IAPMEI-certified incubator for the Portugal Startup Visa

What is the Portugal Startup Visa?

The Startup Visa (StartUP Visa) is a residence programme run by IAPMEI, the Portuguese agency for competitiveness and innovation. It lets non-EU entrepreneurs live in Portugal while they build an innovative, scalable company here. It is not a passive investment route: the government expects a real business, with real activity in Portugal, and that business must be hosted by an incubator certified by IAPMEI.

Once IAPMEI approves the project and the incubation agreement is signed, the founder applies for a residence visa at the Portuguese consulate in their country, and then for a residence permit with AIMA after arriving in Portugal. The permit can be renewed and, over time, can lead to long-term residence or citizenship under the general rules.

Who is eligible

• Founders who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland (and who do not already hold the right to live in Portugal).
• A project that is innovative: new technology, product, service or business model, with potential to grow internationally.
• The intention to set up the company, or move its main activity, to Portugal.
• Proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself during the first months, as defined by IAPMEI and AIMA at the time of application.
• A clean criminal record and no entry bans in the Schengen area.
• Teams can apply together: each founder submits their own application linked to the same project.

The role of an IAPMEI-certified incubator

The incubator is the anchor of the application. Applicants choose a certified incubator on the IAPMEI platform, and that incubator reviews the project and decides whether to accept it. Without the acceptance and later the signed incubation agreement, the visa cannot move forward.

Incubou is part of IAPMEI's network of certified incubators and a member of RNI — the National Network of Incubators. Our focus is cybersecurity and technology, and we evaluate every innovative project that fits our community. After approval, we provide a physical base in Vila Nova de Gaia (Porto area), mentoring, access to investors and corporates, and our events and programs.

IAPMEI requirements: what the evaluation looks at

IAPMEI assesses each application on a few core questions. Preparing clear answers to them is the single biggest factor in approval.

• Innovation: what is new about your product or business model, and why it matters to customers.
• Market: who your customers are, the size of the opportunity and how you will reach them from Portugal.
• Team: the founders' experience, skills and commitment to the project.
• Scalability and international potential: how the company can grow beyond Portugal.
• Impact in Portugal: jobs, investment and activity the company will create here.
• Business plan consistency: numbers, milestones and funding plan that match the story.

Step-by-step timeline

Timings vary with the quality of the application, IAPMEI's workload and consular and AIMA appointment availability. A well-prepared file avoids rounds of clarification, which are the most common cause of delay.

• Week 0–2 — Intro call with Incubou and preparation of the business plan and pitch materials.
• Week 2–3 — Submission on the IAPMEI platform, choosing Incubou as incubator.
• Following weeks — Incubator review and IAPMEI evaluation; IAPMEI may ask for clarifications.
• After approval — Signature of the incubation agreement with Incubou.
• Next — Residence visa application at the Portuguese consulate in your country.
• In Portugal — Residence permit application with AIMA, company setup, tax number and bank account.

Costs to plan for

Founders should budget for several separate items. Official fees change, so always confirm current values with the consulate and AIMA before you apply.

• Incubation agreement with Incubou — on request; contact us for current plans.
• Consular residence visa fee — set by the Portuguese consulate in your country.
• AIMA residence permit fees — set by AIMA for application and card issuance.
• Company setup — registration, accountant and, if needed, a registered address (see our domiciliation service).
• Legal support — optional, through our partner immigration lawyers.
• Living costs — proof of means and your first months in Portugal.

Common reasons applications fail

• The project is not innovative enough — for example, a traditional local business with no technology or new model.
• A business plan with vague markets, unrealistic numbers or no funding plan.
• No clear link to Portugal: the company would operate entirely from abroad.
• Missing or inconsistent documents between the IAPMEI file and the visa application.
• Insufficient proof of financial means.

Example: a cybersecurity founder from Brazil

Illustrative example: a Brazilian founder with a threat-detection SaaS wants an EU base to sell to European companies under NIS2. With Incubou she refines her business plan around the EU market, applies on the IAPMEI platform with Incubou as incubator, and signs the incubation agreement after approval. She then applies for the residence visa in São Paulo, moves to Porto, registers the company with our address and joins Cybertech Acceleration to meet investors and corporate clients.