How to Get a European Technology Startup Visa for 17 Countries

The explosion of skilled knowledge workers has been the defining feature of the 21st century. 

Driven by radical changes in technology, human labor is not just limited to the geographical confines that people were born in. Changing cultural and social norms have changed the way people communicate. If you have a strong analytical mind then there has never been a better time to be alive, travel the world, and work abroad.

Many European countries offer technology startup visas, based on whether you are an employee or a founder. If you are looking to work in Europe as a Tech worker, then this is your ticket out!

Here’s the list of Europe’s special technology employment visas, along with the requirements you’ll need for each one. 

Austria

For employees

Austria’s Very Highly Qualified Workers

Potential applicants can first enter Austria under the “Job Seeker” visa. Then you need at least 70 points from a system that rewards education and achievements. If you qualify you can apply for a Red-White-Red card which is the Austrian residence permit for permanent immigration

• Diploma: Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: Contract Length
• Renewable: Yes

Denmark

For employees

Denmark’s Positive List Regime

This positive list is a list of professions experiencing a shortage in Denmark’s employment pool. The Positive List is updated twice a year – 1 January and 1 July. Applicants need a standing job offer to apply.

• Diploma: Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: Contract Length
• Renewable: Yes

Denmark’s Pay Limit Scheme

This visa is for workers with a job offer of more than DKK 375,000/year at the time of writing. The job may or may not be in the positive list.

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Startup Denmark

Your business plan must first be approved by the Startup Denmark expert panel. After approval, you must apply for a residence and work permit at the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Estonia

For employees

Estonia’s Work & Residence Permit

This is a basic, short to a long term residence permit. There is no special “work permit” for Estonia. There are criteria for minimum salary differ based on the worker’s qualifications required to avail of this visa. 

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Estonia Startup Visa

This is a visa for startup entrepreneurship that may be issued for up to 365 days and extended for up to 183 days. For this visa, the residence permit‘s €65000 general investment requirement is not applicable.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 18 months
• Renewable: Yes

Finland

For employees

Finland’s Work Permit

This is a long term permit for workers granted on the basis of either temporary work or work of a continuous nature. 

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: Contract Length

For founders

Finnish Startup Permit

This is a long term permit for Non-EU founders. First, you must get a favorable assessment from Business Finland. If they give you an eligibility statement, then you can send your Startup Permit application to the Finnish Immigration Service.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

France

For employees

French Tech Visa

This is a visa for highly skilled workers in the tech industry. The company hiring under this visa must qualify some requirements to be eligible for it. The full list of companies is etched under a Ministerial Order.

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 4 Years
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

French Tech Visa for Founders

This is a long term Visa for founders wanting to build their startup in France. Financial resources that are equal to or higher than the French Annual Minimum Wage are required (€17,981.60). 

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 4 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Germany

For employees

Germany’s Temporary Residence Permit for Employment

This visa is a short term visa only awarded for a specific purpose. A short-stay visa cannot be converted into a longer-term visa after it has been awarded.

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 1 Year
• Renewable: Yes

Germany’s Blue Card

This is a longer-term visa that requires a high level of German proficiency and your job should allow you to earn at least €50,800 per year.

• Diploma: Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 4 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Ireland

For employees

Ireland’s Highly Skilled Occupations Regime

This is a medium-term Permit for highly skilled professionals whose jobs fall under Ireland’s  Highly-Skilled Eligible Occupations List

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Ireland General Employment Permit

This is a medium-term permit for workers whose job does not fall into the Highly-Skilled Eligible Occupations List.

• Diploma: Required
• Family Included: No
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit

This is a medium-term Permit for highly skilled professionals whose jobs fall under Ireland’s Eligible Occupations List, especially ICT professionals, engineers, and technologists.

• Diploma: Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Ireland Startup Visa

This is a permanent/indefinite visa for founders with an innovative business idea and minimum funding of €75,000

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: Indefinite
• Renewable: Yes

Israel

For employees

Israel Long Term Working Visa

This is a long term visa with the wage requirement of double or higher the average Israeli employee’s wage at the time.

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 63 Months
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Israel’s Startup Visa

This is a medium-term Visa for founders looking to start up in Israel.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Italy

For founders

Italian Startup Visa

This is a short-term visa for non-EU founders who wish to start-up in Italy.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 1 Year
• Renewable: Yes

Latvia

For founders

Startup Latvia

This is a long-term visa for up to 5 founders who wish to start up in Latvia. 

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 3 Years
• Renewable: No

Lithuania

For founders

Startup Visa Lithuania

This is a short-term Visa for non-EU founders who wish to start up in Lithuania.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 1 Year
• Renewable: Yes

Netherlands

For employees

Highly-Skilled Migrants

This is a contract long visa for highly skilled professionals who meet the requirements. 

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: Contract Length
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Dutch Startup Visa

This is a short-term Visa for non-EU founders who wish to start up in The Netherlands.

• Duration: 1 Year
• Renewable: Yes

Norway

For employees

Norway’s Work Immigration Permit

This is a contract-long Permit for foreign workers. A standing job offer is required. 

• Duration: Contract Length
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Self-Employed Persons Visa

This is a short-term visa for Highly Skilled Self-Employed workers with a company outside of Norway. 

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 1 Year
• Renewable: Yes

Portugal

For founders

Startup Portugal

This is a medium-term visa for founders who wish to either launch in or expand their start-ups to Portugal.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Spain

For employees

Spain’s Residency Visa for Highly Skilled Professionals

This is a short-term visa for Highly Skilled Professionals that meet a minimum financial resources requirement (€2130/month) 

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Spanish Startup Visa

This is a short-term visa for founders looking to start-up in Spain. 

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 1 Year
• Renewable: Yes

Sweden

For employees

Sweden’s Work Permit

This is a contract-long permit for foreign workers. A standing job offer is required. 

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: Contract Length
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

Sweden’s Residence Permit for the Self-Employed

This is a short-term visa for Highly Skilled Self-Employed workers with a company involved in the Swedish Economy (or be willing to start one).

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 2 Years
• Renewable: Yes

United Kingdom

For employees

UK Tier 2 Work Visa

This is a long-term visa for foreign workers with a standing job offer from a company in the UK.

• Diploma: NOT Required
• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 5 Years
• Renewable: Yes

Tech Nation Visa 

This is a long-term visa for technology workers or founders with demonstrated exceptional talent and/or promise.

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 5 Years
• Renewable: Yes

For founders

UK Entrepreneurial Visa

This is a long-term visa for founders looking to start-up in the UK. 

• Family Included: Yes
• Duration: 40 months
• Renewable: Yes

Disclaimer

We are not responsible for any situation where the reader was denied admittance to the above-listed countries. Please refer to our Disclosure. We advise you to always double-check visa information as they change quite often to avoid any hassles. If you have any further questions or please feel free to contact us.