Business Investment Visas

Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa

The Portugal D2 Visa is perhaps the most interesting visa by investment options out of all the Golden Visa alternatives.

Since the Portuguese law regarding the D2 is flexible with the criteria, only requiring that the business is your own, which is usually done through the creation of a company or services provider.

The "minimum" investment required is €5000 for a share capital in the company's foundation, plus maintenance funds equal to one Portuguese minimum wage (€10,440 in 2025) for the first year, higher if your family joins under the application. However, despite the minimum threshold, there's scrutiny to make sure the business is viable to operate in Portugal.

Timeline:

• Visa approval in around 3 months;
  
  
• Temporary residency permit issued for 4 months;
  
  
• Book an AIMA appointment within that timeframe.
  
  
• Application for a residency permit card.

Residency Requirements:

• Minimum, though it truly depends on the chosen investment option.

Main Benefits:

• Portuguese Residency;
  
  
• Visa-free travel in the Schengen Zone;
  
  
• Potential NHR 2.0 eligibility, allowing you to save on taxes;
  
  
• Path to EU Citizenship after 5 Years.

Read more:
Portugal NHR 2.0 Explained: New Tax Regime for Expats in 2025

Italy Investor Visa

Italy’s Investor Visa gives you residency if you invest €250,000 in an equity stake in an innovative startup that is already certified by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development. Because the company is pre-approved and operating, you face no payroll set-up or licensing delays, yet you still qualify as an “active” investor.

Timeline:

• The online committee issues the “Nulla Osta” in about 30 days;
  
  
• With that paper, the consulate usually gives you the entry visa within roughly another month;
  
  
• After you land, the Questura prints your two-year residence card 4–6 weeks after fingerprints;
  
  
• Total: about 4-6 months from first click to residency permit card in hand.

Residency requirements:

• No minimum stay for the first two-year permit. However, renewals hinge on keeping the investment active and showing willingness to spend enough time in Italy.

Main Benefits:

• Italian Residency;
  
  
• Visa-free travel in the Schengen Area;
  
  
• Flat €100 000 “substitute tax” available for HNWI residents for 15 years, though this amount increases per additional family member;
  
  
• Path to permanent residency at 5 years and eligibility for EU Citizenship at 10 years.

Lifestyle Visas

Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa

The Portugal D7 is a Golden Visa alternative designed for anyone with passive income, though it's mostly targeted at retirees.

The amount required to have is €10,440 per year, which is the minimum Portuguese yearly wage, for the main applicant only, though this amount increases depending on how many family members are included in the family application.

Timeline:

• Visa approval in between 2-3 months.
  
  
• Your four-month entry visa lets you attend an AIMA appointment in Portugal.
  
  
• The residency card follows in roughly 3 months.
  
  
• Total: Around 6 months.

Residency Requirements:

• No absence from the country of more than 6 months consecutive, or 8 total months during each 2-year permit.

Main Benefits:

• Portuguese Residency;
  
  
• Visa-free Schengen travel;
  
  
• Family inclusion;
  
  
• Path to permanent residency and EU citizenship option after 5 years.

Spain Non-Lucrative Visa

Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa is a pure lifestyle permit, and an interesting Golden Visa alternative that is targeted at those who merely wish to visit in the country without carrying out any work-related activities and have the means to sustain themselves for the long-term.

This includes €2640 per month for the main applicant, though it increases based off on the number of dependents. You must also show savings of up to €32,000 for the first year.

Because you’re not required to do anything else other than live off your assets, it’s one of the simplest ways to obtain residency in Europe.

Timeline:

• Spanish Law caps processing at one month for the residence authorization + 1 month for the visa;
  
  
• After arrival, you provide biometrics and the residency card is ready 3-4 weeks later;
  
  
• Total: Around 3 months.

Residency Requirements:

• 183 days per year in Spain.

Main Benefits:

• Spanish Residency;
  
  
• Visa-free travel to the Schengen Zone;
  
  
• Family Inclusion;
  
  
• Path to permanent residency at 5 years and EU Citizenship in 10 years.

Digital Nomad Visas

Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa

Portugal’s D8 Visa lets digital nomads who earn at least 4 times the minimum Portuguese wage, currently around €3480, and a minimum of €10.440+ in savings in a Portuguese bank, an amount which rises per dependent included on the application. The initial permit is issued for 4 months, which thereafter must be converted into a residency permit.

Timeline:

• Visa approval in 2–3 months, valid for 4 months;
  
  
• Booking an AIMA appointment for biometrics within those 4 months;
  
  
• The residency card is usually issued within 3 months;
  
  
• Total: Around 6 months.

Residency Requirements:

• For permit renewal, you must not be absent for more than 6 consecutive or 8 cumulative months per year.

Main Benefits:

• Live anywhere in Portugal while working remotely for abroad;
  
  
• Visa-free travel in the Schengen Zone;
  
  
• Potential NHR 2.0 eligibility if you meet the criteria;
  
  
• Path to EU Citizenship and Family Reunification if Long-Stay Version of the visa.

Spain Digital Nomad Visa

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa lets remote earners base themselves in sunny Spain while working abroad. This Golden visa alternative combines lifestyle freedom as long as you show that you earn twice the Spanish minimum wage per month, which may vary anywhere between from €2,640 to €3,080 depending on whether the consulate applies a 12-month or 14-month pay structure.

Timeline:

• Visa approval in a month is expected.
  
  
• After approval, the temporary residency card comes about 3 weeks after biometrics.
  
  
• Total: Around 3 months.

Residency Requirements:

• To keep residency you must not spend more than six months outside Spain each year.
  
  
• Spending over 183 days in Spain automatically makes you a tax resident, and the tax agency can still treat you as resident with fewer days if your main economic or family interests are located there.

Main Benefits:

• Legal right to live and work remotely from anywhere in Spain;
  
  
• Visa-free travel in the Schengen Zone;
  
  
• Family inclusion;
  
  
• Path to permanent EU residency or eventual citizenship after 10 years.

Why a Business Investment Visa is the Best Choice

At the end of the day, business investment visas are the best Golden Visa alternatives. There are several reasons why, but the most important is this: it nets you a return on investment.

With a business-oriented visa, like the Portugal D2 for entrepreneurs, you’re killing two birds with one stone.

1. You gain Residency in an EU Schengen country, with a clear path toward Citizenship;
   
   
2. You’re establishing or investing in an asset that can generate you profit.

Lifestyles visas, as are the cases of the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (it’s right there in the name, no profit for you), and the Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa strictly forbid any work-related activities in the country.

In fact, these golden visa alternatives are typically aimed at retirees, creating an easy framework for people who no longer have any need to work to come and spend their golden years and savings in Portugal or Spain.

If, however, you’re keen on taking advantage of all that Portugal has to offer you, then a lifestyle visa is not the most optimal choice for you. You may think then that, if not lifestyle, then a digital nomad visa may be the one to go. Similarly, you’re also tied down to your foreign-based income, thus preventing you from earning any profits in and from Portugal.

With so many barriers in place, a business investment visa is really the only way to go for investors and HNWIs. With a Portugal D2 Visa in your hand, you establish your own business, letting you operate locally, invoice clients, hire staff, and even tap into your EU grants.

Because income flows through a Portuguese company, you gain access to corporate tax planning, the potential access to the NHR 2.0 flat rate, and other tools the other visa classes simply can’t use.

If this sounds too complex or cumbersome, there’s an alternative to starting your own business, which is investing in an already existing business operating in Portugal.

Read more:
Start Your Business in Portugal & Gain EU Citizenship

Investing in a running Portuguese company is often smarter than building one from the ground up: the business already exists, meeting qualifying criteria for the D2 visa. At the same time, with an existing infrastructure, there’re teams already operating the day-to-day activities, letting you avoid all the responsibilities associated with taking a new business off the ground, plus many other hands-off, hassle-free benefits.

Why Choose Investment Visa for Your D2 Visa

Investment Visa is proudly part of the Harland & Poston Group—the same multi-award company behind Portugal Homes and HP Invest. With us, you tap into the same teams, experience and expertise in navigating everything related to Portuguese-based residency programs, which includes the same innovative Mátria D2 Visa bundled package that takes care of everything so all you have to worry about is enjoying your Portuguese residency.

In one streamlined package we map your D2 strategy, draft the business plan and file the application, as well do process every document and bureaucracy-related minutia, including opening a Portuguese bank accounts, getting you your NIF number, and keeping all the fees transparent.

Backing all this is the Group’s €500 million+ track record in global residency and property deals, €180 million in owned assets (including three hotels, a 1 200-unit Glasgow urban regeneration project and 11 Portuguese developments) and above all else... a 100 % approval rate on every residency-by-investment application handled to date. In short, with us you leverage our years of experience while keeping the focus on your goals.