The short answer: Canada if permanent residence is the goal and you can wait, Singapore if you need to be on the ground fast, and the UK if you want a balance of both. The table below ranks the founder routes we track by time to permanent residence.
The founder visas, ranked
| Visa | Government fee | Processing | First permit | Permanent residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada: Start-up Visa | $1,860 | 12–36 months | 5 yr | PR from grant |
| Singapore: EntrePass | $254 | 1–2 months | 1 yr | PR after 2 years |
| United Kingdom: Innovator Founder Visa | $1,580 | 3–6 months | 3 yr | PR after 3 years |
| Netherlands: Startup Visa | $460 | 1–3 months | 1 yr | PR after 5 years |
| Italy: Italia Startup Visa | $104 | 1–2 months | 2 yr | PR after 5 years |
| France: French Tech Visa | $243 | 1–3 months | 4 yr | PR after 5 years |
| Spain: Entrepreneur Visa | $80 | 1–3 months | 3 yr | PR after 5 years |
Who you must convince
Almost every founder route needs someone else to vouch for the business. Fees are small next to that. Getting the backing is what takes the time, so start there before you pick a country.
- Canada Start-up Visa. A designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel group or business incubator. The reward is permanent residence on approval; the cost is 12–36 months of processing.
- UK Innovator Founder. An approved endorsing body. 3–6 months to a decision, $1,580 fee, pr after 3 years.
- Singapore EntrePass. Built for venture-backed or innovative technology businesses. 1–2 months, $254 fee.
- Netherlands Startup Visa. A recognised Dutch facilitator. The permit lasts 1 year, then you convert to self-employment if the business meets the criteria.
- Italia Startup Visa. A government review of your innovative startup, with the clearance issued within 30 days of a complete application. $104 fee.
- French Tech Visa. Recognition of your startup, then a 4-year talent permit with no separate work authorisation needed.
- Spain Entrepreneur Visa. A favourable ENISA report on the project. $80 fee, 1–3 months.
Which founder route fits your company?
Transita checks your degree, experience and funding against every founder and self-employment route we track. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.
Build my workspaceNo endorsement? Self-employment routes
If no incubator will back you yet, these routes take founders on a business plan and their own means:
| Visa | Government fee | Processing | Money floor recorded | Permanent residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands: DAFT Self-Employed Permit | $1,700 | 1–3 months | $5,000 | PR after 5 years |
| Portugal: D2 Entrepreneur Visa | $200 | 3–6 months | $5,000 | PR after 5 years |
| Germany: Self-Employment / Business Visa | $110 | 4–10 months | $50,000 | PR after 5 years |
| France: Talent Passport (Entrepreneur) | $243 | 2–4 months | $32,400 | PR after 5 years |
The Dutch DAFT permit is open only to US citizens. The trade-offs are covered in DAFT vs Startup Visa, Canada vs UK founder visas and Spain Entrepreneur vs Portugal D2. Founders with capital to spare can also look at investor routes.
Founder visa or digital nomad visa?
A founder visa moves your company with you. It expects the business to be based in the country and to create value there. If your clients and company stay abroad, a founder visa adds work you do not need: Spain, Portugal and Italy all have digital nomad visas that count toward residence. See the path-to-residency ranking for those, and the European freelancer and self-employed guide if you sell services rather than build a company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the best startup visa in 2026?
It depends on what you are optimising. Canada's Start-up Visa is the fastest to permanent residence (pr from grant), but processing takes 12–36 months. Singapore's EntrePass is the quickest to a decision at 1–2 months.
Do startup visas require investment?
Most do not ask for a fixed personal investment. They ask for an endorsement instead: a designated investor or incubator (Canada), an approved endorsing body (UK), a recognised facilitator (Netherlands), or a favourable innovation report (Spain, Italy). Spain is the exception in our data, with a recorded money floor of about $45,000.
Which startup visa leads to permanent residence?
All the routes in our table carry a recorded path. Canada grants permanent residence on approval; Singapore's EntrePass and the UK Innovator Founder are next fastest in our data, at pr after 2 years and pr after 3 years.
What if I cannot get an endorsement?
Use a self-employment route. US citizens have the Dutch DAFT permit, with a recorded floor of about $5,000. Portugal's D2, Germany's self-employment visa and France's Talent Passport (Entrepreneur) take founders without an incubator.
Can I run my business remotely on a founder visa?
Founder visas expect the business to be based in the country and to create value there. If your company stays abroad and you only work from a laptop, a digital nomad visa is the better fit.
Do I need a degree for a founder visa?
Some routes ask for one. France's Talent Passport (Entrepreneur) asks for a master's degree or comparable experience. Most others care more about the business and who backs it.
Does the US E-2 Treaty Investor visa lead to a green card?
No. It can be renewed for as long as the business runs, but it does not count toward permanent residence on its own. It is also open only to nationals of treaty countries and needs a substantial investment.
Can my co-founders come too?
Usually each founder needs their own permit, and several programmes cap the number of founders per endorsement. Check the official page for the route before you split equity around a visa.
official sources: SUV · canada.ca·EntrePass · mom.gov.sg·Innovator Founder · gov.uk·Startup Residence Permit · ind.nl·ISV · italiastartupvisa.mise.gov.it·Passeport Talent - French Tech Visa · lafrenchtech.gouv.fr·Visado de Emprendedor · inclusion.gob.es·Dutch-American Friendship Treaty · ind.nl·D2 · vistos.mne.gov.pt·§21 AufenthG · make-it-in-germany.com·Passeport Talent - créateur d'entreprise · france-visas.gouv.fr·E-2 · uscis.gov