In 2026, 11 of the 17 European countries offering dedicated startup immigration programs have no fixed minimum investment requirement, allowing entrepreneurs to qualify based on innovation, business potential, and growth prospects.
However, zero minimum investment does not mean zero costs. Applicants must generally demonstrate sufficient personal funds, obtain business approval, and pay immigration fees. Financial requirements range from £1,270 in the United Kingdom to €22,404.20 annually in France.
11 European Startup Visas Without Minimum Investment
United Kingdom: Innovator Founder Visa
The UK abolished the previous £50,000 investment requirement when it introduced the Innovator Founder visa in 2023.
Applicants must obtain approval from an authorized endorsing body and demonstrate adequate business funding. Personal savings of £1,270 (approximately €1,490) must be maintained for 28 consecutive days.
Endorsement costs £1,000, with two mandatory progress meetings at £500 each, excluding VAT. An overseas visa application costs £1,357, and the annual immigration health surcharge is £1,035.
Permanent settlement may be available after three years if applicants meet two of seven business milestones, including a possible £50,000 investment milestone.
Portugal: StartUP Visa
Portugal's StartUP Visa, administered by IAPMEI and certified incubators, has no minimum capital requirement.
Instead, the business must demonstrate the potential to generate annual turnover or assets exceeding €325,000 within five years.
Applicants need €6,445.56 in personal funds, equivalent to 12 times the 2026 social support index of €537.13.
Participation requires support from an accredited incubator. IAPMEI normally decides within 30 working days.
Spain: Startup Residence Permit
Spain imposes no minimum investment or job-creation requirements for innovative entrepreneurs.
Applicants need a favorable assessment from ENISA and must demonstrate €7,200 annually, based on the IPREM benchmark of €600 per month, unchanged since 2023.
Each accompanying family member increases the financial requirement by 50% of IPREM.
Residence authorization is initially valid for three years and can be renewed for another two.
Latvia: No Initial Investment, but Later Funding Requirements
Latvia allows entrepreneurs to obtain startup residence permits without initial investment.
However, within 12 months, founders must generally secure €30,000 from a qualified venture capital fund or €15,000 from an accelerator, unless they satisfy an alternative business progress assessment.
Personal maintenance funds must total €9,360 annually, based on the €780 monthly minimum wage. Each minor child requires another €234 per month.
From May 20, 2026, eligibility was restricted to nationals of OECD countries, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino.
A new Immigration Law took effect on September 15, 2026, retaining the startup category, although the application of earlier nationality restrictions remains unclear.
Estonia: Startup Residence Without €65,000 Capital
Estonia's dedicated startup program removes the €65,000 capital requirement associated with its standard business residence route.
A startup committee normally evaluates projects within 10 working days.
In 2026, applicants must demonstrate €880 monthly, based on four times the €220 subsistence level, although Startup Estonia still lists €800.
Residence permits may be granted for up to five years. Applications submitted in Estonia cost €350.
Lithuania: Startup Visa
Lithuania's Startup Visa has no mandatory investment threshold.
However, establishing a private limited company requires €1,000 in share capital, while a small partnership has no equivalent minimum.
Applicants need €13,836 annually, reflecting the 2026 minimum wage of €1,153 per month.
Innovation Agency Lithuania and an expert committee assess applications.
Initial residence authorization lasts two years and can be extended to five years. Applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals remain suspended.
Finland: Startup Residence for Founder Teams
Finland does not require minimum startup investment, but applicants generally need at least two founders who collectively own 60% or more of the company.
Business Finland evaluates the proposed venture.
In Helsinki, the minimum net income is €1,210 monthly (€14,520 annually). Requirements fall to €1,090 in other major municipalities and €1,030 elsewhere.
Funds must cover one year. Initial permits last two years, and online applications cost €650.
Denmark: Start-up Denmark
Denmark's Start-up Denmark program has no fixed investment requirement, but business proposals undergo expert assessment organized by the Danish Business Authority.
The program is limited to 75 residence permits annually.
Single founders must demonstrate DKK 153,240 (approximately €20,540) for their first year. Applicants accompanied by a spouse need DKK 306,480.
Initial permits last up to two years, with subsequent extensions of up to three years. The application fee is DKK 3,060.
Netherlands: Startup Residence With a Facilitator
The Netherlands grants one-year startup residence permits to entrepreneurs working with an approved facilitator recognized by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
The facilitator provides mentoring and cannot hold a majority ownership interest.
There is no minimum investment, but applicants generally need €1,766.77 monthly (approximately €21,200 annually). Facilitator funding may satisfy this requirement.
After one year, founders must transition to the self-employed residence category and demonstrate at least three months of mentoring.
The application fee is €423.
France: French Tech Visa
France's French Tech Visa for founders operates under the talent – porteur de projet residence category.
The innovative-project route requires no minimum investment but does require a favorable opinion from the Ministry of Economy. Support from a recognized French Tech incubator commonly forms part of the process.
Applicants must demonstrate €22,404.20 annually, the highest specified personal financial threshold among the 11 programs.
Residence cards may be valid for four years. Fees include €350 for the card and €99 for the long-stay visa.
Belgium: Innovation & Startup Permit in Flanders
On September 1, 2026, Flanders introduced the Innovation & Startup Permit.
Innovative projects can qualify without minimum capital, while projects assessed under the economic added-value category require €22,838.
Applicants supported by Flemish incubators or accelerators may receive faster processing.
Founders must demonstrate net income of at least 110% of Belgium's guaranteed minimum monthly income.
The professional card costs €140 and is valid for one to three years. Brussels and Wallonia maintain separate procedures.
European Startup Visas Requiring Less Than €50,000
Slovakia: €11,808.80
In July 2025, Slovakia introduced an innovative-project residence category under Act 178/2025.
Applicants must maintain business funds equivalent to 40 statutory subsistence minimums.
Following the July 1, 2026 increase to €295.22, the requirement became €11,808.80, the lowest specified investment threshold among the programs requiring capital.
Permits can last up to three years. Available official information does not identify a specific innovation assessment authority.
Malta: €25,000
Malta's Startup Residence Programme requires €25,000 in investment, paid-up share capital, or both.
Since August 2025, each co-founder beyond the fourth must contribute another €10,000, with a maximum of six founders.
Malta Enterprise must approve the business, which cannot be older than seven years.
Founders need sufficient personal funds, without a fixed minimum. Core employees must earn at least €30,000 annually.
Initial permits last three years and can be extended by five years. Fees are €750 per applicant or dependent, plus €300 for the residence card.
Austria: €30,000
Austria's Red-White-Red Card for startup founders requires €30,000, with at least 50% in equity, under Section 24 of the Foreign Employment Act.
Applicants must score at least 50 out of 85 points based on qualifications and experience. Investments of €50,000 or more provide additional points.
Unlike other programs, Austria exempts eligible founders from standard accommodation and personal maintenance requirements.
Decisions generally take three weeks. Permits last up to two years, and applications cost €218.
Between 2017 and 2019, only three of 17 applications were approved.
France: €30,000 Business-Creation Route
France also offers a separate business-creation pathway under talent – porteur de projet.
Unlike the innovative-project route, it requires €30,000 investment, a master's degree or five years of relevant professional experience, and €22,404.20 in personal funds.
Cyprus: Investment Requirements Unconfirmed
Cyprus revised its Start-up Visa Scheme in December 2024.
Reported thresholds include €25,000 for individual founders and €50,000 for teams. However, accessible government documentation does not confirm these amounts or whether the scheme will continue beyond 2026.
Cyprus is therefore excluded from the comparison.
European Startup Visas Requiring €50,000 or More
Italy: €50,000
Italy's Italia Startup Visa requires €50,000 for an innovative startup. Up to five founders can jointly satisfy this requirement.
Joining an existing innovative company requires €100,000.
Eligible funding includes personal liquid assets, venture capital, private investment, and grants, but excludes crowdfunding.
Applicants must demonstrate annual income above approximately €8,500.
An expert committee under the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy normally decides within 30 days.
Initial permits last one year and can be renewed for two years. Long-term residence may become available after five years.
The program has excluded Russian and Belarusian nationals since October 27, 2023.
Ireland: €50,000
Ireland's Start-up Entrepreneur Programme requires €50,000 from the principal founder and €30,000 for each additional founder.
Funding may come from savings, loans, venture capital, angel investors, or state grants, and must be held by an institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Projects should be capable of creating 10 jobs and generating €1 million in sales within three years.
A government committee reviews applications quarterly.
No separate minimum personal maintenance amount is specified, but private health insurance is mandatory.
Residence is initially granted for two years, followed by three-year and subsequent five-year extensions. Long-term residence may be available after five years.
Applications cost €350. Russian and Belarusian nationals are ineligible.
Bulgaria: €51,129
Bulgaria's StartUp Visa, introduced in February 2023, requires BGN 100,000 (€51,129) through an agreement with a specialized equity or venture capital fund.
Although Bulgaria adopted the euro in January 2026, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth continues to state the threshold in leva.
Founders must own at least 50% of the company and maintain personal funds equivalent to three Bulgarian minimum monthly wages for 30 days.
Projects must score at least eight out of 14 points.
Startup certificates are issued free of charge, normally within 30 days. They remain valid for one year, with a possible two-year extension.
Why Zero-Investment Startup Visas Can Still Be Expensive
Minimum investment is only one component of startup immigration costs.
In the UK, despite the £1,270 personal savings requirement, endorsement, visa fees, and three years of health surcharges exceed £5,400 before the first mandatory progress meeting.
Portugal requires €6,445.56 in personal funds, Spain €7,200, and France and the Netherlands more than €21,000 annually.
Eligibility can also be demanding. Denmark has an annual quota, Finland generally requires two founders, and Latvia expects qualifying investment or demonstrated business progress after approval.
Nationality restrictions matter as well. Italy, Ireland, and Lithuania exclude Russian and Belarusian applicants. Latvia restricted eligibility in May 2026, although the interaction with its September immigration reforms remains unclear.
Germany, Sweden, and Poland: Alternative Immigration Routes
Not every European country has a dedicated startup visa.
Germany allows entrepreneurs to apply through its general self-employment residence framework without fixed minimum capital.
Sweden requires SEK 200,000 in personal funds for its self-employed residence route.
Poland suspended the Poland Business Harbour program in January 2024.
These options differ legally from dedicated startup founder programs.
Which European Startup Visa Is Most Affordable in 2026?
Entrepreneurs seeking European residence without mandatory startup investment can consider the UK, Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium's Flanders region.
The UK has the lowest specified personal savings threshold but relatively high immigration fees. Portugal and Spain combine moderate financial requirements with innovation assessments. France and the Netherlands require considerably more personal funds.
Entrepreneurs with available capital may also consider Slovakia, Malta, Austria, Italy, Ireland, or Bulgaria.
The best option depends on business viability, financial resources, nationality, ownership structure, and innovation requirements. A zero-investment threshold may reduce the financial barrier to European residence, but it does not necessarily make immigration cheaper or easier.
If you are considering relocating to Europe through these or other programmes, you can book an individual consultation. I will assess your situation, including available residence-permit options, the right to work, family requirements, budget, and legal risks before you submit an application or sign an agreement. Submit a request, and we will develop a step-by-step relocation plan tailored to your objective.
However, zero minimum investment does not mean zero costs. Applicants must generally demonstrate sufficient personal funds, obtain business approval, and pay immigration fees. Financial requirements range from £1,270 in the United Kingdom to €22,404.20 annually in France.
11 European Startup Visas Without Minimum Investment
United Kingdom: Innovator Founder Visa
The UK abolished the previous £50,000 investment requirement when it introduced the Innovator Founder visa in 2023.
Applicants must obtain approval from an authorized endorsing body and demonstrate adequate business funding. Personal savings of £1,270 (approximately €1,490) must be maintained for 28 consecutive days.
Endorsement costs £1,000, with two mandatory progress meetings at £500 each, excluding VAT. An overseas visa application costs £1,357, and the annual immigration health surcharge is £1,035.
Permanent settlement may be available after three years if applicants meet two of seven business milestones, including a possible £50,000 investment milestone.
Portugal: StartUP Visa
Portugal's StartUP Visa, administered by IAPMEI and certified incubators, has no minimum capital requirement.
Instead, the business must demonstrate the potential to generate annual turnover or assets exceeding €325,000 within five years.
Applicants need €6,445.56 in personal funds, equivalent to 12 times the 2026 social support index of €537.13.
Participation requires support from an accredited incubator. IAPMEI normally decides within 30 working days.
Spain: Startup Residence Permit
Spain imposes no minimum investment or job-creation requirements for innovative entrepreneurs.
Applicants need a favorable assessment from ENISA and must demonstrate €7,200 annually, based on the IPREM benchmark of €600 per month, unchanged since 2023.
Each accompanying family member increases the financial requirement by 50% of IPREM.
Residence authorization is initially valid for three years and can be renewed for another two.
Latvia: No Initial Investment, but Later Funding Requirements
Latvia allows entrepreneurs to obtain startup residence permits without initial investment.
However, within 12 months, founders must generally secure €30,000 from a qualified venture capital fund or €15,000 from an accelerator, unless they satisfy an alternative business progress assessment.
Personal maintenance funds must total €9,360 annually, based on the €780 monthly minimum wage. Each minor child requires another €234 per month.
From May 20, 2026, eligibility was restricted to nationals of OECD countries, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino.
A new Immigration Law took effect on September 15, 2026, retaining the startup category, although the application of earlier nationality restrictions remains unclear.
Estonia: Startup Residence Without €65,000 Capital
Estonia's dedicated startup program removes the €65,000 capital requirement associated with its standard business residence route.
A startup committee normally evaluates projects within 10 working days.
In 2026, applicants must demonstrate €880 monthly, based on four times the €220 subsistence level, although Startup Estonia still lists €800.
Residence permits may be granted for up to five years. Applications submitted in Estonia cost €350.
Lithuania: Startup Visa
Lithuania's Startup Visa has no mandatory investment threshold.
However, establishing a private limited company requires €1,000 in share capital, while a small partnership has no equivalent minimum.
Applicants need €13,836 annually, reflecting the 2026 minimum wage of €1,153 per month.
Innovation Agency Lithuania and an expert committee assess applications.
Initial residence authorization lasts two years and can be extended to five years. Applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals remain suspended.
Finland: Startup Residence for Founder Teams
Finland does not require minimum startup investment, but applicants generally need at least two founders who collectively own 60% or more of the company.
Business Finland evaluates the proposed venture.
In Helsinki, the minimum net income is €1,210 monthly (€14,520 annually). Requirements fall to €1,090 in other major municipalities and €1,030 elsewhere.
Funds must cover one year. Initial permits last two years, and online applications cost €650.
Denmark: Start-up Denmark
Denmark's Start-up Denmark program has no fixed investment requirement, but business proposals undergo expert assessment organized by the Danish Business Authority.
The program is limited to 75 residence permits annually.
Single founders must demonstrate DKK 153,240 (approximately €20,540) for their first year. Applicants accompanied by a spouse need DKK 306,480.
Initial permits last up to two years, with subsequent extensions of up to three years. The application fee is DKK 3,060.
Netherlands: Startup Residence With a Facilitator
The Netherlands grants one-year startup residence permits to entrepreneurs working with an approved facilitator recognized by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
The facilitator provides mentoring and cannot hold a majority ownership interest.
There is no minimum investment, but applicants generally need €1,766.77 monthly (approximately €21,200 annually). Facilitator funding may satisfy this requirement.
After one year, founders must transition to the self-employed residence category and demonstrate at least three months of mentoring.
The application fee is €423.
France: French Tech Visa
France's French Tech Visa for founders operates under the talent – porteur de projet residence category.
The innovative-project route requires no minimum investment but does require a favorable opinion from the Ministry of Economy. Support from a recognized French Tech incubator commonly forms part of the process.
Applicants must demonstrate €22,404.20 annually, the highest specified personal financial threshold among the 11 programs.
Residence cards may be valid for four years. Fees include €350 for the card and €99 for the long-stay visa.
Belgium: Innovation & Startup Permit in Flanders
On September 1, 2026, Flanders introduced the Innovation & Startup Permit.
Innovative projects can qualify without minimum capital, while projects assessed under the economic added-value category require €22,838.
Applicants supported by Flemish incubators or accelerators may receive faster processing.
Founders must demonstrate net income of at least 110% of Belgium's guaranteed minimum monthly income.
The professional card costs €140 and is valid for one to three years. Brussels and Wallonia maintain separate procedures.
European Startup Visas Requiring Less Than €50,000
Slovakia: €11,808.80
In July 2025, Slovakia introduced an innovative-project residence category under Act 178/2025.
Applicants must maintain business funds equivalent to 40 statutory subsistence minimums.
Following the July 1, 2026 increase to €295.22, the requirement became €11,808.80, the lowest specified investment threshold among the programs requiring capital.
Permits can last up to three years. Available official information does not identify a specific innovation assessment authority.
Malta: €25,000
Malta's Startup Residence Programme requires €25,000 in investment, paid-up share capital, or both.
Since August 2025, each co-founder beyond the fourth must contribute another €10,000, with a maximum of six founders.
Malta Enterprise must approve the business, which cannot be older than seven years.
Founders need sufficient personal funds, without a fixed minimum. Core employees must earn at least €30,000 annually.
Initial permits last three years and can be extended by five years. Fees are €750 per applicant or dependent, plus €300 for the residence card.
Austria: €30,000
Austria's Red-White-Red Card for startup founders requires €30,000, with at least 50% in equity, under Section 24 of the Foreign Employment Act.
Applicants must score at least 50 out of 85 points based on qualifications and experience. Investments of €50,000 or more provide additional points.
Unlike other programs, Austria exempts eligible founders from standard accommodation and personal maintenance requirements.
Decisions generally take three weeks. Permits last up to two years, and applications cost €218.
Between 2017 and 2019, only three of 17 applications were approved.
France: €30,000 Business-Creation Route
France also offers a separate business-creation pathway under talent – porteur de projet.
Unlike the innovative-project route, it requires €30,000 investment, a master's degree or five years of relevant professional experience, and €22,404.20 in personal funds.
Cyprus: Investment Requirements Unconfirmed
Cyprus revised its Start-up Visa Scheme in December 2024.
Reported thresholds include €25,000 for individual founders and €50,000 for teams. However, accessible government documentation does not confirm these amounts or whether the scheme will continue beyond 2026.
Cyprus is therefore excluded from the comparison.
European Startup Visas Requiring €50,000 or More
Italy: €50,000
Italy's Italia Startup Visa requires €50,000 for an innovative startup. Up to five founders can jointly satisfy this requirement.
Joining an existing innovative company requires €100,000.
Eligible funding includes personal liquid assets, venture capital, private investment, and grants, but excludes crowdfunding.
Applicants must demonstrate annual income above approximately €8,500.
An expert committee under the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy normally decides within 30 days.
Initial permits last one year and can be renewed for two years. Long-term residence may become available after five years.
The program has excluded Russian and Belarusian nationals since October 27, 2023.
Ireland: €50,000
Ireland's Start-up Entrepreneur Programme requires €50,000 from the principal founder and €30,000 for each additional founder.
Funding may come from savings, loans, venture capital, angel investors, or state grants, and must be held by an institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Projects should be capable of creating 10 jobs and generating €1 million in sales within three years.
A government committee reviews applications quarterly.
No separate minimum personal maintenance amount is specified, but private health insurance is mandatory.
Residence is initially granted for two years, followed by three-year and subsequent five-year extensions. Long-term residence may be available after five years.
Applications cost €350. Russian and Belarusian nationals are ineligible.
Bulgaria: €51,129
Bulgaria's StartUp Visa, introduced in February 2023, requires BGN 100,000 (€51,129) through an agreement with a specialized equity or venture capital fund.
Although Bulgaria adopted the euro in January 2026, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth continues to state the threshold in leva.
Founders must own at least 50% of the company and maintain personal funds equivalent to three Bulgarian minimum monthly wages for 30 days.
Projects must score at least eight out of 14 points.
Startup certificates are issued free of charge, normally within 30 days. They remain valid for one year, with a possible two-year extension.
Why Zero-Investment Startup Visas Can Still Be Expensive
Minimum investment is only one component of startup immigration costs.
In the UK, despite the £1,270 personal savings requirement, endorsement, visa fees, and three years of health surcharges exceed £5,400 before the first mandatory progress meeting.
Portugal requires €6,445.56 in personal funds, Spain €7,200, and France and the Netherlands more than €21,000 annually.
Eligibility can also be demanding. Denmark has an annual quota, Finland generally requires two founders, and Latvia expects qualifying investment or demonstrated business progress after approval.
Nationality restrictions matter as well. Italy, Ireland, and Lithuania exclude Russian and Belarusian applicants. Latvia restricted eligibility in May 2026, although the interaction with its September immigration reforms remains unclear.
Germany, Sweden, and Poland: Alternative Immigration Routes
Not every European country has a dedicated startup visa.
Germany allows entrepreneurs to apply through its general self-employment residence framework without fixed minimum capital.
Sweden requires SEK 200,000 in personal funds for its self-employed residence route.
Poland suspended the Poland Business Harbour program in January 2024.
These options differ legally from dedicated startup founder programs.
Which European Startup Visa Is Most Affordable in 2026?
Entrepreneurs seeking European residence without mandatory startup investment can consider the UK, Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium's Flanders region.
The UK has the lowest specified personal savings threshold but relatively high immigration fees. Portugal and Spain combine moderate financial requirements with innovation assessments. France and the Netherlands require considerably more personal funds.
Entrepreneurs with available capital may also consider Slovakia, Malta, Austria, Italy, Ireland, or Bulgaria.
The best option depends on business viability, financial resources, nationality, ownership structure, and innovation requirements. A zero-investment threshold may reduce the financial barrier to European residence, but it does not necessarily make immigration cheaper or easier.
If you are considering relocating to Europe through these or other programmes, you can book an individual consultation. I will assess your situation, including available residence-permit options, the right to work, family requirements, budget, and legal risks before you submit an application or sign an agreement. Submit a request, and we will develop a step-by-step relocation plan tailored to your objective.