Starting a business in the EU as an African founder: startup visa routes

Africa has some of the world’s fastest-growing startup communities, and many founders want a base inside the EU to reach European customers and investors. Several EU countries run startup visa programmes for founders from outside the EU. This guide looks at the three Baltic programmes, how they work, and what to prepare.

What a startup visa is, and is not

A startup visa is a residence route for founders of innovative, scalable businesses. It is not a general business visa, and it is not a way to move for any kind of self-employment. Programmes look for a product with growth potential beyond one local market.

Two points apply everywhere:

• An evaluation comes first. A startup agency or committee assesses your business. A positive assessment lets you apply for a visa or permit.
• The migration authority decides. The EU Immigration Portal is clear that final decisions on applications are made by each country’s authorities. A positive startup assessment helps, but it does not decide your permit.

Lithuania: Startup Visa Lithuania

Lithuania’s programme is run by Startup Lithuania, the national startup agency, and is aimed at innovative non-EU entrepreneurs. According to Startup Lithuania, the process has five steps:

1. Apply online with details of the founders, team, product and business plan, plus a pitch deck.
2. Video interview. A 30-minute online call to pitch and answer questions.
3. Committee evaluation. Applications that pass an initial review go to an authorised expert committee.
4. Visa and permit. With an official confirmation letter, you apply for a visa and a temporary residence permit. The letter does not guarantee approval: the Migration Department makes the final decision.
5. Set up and report. After receiving the permit, you establish the business within 120 days and inform Startup Lithuania.

The permit is offered for two years, with a chance to extend to five, and family members can apply for residence permits. Startup Lithuania says the programme has lower initial capital and hiring requirements than other business migration routes, and that it does not charge applicants for its services.

Invest Lithuania, the national investment agency, says a company can be set up in a matter of days, and online.

Estonia: the Startup Committee route

Estonia’s programme is run by Startup Estonia, a government initiative managed by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency. According to Startup Estonia:

• Eligibility. Non-EU founders with a startup that is innovative, scalable and has potential to grow globally.
• Startup Committee. If your startup meets the criteria, you receive a verification letter with a unique application code for the next steps.
• D-visa first. A long-stay visa on the ground of “startup entrepreneurship” lets you stay for up to one year while you set up. Processing takes 10 to 30 days.
• Residence permit after registration. Once your company is registered in Estonia, you can apply for a temporary residence permit for up to 5 years. The Police and Border Guard Board decides the length, and processing takes up to 2 months. The permit is exempt from Estonia’s annual immigration quota.
• Family. Family members can apply for the same D-visa. Startup Estonia lists proof of financial means of €704 per month for a spouse, and none for children. Founders can later sponsor family residence permits.

Latvia: start-up founder residence permits

Latvia also offers residence permits for founders of innovative start-ups. Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) has published a step-by-step video guide for start-up founders, covering the documents, where to submit them, the state fee and deadlines. It is available in the “Residence permits” section of the OCMA website, and OCMA runs an information line for questions.

Because the detailed requirements are set out in that guide and on OCMA’s pages, check them there before you apply.

Comparing the three

	Lithuania	Estonia	Latvia
Who assesses	Startup Lithuania expert committee	Startup Estonia Startup Committee	Set out by OCMA
First permit	Temporary residence permit for 2 years	D-visa up to 1 year, then permit up to 5 years	See OCMA guide
Company set-up	Within 120 days of the permit	Before the residence permit	See OCMA guide
Family	Permits available	D-visa and later permits	See OCMA guide

Figures are as described by each programme at the time of writing (October 2026). Programmes change, so check the official pages before you apply.

Preparing a strong application

Committees are assessing a business, not a CV. Before you apply:

• Be clear about the innovation. What is new, and why does it matter?
• Show scalability. How can the business grow beyond one market?
• Know your team. Who does what, and what have you built before?
• Prepare your numbers. Market size, business model, funding and a realistic plan for the first years.
• Have a sharp pitch deck. Most programmes ask for one.
• Plan your move. Funds to live on, health insurance, documents and, for your family, the permits they need.

Be careful with anyone who offers to “guarantee” a place on a programme for a fee. Startup Lithuania warns that people may claim to administer the programme or mediate applications and ask for payment.

How Mavericks helps

Mavericks Settle guides founders through residence routes and the move itself, with legal steps handled by our regulated partner law firms. Mavericks Build works with you on brand, positioning, a go-to-market plan, and pitch and investor materials. Investors, by introduction, through Mavericks Connect. No one can guarantee a residence permit.