EU residence options for Australian and New Zealand founders

Australian and New Zealand passports open a lot of doors in Europe, but a visa-free visit is not the same as the right to live there and run a business. If you plan to base yourself in the EU, you will need a residence route. This guide explains the main routes open to founders in three countries that often come up: Lithuania, Estonia and Ireland. It is general information, not advice on which route you personally should choose.

Visiting is not residing

Australians and New Zealanders can enter the Schengen area without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. That is enough for meetings, research and setting up a company. It does not let you live in the EU, and staying longer requires a national visa or residence permit from the country you move to.

Ireland is a special case. It is in the EU, but it does not take part in the Schengen visa rules and sets its own. Its residence routes are separate from those of the Schengen countries.

Lithuania: the Startup Visa

Lithuania’s Startup Visa programme is run by Startup Lithuania, the national startup ecosystem body. It is aimed at innovative founders from outside the EU. According to the programme:

• you apply online with details of the founders, team, product and business plan, plus a pitch deck
• shortlisted applicants have a 30-minute video interview, and an expert committee makes the final assessment
• a successful applicant receives an official confirmation letter, which supports an application for a visa and a temporary residence permit
• the permit is valid for two years, with a possibility to extend it to five
• family members can apply for residence permits
• after receiving the permit, you must set up the business within 120 days and notify Startup Lithuania

The programme says its consultations are free and warns about people posing as its administrators. The confirmation letter does not guarantee a visa or permit: the Migration Department makes the final decision.

Lithuania: running an established business

Lithuania also issues residence permits to foreigners who run or own a business there. The EU Immigration Portal describes one group as people whose share in a Lithuanian company is at least €14,000, where the company employs citizens of Lithuania, the EU or EFTA, or permanent residents, and meets other conditions set in national law. The detailed conditions are set by Lithuania’s Migration Department, so check them there before you plan around this route.

Lithuania does not offer a general self-employment permit. The EU Immigration Portal lists only certain self-employed groups, such as sportspeople, performers, accredited journalists and members of recognised religious communities. Freelancing on its own is not usually a route.

Estonia: startup visa, business permit and digital nomad visa

Startup visa. Startup Estonia, a government initiative within the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, runs Estonia’s startup visa. Your company must meet the startup definition in Estonia’s Aliens Act: an innovative, scalable business with global growth potential, and no older than 10 years. A long-stay visa for a startup lasts up to 365 days and can be extended for another 183 days. Family members can be granted the same visa. Startup Estonia gives the state fee for a long-stay visa as €80.

Residence permit for business. Startup Estonia explains that if your company is not a startup, you can apply for a residence permit for business if you have invested at least €65,000 of capital in business activity in Estonia, or €16,000 as a self-employed person. The EU Immigration Portal adds that permits for enterprise are granted for up to five years.

Digital nomad visa. If you will keep working for a company or clients abroad, Estonia’s digital nomad visa lets you live and work remotely there for up to a year. The official e-Residency FAQ gives the income threshold as €4,500 a month before tax, over the six months before you apply. It is a visa, not a residence permit, and it does not lead to permanent residency. Check the current figure with the Police and Border Guard Board.

What e-Residency is not. Estonia’s e-Residency gives you a digital identity to run an Estonian company online. The programme states plainly that it does not grant citizenship, physical residency or the right to enter Estonia or the EU. It is a business tool, not a residence route.

Ireland: the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme

Ireland’s Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) lets innovative entrepreneurs apply for permission to set up their business and live in Ireland. According to Irish Immigration Service Delivery:

• you need €50,000 in funding available, an innovative business proposal and good character
• the application fee is €350 and is non-refundable
• an independent evaluation committee of senior public and civil servants considers proposals quarterly
• you must run the business full time and may not be employed elsewhere
• the Minister’s decision is final and cannot be appealed

Choosing between routes

Each route asks different things of you. Before you choose, it helps to be clear on:

• Your business. Is it an innovative startup, an established company, or remote work for clients abroad?
• Your capital. Some routes need proof of funds or investment, others do not.
• Your family. Check who can come with you and when.
• Your timeline. Decision times and renewal rules differ.
• Your long-term plan. Some routes can lead towards long-term residence, others are temporary by design.

Rules change often, and fees and thresholds are updated. Always check the current requirements with the authority concerned, and speak to a qualified immigration lawyer or regulated adviser about your own situation. No one can guarantee a residence permit: decisions are made by the authorities alone.

How Mavericks Settle helps

Mavericks Settle guides founders through every step of moving: the right residency route for you, paperwork and applications, bank accounts, finding a home and settling in. Legal steps are handled by our regulated partner law firms. Then Mavericks Build helps with your brand, go-to-market plan and investor materials for the new market.