Portugal is one of Europe’s rising innovation hubs—and if you’re an entrepreneur with a scalable business idea, the Portugal Startup Visa offers a fast track to residency and business development in the EU.
At Borderless Lawyers, we help international founders launch startups in Portugal with full legal and immigration support.
💡 What Is the Portugal Startup Visa?
The Startup Visa is a residence program for non-EU entrepreneurs who want to create an innovative business in Portugal. It’s ideal for founders launching tech, digital, green, or scalable solutions with global potential.
Key Benefits:
✔️ Fast-track residence permit
✔️ Bring your co-founders and family
✔️ Full access to the Portuguese and EU markets
✔️ Path to permanent residency and citizenship
✔️ Work with certified startup incubators
✅ Eligibility Requirements
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
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🚀 Own an innovative business idea
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📈 Potential to create jobs and revenue in Portugal
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🧾 No criminal record
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💰 Proof of €5,146.08 in personal financial means (per founder)
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💼 Not currently residing in the Schengen Area
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🤝 Signed support from a certified incubator
🏢 What Qualifies as a “Startup”?
To be accepted, your startup should:
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Offer a tech-driven or innovative solution
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Show potential for international scalability
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Fall under sectors like AI, FinTech, SaaS, HealthTech, Greentech, or eCommerce
💡 Borderless Lawyers helps validate your business model and pitch before applying.
🤝 The Role of Incubators
A certified Portuguese incubator must agree to support your startup. Their letter of acceptance is required for your visa application.
We assist with:
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Connecting you to government-certified incubators
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Pitch deck and business plan review
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Negotiating terms of support
📋 Application Process
Here’s how to apply for Portugal’s Startup Visa:
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Prepare your pitch deck & business plan
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Apply to a certified incubator
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Once accepted, submit your application to IAPMEI (Portuguese innovation agency)
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Receive pre-approval
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Apply for the residence visa at a Portuguese consulate
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Travel to Portugal and obtain your residence permit from AIMA
⏱️ Processing Timeline
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🏛️ Incubator response: 2–4 weeks
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🗂️ IAPMEI evaluation: 30–60 days
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📅 Consulate visa: 1–2 months
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🛂 Residence permit in Portugal: ~3 weeks after arrival
👨👩👧👦 Can You Bring Your Family?
Yes. Founders can bring:
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Spouse or partner
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Minor children
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Dependent parents
Each family member applies for family reunification after you receive your residence permit.
📍 Residence Permit & Renewal
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Initial residence permit: 2 years
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Renewable for 3 years
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After 5 years: eligible for permanent residency or citizenship
You must show continued startup activity and presence in Portugal (minimum 183 days/year or a tax residence declaration).
🛡️ Why Choose Borderless Lawyers?
We provide end-to-end Startup Visa support:
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✅ Pitch deck & business model refinement
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✅ Incubator match & legal vetting
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✅ Visa application & document prep
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✅ Company setup, NIF, bank account
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✅ Family reunification & renewals
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✅ Citizenship planning after 5 years
We specialize in tech founders and work with multiple certified incubators across Lisbon, Porto, Braga, and Coimbra.
🌍 Who We Help
We’ve supported founders from:
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🇮🇳 India
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🇧🇷 Brazil
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🇺🇸 United States
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🇨🇳 China
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🇬🇧 UK
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🇵🇰 Pakistan
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🇿🇦 South Africa
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🇺🇦 Ukraine
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🇨🇦 Canada
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🇷🇺 Russia
🚀 Launch Your Startup—and Your Life—in Portugal
📩 Contact Borderless Lawyers today to start your Startup Visa journey. We’ll guide your idea through the visa process and help you build a life and business in Portugal.