---
title: "Portugal Startup Visa vs Spain Entrepreneur visa (2026)"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/compare/portugal-startup-visa-89-4-vs-spain-entrepreneur-visa/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Head to head

# Portugal Startup Visa vs Spain Entrepreneur visa

Two business routes side by side: money, stay, family, fees and tax, from the official sources. The official authority decides every application.

## Key differences

- **Money** Portugal Startup Visa asks for savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200; Spain Entrepreneur visa for savings of €600+ a month ≈ $670. The two figures cover different periods.
- **First stay** The first stay is 2 yrs on Portugal Startup Visa and 3 yrs on Spain Entrepreneur visa.
- **Renewal** Renewable on both.
- **Permanent residence** After 5 years of residence on both.
- **Citizenship** After 10 years of residence on both.
- **Family** Spouse can work on both.
- **Government fees** The first government fee listed is €133 ≈ $150 for Portugal Startup Visa and €90 ≈ $100 for Spain Entrepreneur visa; the table lists every fee.
- **Tax residence** Portugal: more than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year). Spain: more than 183 days (calendar year).

## Side by side

|   | Portugal [Startup Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/startup-visa-89-4/) | Spain [Entrepreneur visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/entrepreneur-visa/) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Country:** | *1* Startup Visa [Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/) | *2* Entrepreneur visa [Spain](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/) |
| **Type:** | *1* Startup Visa Business / Startup | *2* Entrepreneur visa Business / Startup |
| **Money needed:** | *1* Startup Visa **Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200** | *2* Entrepreneur visa **Needs savings of €600+ a month ≈ $670** |
| **First stay:** | *1* Startup Visa **2 yrs** | *2* Entrepreneur visa **3 yrs** |
| **Renewal:** | *1* Startup Visa **Renewable** Details The programme lasts as long as the incubation contract; the residence permit is valid two years and renewable in three-year periods. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/empreender/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-imigrantes-empreendedores-startup-visa-art-89-o-n-o-4) | *2* Entrepreneur visa **Renewable** Details Valid three years, then renewable for two-year periods while the conditions are met. [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2013-10074) |
| **Spouse can work:** | *1* Startup Visa **Can work** | *2* Entrepreneur visa **Can work** |
| **Government fees:** | *1* Startup Visa **€133 ≈ $150 · €114 ≈ $130 · +1 more** Details €133 ≈ $150 Application review fee for the residence permit; EUR 99.80 (≈ $110) when the application is filed digitally. €114 ≈ $130 Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 (≈ $96) when applied for digitally. €110 ≈ $120 National visa processing fee. | *2* Entrepreneur visa **€90 ≈ $100** Details €90 ≈ $100 National long-stay visa (type D) processing fee, collected in euros or local currency; some nationalities pay a different amount under reciprocity. |
| **Permanent residence:** | *1* Startup Visa **After 5 years of residence** Details Permanent residence needs five years on a temporary residence authorization, no serious recent conviction, means of subsistence, housing and basic Portuguese. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) | *2* Entrepreneur visa **After 5 years of residence** Details Permanent residence is possible at five years (Art. 69). Long-term residence needs five years of continuous legal residence; absences of up to 6 consecutive months (10 in total, or 18 for work) do not break continuity. [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2013-10074) |
| **Citizenship:** | *1* Startup Visa **After 10 years of residence** Details Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence on any residence title or visa (7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU states), plus Portuguese language and culture, and means of subsistence. [Diário da República / Assembleia da República](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) | *2* Entrepreneur visa **After 10 years of residence** Details Nationality needs 10 years of legal, continuous residence immediately before applying (2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal), plus good conduct and integration. [Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1889-4763) |
| **Processing:** | *1* Startup Visa **30 working days** Details IAPMEI decides the application within 30 working days, then you have 40 working days to sign the incubation contract; the residence permit decision is due within 90 days. [IAPMEI](https://www.iapmei.pt/media/171e4694/20260811-133026_Legislative-Order-nr-4_2018_of-02-february_EN-(revised_out21).pdf?lang=pt-PT) [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) | *2* Entrepreneur visa **20 working days** Details The Large Companies Unit must decide within 20 working days of electronic filing (silence means approval); the consulate then decides the visa within 10 working days. [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2013-10074) [Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit](https://inclusion.gob.es/documents/1823432/1826098/Instrucciones+solicitud+emprendedores.pdf/3a4d0b60-71bf-1c53-9f9d-fff7f94cbf5d?t=1682675484705) |
| **Where to apply:** | *1* Startup Visa **Abroad or in-country** Details Apply online to IAPMEI first; after the incubation contract is certified, use it for a residence visa at the consulate or for a residence authorization in Portugal. [IAPMEI](https://www.iapmei.pt/media/171e4694/20260811-133026_Legislative-Order-nr-4_2018_of-02-february_EN-(revised_out21).pdf?lang=pt-PT) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/empreender/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-imigrantes-empreendedores-startup-visa-art-89-o-n-o-4) | *2* Entrepreneur visa **Abroad or in-country** Details Applicants abroad file one request for authorization and visa; entrepreneurs already holding a stay, residence or visa can apply from within Spain. [Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit](https://inclusion.gob.es/documents/1823432/1826098/Instrucciones+solicitud+emprendedores.pdf/3a4d0b60-71bf-1c53-9f9d-fff7f94cbf5d?t=1682675484705) [Boletín Oficial del Estado](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2013-10074) |
| **Employer needed:** | *1* Startup Visa **A sponsor there** | *2* Entrepreneur visa **No** |
| **Tax residence test:** | *1* Startup Visa **More than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year)** | *2* Entrepreneur visa **More than 183 days (calendar year)** |
| **Foreign-source income:** | *1* Startup Visa Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income. | *2* Entrepreneur visa **Beckham regime (6 years)** Details Foreign-source income outside the qualifying work and entrepreneurial income is not taxed in Spain under this regime. |
| **Tax note:** | *1* Startup Visa | *2* Entrepreneur visa [24% tax · Special regime for workers, entrepreneurs and teleworkers relocated to Spain](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/tax/) |
| **Official source:** | *1* Startup Visa [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/empreender/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-imigrantes-empreendedores-startup-visa-art-89-o-n-o-4) | *2* Entrepreneur visa [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spain](https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-para-emprendedor.aspx) |
| **Checked against official sources:** | *1* Startup Visa 12 Oct 2026 · [Rule changed 18 May 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/2026-05-18-portugal-c53a9d/) | *2* Entrepreneur visa First checked 11 Oct 2026 |

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

**Official sources**

### Portugal Startup Visa

1. [Residence authorization for immigrant entrepreneurs (Startup Visa), Art. 89(4)](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/empreender/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-imigrantes-empreendedores-startup-visa-art-89-o-n-o-4) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [StartUP Visa: criteria and 2026 IAS reference (12 x 537.13 = 6,445.56)](https://www.iapmei.pt/pt/paginas/startup-visa-en/) · IAPMEI · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Legislative Order n.º 4/2018: StartUP Visa eligibility and procedure](https://www.iapmei.pt/media/171e4694/20260811-133026_Legislative-Order-nr-4_2018_of-02-february_EN-(revised_out21).pdf?lang=pt-PT) · IAPMEI · checked 2026-10-10
5. [Portaria n.º 480-A/2025/1: IAS 2026 EUR537.13](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/12/25001/0000200002.pdf) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
6. [Residence visa documentation by purpose](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/documentacao-instrutoria/residencia) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · checked 2026-10-12
7. [AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026)](https://aima.gov.pt/documents/tabela-de-taxas-e-demais-encargos-a-cobrar-pelos-procedimentos-administrativos.pdf) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11
8. [National visa fees](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/informacao-geral/emolumentos) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portuguese visa portal · checked 2026-10-12
9. [AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-em-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-2) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
10. [Lei n.º 61/2025 of 22 October (amends Law 23/2007, Arts. 98-105)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/10/20400/0000900017.pdf) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
11. [Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11

### Spain Entrepreneur visa

1. [Entrepreneur visa](https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-para-emprendedor.aspx) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spain · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Ley 14/2013, support for entrepreneurs and their internationalisation: consolidated text (Arts. 61-76, 74 bis-quinquies)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2013-10074) · Boletín Oficial del Estado · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Entrepreneurs and business activity (Arts. 69-70 Ley 14/2013): application instructions](https://inclusion.gob.es/documents/1823432/1826098/Instrucciones+solicitud+emprendedores.pdf/3a4d0b60-71bf-1c53-9f9d-fff7f94cbf5d?t=1682675484705) · Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE) · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Monthly and annual values of SMI and IPREM 2026](https://www.sepe.es/HomeSepe/en/Personas/distributiva-prestaciones/Cuantias-anuales.html) · Public Employment Service (SEPE) · checked 2026-10-10
5. [Orden AUC/891/2024 setting the fees for processing visas](https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2024-17292) · Official State Gazette (BOE) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [FAQs: residence and work authorizations for international teleworkers](https://inclusion.gob.es/documents/d/unidadgrandesempresas/digital-nomad-faqs-english) · Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE) · checked 2026-10-10
7. [Real Decreto 1155/2024, Regulation of Ley Orgánica 4/2000: consolidated text (in force 20 May 2025)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2024-24099) · Boletín Oficial del Estado · checked 2026-10-10
8. [Código Civil, Art. 22 (Spanish nationality by residence)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1889-4763) · Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado · checked 2026-10-11