain business operations within the certified incubator during the incubation period.
A revised Nationality Law (Lei Orgânica 1/2026 of 18 May) entered into force on 19 May 2026, increasing the legal-residence requirement for Portuguese citizenship from a uniform 5 years to 7 years for CPLP nationals and EU citizens, and 10 years for other third-country nationals. The qualifying period is now counted from the issuance of the first residence permit rather than the application date, and a civics/history test has been added alongside the existing A2 language requirement. Applications already in progress when the law took effect remain governed by the former 5-year rule. AIMA also revised its fee table effective March 2026 with increases of up to 33% on certain procedures. Article 89(4) of the Foreigners Law, which provides the legal basis for the StartUP Visa, was briefly repealed in June 2024 but restored by Law 61/2025 in October 2025.