Is the Entrepreneur Visa or the D2 Entrepreneur Visa faster to get?

The Entrepreneur Visa (Visado de Emprendedor) is typically faster, around 1–3 months, versus 3–6 months for the D2 Entrepreneur Visa. Real timelines depend on the country's caseload and how complete your application is.

Which costs more, the Visado de Emprendedor or the D2?

The D2 Entrepreneur Visa (D2) costs more, about $200 in official fees, versus $80 for the Entrepreneur Visa (Visado de Emprendedor). Both figures are government fees only and exclude legal, translation, and relocation costs.

Can I get permanent residency with the Entrepreneur Visa or the D2 Entrepreneur Visa?

The Visado de Emprendedor leads to permanent residency in roughly 5 years, while the D2 leads to permanent residency in roughly 5 years. If long-term settlement is the goal, weight the route with the clearer PR pathway more heavily.

Do I need a job offer for the Visado de Emprendedor or the D2?

No. Neither the Visado de Emprendedor nor the D2 requires a job offer to apply. Both assess you on your own profile (points, qualifications, or funds) rather than employer sponsorship.

Entrepreneur Visa vs D2 Entrepreneur Visa

Spain · Visado de Emprendedorvs Portugal · D2

Quick answerUpdated 2026-05-03

The Visado de Emprendedor is the faster route (1–3 months), the Visado de Emprendedor is cheaper on official fees ($80), both lead to permanent residency. Which fits depends on your nationality, profession, and whether you already have a job offer, the breakdown below maps each visa to a profile.

Maintained by Senne Bels, Founder, Transita

If you're choosing between these two, the question usually comes down to speed and cost. Spain's Entrepreneur Visa is faster and cheaper, while Portugal's D2 offers more flexibility for early-stage founders. Both lead to permanent residency in roughly five years, but your timeline and business stage will determine which makes sense.

Section 01

At a glance

Visado de Emprendedor

Processing time

1–3 months

3–6 months

Application fee

$80

$200

Initial validity

3 yrs

2 yrs

Path to PR

Yes, ~5 yrs

Points-based

Employer sponsor

Not required

Minimum salary

—

Language test

Not required

Verified

2026-05-02

2026-05-03

Section 02

Which one fits you?

01
Processing speed matters
Pick Visado de Emprendedor
Spain processes in 1-3 months, so pick this if you need residency quickly.
Pick D2
Portugal takes 3-6 months, so pick this if you can wait for a more thorough review.
02
Application cost
Pick Visado de Emprendedor
Spain costs $80 USD, making it the budget-friendly choice for cost-conscious founders.
Pick D2
Portugal costs $200 USD, nearly 2.5x higher but still reasonable for serious applicants.
03
Work experience required
Pick Visado de Emprendedor
Spain requires 2 years minimum experience, so pick this if you're already established.
Pick D2
Portugal has no experience requirement, so pick this if you're a first-time founder.
04
Visa validity period
Pick Visado de Emprendedor
Spain grants 3 years validity, giving you longer before renewal compared to Portugal.
Pick D2
Portugal grants 2 years, requiring renewal sooner but with a clearer checkpoint for progress.

Section 03

Common questions

Is the Entrepreneur Visa or the D2 Entrepreneur Visa faster to get?: The Entrepreneur Visa (Visado de Emprendedor) is typically faster, around 1–3 months, versus 3–6 months for the D2 Entrepreneur Visa. Real timelines depend on the country's caseload and how complete your application is.
Which costs more, the Visado de Emprendedor or the D2?: The D2 Entrepreneur Visa (D2) costs more, about $200 in official fees, versus $80 for the Entrepreneur Visa (Visado de Emprendedor). Both figures are government fees only and exclude legal, translation, and relocation costs.
Can I get permanent residency with the Entrepreneur Visa or the D2 Entrepreneur Visa?: The Visado de Emprendedor leads to permanent residency in roughly 5 years, while the D2 leads to permanent residency in roughly 5 years. If long-term settlement is the goal, weight the route with the clearer PR pathway more heavily.
Do I need a job offer for the Visado de Emprendedor or the D2?: No. Neither the Visado de Emprendedor nor the D2 requires a job offer to apply. Both assess you on your own profile (points, qualifications, or funds) rather than employer sponsorship.

Section 04

Read the full pathway