Developed European countries are tightening immigration control, but not for entrepreneurs. Startup visa programmes remain open and are becoming increasingly attractive: you can get a residence permit with just a project idea, not a finished product. The timelines, requirements, and path to citizenship vary depending on the country.
Why entrepreneurs have it easier than others
Europe is experiencing a trend toward restricting immigration. Legislation is changing across many countries, border control is becoming stricter, and checks are being reintroduced at borders. However, all these restrictions are aimed at reducing illegal immigration from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. People who follow the startup visa route and other entrepreneurial programmes remain outside these restrictions. They promise foreign investment, job creation, and economic development—something that attracts rather than repels European governments.
How the startup visa works
The startup visa programme does not require you to already have an active project and working product. It accepts projects at the idea stage. If you don’t have a startup yet but have a plan to implement it in a specific country and region, the immigration service can approve your application and issue a residence permit for the period provided by the programme.
The process begins with developing a business plan. This is a comprehensive document that covers many aspects of the project: product description, financial model, innovation component, information about the team, and scaling plans. You need to show what makes your solution different from existing market offerings, what investments you will attract, and how you will hire staff.
Timelines and conditions in different countries
In France, a startup visa is issued for 4 years. After 5 years of residence in the country, you can apply for a passport.
In Spain, a residence permit is issued for 3 years, but citizenship application requires 10 years of residence—a significant disadvantage. In the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, you need to live for 5 years before applying for citizenship.
In 2022, the Spanish programme was one of the easiest in Europe: projects were not reviewed very carefully, even business plans written entirely by artificial intelligence passed the check. With the emergence of the Enisa organisation as the agency reviewing applications, everything changed. Now specialists thoroughly examine business plans for technology, innovation, alignment with the financial model, and assess how much the project will benefit the Spanish economy.
What is required for approval
A good business plan is the foundation of success. You need to meet all criteria and prepare additional materials if necessary. In France, for example, letters of support for the project or support from an accelerator are required.
If everything is prepared correctly, getting a residence permit is absolutely achievable. The main thing is to show that the idea is not only interesting but also viable for the economy of the country to which you are applying.
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