Business and self-employment visas
Business visas for Americans who work for themselves
Freelancers, consultants and founders have real routes abroad, from a Dutch permit that needs about $5,200 in your own company to Japan's new $191,000 capital bar. Here's what each one asks in 2026.
This hub is for people whose income comes from their own work: clients, customers, or a company they're building. We compare the freelance, self-employment and founder routes open to U.S. citizens, with money floors checked in September 2026 and the catches that the official pages leave out.
Reviewed and updated October 8, 2026 · 15 min read
01 · Start here
Who a business visa fits, and who should look elsewhere
A business visa is the right tool when your money comes from work you control: a freelance practice, a consultancy, a small shop, or a startup. Most of the routes on this page want three things from you: plan a government official believes; enough money to carry you while the business grows; proof that the business is tied to the country you're moving to.
If you work remotely for a U.S. employer, the digital nomad visas fit that setup better. If you'd rather park capital than run a company, start with investor visas. And if you already have a job offer, the work visa hub is a shorter road.
Here's the catch
These applications get judged on the plan, not just the bank balance. Portugal's consulates weigh the business plan more heavily than anything else in the file. Spain sends yours to ENISA, its state innovation agency, for a formal review. The Netherlands has started asking DAFT holders to prove they have more than one client.
The good news is that some solid routes set no investment floor at all. Portugal's D2 and Spain's entrepreneur residence both have no legal minimum investment, so a lean consultancy can qualify if the plan holds up.
02 · The numbers
What each route asks you to bring
Swap any column to compare routes head to head. The money figure is what the rules ask you to invest or show, converted to dollars at September 2026 rates. Difficulty, processing time and cost of living update live from each country's page.
| Monthly budget, couple | $4,250 | $2,850 | $2,900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly budget, single | $2,800 | $1,850 | $1,900 |
| Rent, 1-bed city center | $1,650 | $1,050 | $1,050 |
| Inexpensive meal out | $23 | $13 | $16 |
| Safety index | 75 | 78 | 70 |
| English proficiency | 90 | 80 | 56 |
| Visa income floor | ~$5,200 (€4,500)Capital that stays in your own Dutch business | ~$12,700 (€11,040)Personal means for a year; no legal investment minimum | No set minimumENISA must rate the plan innovative |
Money floors checked in September 2026 against government pages and immigration-law firms, converted at Federal Reserve rates for September 18, 2026; Estonia and Slovakia use the European Central Bank rate for September 28, 2026. Where a route sets no legal minimum investment, the figure shown is the personal means or savings the rules ask to see, and Germany judges the financing case by case. Ecuador's figure tracks its basic salary, which resets each year.
Three different money tests hiding in one table
The figures above aren't the same kind of number, and mixing them up is an easy way to misjudge a route.
Capital in your company. DAFT's €4,500, Italy's €50,000, France's €30,000 (about $34,400) and Japan's ¥30 million go into the business. It isn't a fee. On DAFT, for example, the money stays available to your company.
Personal means. Portugal wants about €11,040, which is a year at the 2026 minimum wage of €920 a month. The UK asks for £1,270 held for 28 days in a row. Finland wants net income of €1,030 to €1,210 a month (about $1,180 to $1,390), depending on the municipality, plus enough to live on for a year.
Monthly income. Ecuador's Professional visa asks for $482 a month in 2026, plus $250 for each dependent, and lets you work as a freelancer or consultant in your field.
The fees that don't make the headline
For a solo founder, the UK adds up fast: a £1,357 visa fee, £1,000 for the endorsement and £500 for each checkpoint meeting, with at least two required. That's £3,357 (about $4,500) before the health surcharge. Finland's first startup permit costs €650 online. Thailand charges 10,000 baht (about $300) for each year of SMART visa permission. Ecuador's government costs total about $370.
Canada closed, and Japan got a lot pricier
Canada stopped taking new Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons applications on January 1, 2026. Only founders with a valid 2025 commitment certificate could still file, and that window closed June 30, 2026. Canada says a narrower entrepreneur pilot is coming, with no date yet. Japan's Business Manager visa now needs ¥30 million in capital (up from ¥5 million), a full-time employee, and B2-level Japanese from you or your hire, as of October 16, 2025. Any guide written before then is out of date.
03 · The routes
Route by route, from solo freelancer to funded founder
Europe for freelancers and small businesses
The Netherlands' DAFT permit comes from a treaty between the Netherlands and the U.S., which makes it a route built for Americans. You put €4,500 into your own Dutch business, and a one-person eenmanszaak works for consultants and freelancers. The first permit runs two years, your partner can generally work without a separate permit, and after five years you can apply for long-term residence or naturalization. Just don't build it around one client, especially a former employer: the IND treats that as a red flag for false self-employment.
Portugal's D2 has no investment minimum in law. You show a viable plan and about €11,040 in personal means, and freelancers qualify with a contract or credible proposal to serve clients in Portugal. The first residence permit lasts two years, then renews in three-year blocks. Portugal's May 2026 nationality law set citizenship at 10 years for Americans.
Spain's entrepreneur route also has no minimum investment or job-creation rule, but the project must be innovative and of special economic interest to Spain, and ENISA can take up to 60 working days to review it. Restaurants, franchises and real estate services commonly get turned down. Apply from inside Spain and you get a three-year residence permit, with residence and work rights for your spouse and children.
Germany's freelance permit under Section 21(5) skips the economic-interest test and chamber opinion that trade businesses face. The first permit lasts up to three years, and a settlement permit can follow after three years of successful self-employment with B1 German. If you're over 45, you'll also need to show pension provision.
Slovakia's business residence covers sole traders on a Slovak trade license and executives of a Slovak company. A sole trader shows about $10,700 across two accounts (€3,542.64 personal and €5,904.40 for the business), and each grant runs three years. Slots are scarce: the Washington embassy and the New York consulate general can each accept 8 business applications a year. Since July 2026, renewing also means showing taxable business income above €2,876.90 (about $3,270).
Norway's self-employed permit asks for vocational training or long documented experience, a business plan, and housing already arranged, and the business has to be your main means of support. UDI grants it a year at a time for NOK 6,300 (about $660), and permanent residence is possible after three years.
Andorra's active residency has a founder route: own more than 34% of an Andorran company, sit on its board, and pay a non-refundable €50,000 (about $57,300) to the financial regulator. The 2026 quota is 200 self-employed permits, Americans are last in the filing order, and the quota has filled before, so confirm a place is open before you hire anyone.
Europe for founders with a funded idea
Estonia's startup visa starts with the Startup Committee, which rules on your business free of charge within 10 working days and wants a model built to scale globally, not a consultancy. After that yes, you show about $910 (€800) for each month of your stay, register an Estonian company, and can file for a residence permit of up to five years.
Italy's startup visa wants €50,000 (about $57,300) for the project and a company in the special startup register, which rules out consultancies. The committee decides in about 30 days once your file is complete. France's Talent Passport for business creators asks for at least €30,000 invested plus a master's degree or five years of relevant experience, and runs up to four years. The UK's Innovator Founder visa has no investment floor, but an approved endorsing body has to back your idea, and the visa can be cut short if that endorsement is withdrawn. You can apply to settle after three years.
Asia
Thailand's SMART visa has a startup category: hold 600,000 baht (about $18,000) for three months, own at least 25% of a startup endorsed by an agency like the National Innovation Agency, and you can work without a separate work permit. Each family member needs another 180,000 baht. Japan's Business Manager visa now expects ¥30 million (about $191,000), a full-time local hire, a real office, and a master's degree or three years of management experience, with the plan certified by a CPA, tax accountant or management consultant. It's become a route for established companies, not solo founders.
Singapore's EntrePass has no minimum salary, but you need at least 30% of a Singapore private limited company and one of four innovation proofs, such as a S$100,000 (about $78,000) funding round or a recognized incubator. The first pass runs a year, and later renewals come with business-spending and local-hiring targets. Taiwan's Entrepreneur Visa also wants outside proof: venture money, an incubator place, a patent, an award, or NT$1 million (about $31,400) in your own recognized startup. The first residence period is two years, and extending it means showing sales, spending or three Taiwanese hires.
Latin America
Ecuador's Professional visa is the low-cost option for degree holders. Get your degree recognized by SENESCYT, show $482 a month, and you can freelance or consult in your field. Permanent residence is possible after 21 months, but more than 90 days a year outside Ecuador resets the clock.
Guatemala's self-employed residence sets no minimum income when you first apply. You get a tax ID, register a business, and file in person with the immigration institute (IGM), paying $200 to $500 in residence fees for a one- to five-year term; proof of income comes at renewal. The State Department rates Guatemala Level 3, Reconsider Travel.
Africa and the Indian Ocean
The Mauritius self-employed permit is for service businesses such as consulting, IT and design. You need three letters of intent, two of them from Mauritian clients, and you move $50,000 into a local account within 60 days of the permit being issued. It lasts 10 years, but the business has to bring in MUR 2 million (about $42,000) a year by year three.
Rwanda's Business Entrepreneur Permit has no published minimum capital. You register a company with the Rwanda Development Board for free, rent a real workspace, and file after you land; the first permit costs 150,000 francs (about $102) and runs two years. The State Department rates Rwanda Level 3, Reconsider travel.
All the business and self-employment routes on Expatsi
DAFT Visa
A treaty route built for Americans
Register a Dutch business, put €4,500 into it, and live in the Netherlands on a two-year permit. Plan on having several clients.
- U.S. citizenship
- Register a Dutch business
- Open a Dutch business bank account
Entrepreneur Visa
The plan matters more than the sum
No legal investment minimum. Show a credible business plan and about €11,040 in personal means for the year.
- Valid passport
- Viable business plan or proof of entrepreneurial activity
- Sufficient funds (approx. €10,000)
Entrepreneur Visa
ENISA signs off, family comes too
Spain's state innovation agency reviews your project. Approved founders filing inside Spain get three years of residence.
- Valid passport
- Completed visa application form
- Positive report from ENISA (Spanish National Innovation Company) on the business project
Freelancer/Self-Employment Visa
A lighter test for liberal professions
Freelancers under Section 21(5) skip the economic-interest test that trade businesses face, with settlement possible after three years.
- Business plan
- Proof of demand for services
- Proof of financial means
Innovator Founder Visa
No investment floor, but you need backers
An approved endorsing body has to back the business and meet you at least twice. Settlement is possible after three years.
- Endorsement for an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea
- English language proficiency
- Maintenance funds
Professional Visa
Freelance in your field on a modest income
A recognized degree and $482 a month let you work independently in your profession, in a country that uses the U.S. dollar.
- University degree
- Monthly income of at least $470
- Proof of income
More routes in the grid, and when to look at them
Finland's start-up permit needs a positive eligibility statement from Business Finland; the first permit runs up to two years and costs €650 to file online. Albania lets Americans stay up to a year without a permit, but you need a residence permit to work or run a business there, which is what its self-employed permit is for. Poland, Hungary, Chile, South Africa, Dominica and Austria's artist visa also sit in the grid above.
Several newer routes in the grid work more like investor visas: Kenya's Class G permit and the Mauritius Investor permit start at $100,000, Zambia's Investor's Permit at $150,000, Ethiopia's investment visa at $200,000, Rwanda's investor permit at a $250,000 company, and Georgia's investment residence at $300,000. Pakistan and Madagascar have investor routes too. The grid also picks up general long-stay and residence routes in Czechia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco and Romania, plus work permits in Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; read each page to see how it treats running your own business. These are narrower fits, so ask us before you build a plan around one.
04 · U.S. taxes
The U.S. tax bill that follows your business overseas
Moving your business doesn't take it out of the IRS's reach. U.S. self-employment tax works the same way whether you live in Ohio or Utrecht, and it applies once your net self-employment earnings reach $400.
The foreign earned income exclusion helps with income tax, not with this. You can exclude foreign self-employment income if you qualify, for example by spending at least 330 full days abroad in any 12-month stretch. But the IRS says plainly that the excluded amount won't reduce your self-employment tax.
Where totalization agreements help
The U.S. has social security agreements with the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, Italy, Finland, Norway, Slovakia and Canada, so you pay into one country's system instead of two. Some of those agreements assign self-employed people to the country where they live. There's no agreement with Thailand, Ecuador, Guatemala or Albania, so plan on owing U.S. self-employment tax there on top of anything the local system charges.
A U.S. expat tax preparer such as MyExpatTaxes, or a cross-border planner like Beacon Global Advisors, is worth a call before you register the company abroad, while the structure is still easy to change.
05 · Where to base the business
Ten countries, and a city to start with in each
Netherlands
Europe · Freelancers
The treaty route makes it a natural first stop for American consultants. Start with Amsterdam or Eindhoven if you work in tech and design.
Portugal
Europe · Small business
Good for lean businesses with a real Portuguese client or market. Lisbon has the city life; Porto is the value-and-charm pick.
Spain
Europe · Startups
For founders with a plan an innovation agency will back. Madrid brings capital-city energy; Valencia is the expat favorite.
Germany
Europe · Freelance professions
Freelance professionals get a lighter test than trade businesses. Berlin is the creative hub; Munich pays more and costs more.
France
Europe · Funded founders
For experienced founders ready to invest in a French company. Paris is the big city; Lyon, the second city, comes first for food.
Italy
Europe · Innovative startups
Built for registered startups, not consultancies. Milan is where the work and money are; Florence is the classic expat base.
United Kingdom
Europe · Endorsed founders
For founders who can win over an endorsing body and want a path to settlement. Start your search in London.
Japan
Asia · Established companies
Now a fit for companies with real capital and staff, not side projects. Start your search in Tokyo.
Thailand
Asia · Tech founders
For startup founders in targeted industries who want to skip the separate work permit. Bangkok is the base to start from.
Ecuador
Latin America · Degree holders
A modest-income route for professionals who freelance, in a dollarized economy. Cuenca is the expat capital; Quito is the high Andean capital.
Partners who put the application together
Business visas rise or fall on the file: the plan, the company registration, the proof of funds. These are the vetted partners we send Americans to, grouped by country and by the money and health questions that follow you abroad.
GTFO Tours - Netherlands
Netherlands Tours, Visas & Relocation
A Netherlands specialist offering tours, visa help and relocation support for Americans, including people moving on the DAFT.
Learn more
Viv Europe
Portugal Relocation Specialist
A Lisbon-based relocation and immigration team that handles Portuguese visa applications and the move itself.
Learn more
Moving to Spain
Spain Relocation Specialist
Spain relocation specialists who help with visa applications and settling in.
Learn more
Get In Expat
Germany Relocation Specialist
Germany relocation specialists who guide applicants through German visas and the paperwork after arrival.
Learn more
EasyStart
France Relocation Specialist
France relocation specialists covering visas, relocation and real estate.
Learn more
Thea Duncan
Italy Relocation Specialist
A Milan-based Italy relocation specialist who helps with visas, relocation and finding a home.
Learn more
Clearview Relocation
UK Relocation
A UK relocation service that helps newcomers plan and make the move.
Learn more
Japan Remotely
Japan Relocation Specialist
Japan relocation specialists who help with visas and the move.
Learn more
Baan Thai Immigration Solutions
Thailand Visa Services
Thailand visa specialists who handle immigration and relocation.
Learn more
EcuaAssist
Ecuador Relocation Specialist
Ecuador relocation specialists who manage visa applications and help new arrivals get set up.
Learn more
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
A U.S. expat tax service that prepares and files U.S. returns for Americans living abroad.
Learn more
Beacon Global Advisors
Financial Planning
U.S.-based financial planners who work with Americans planning a life and income abroad.
Learn more
Bianca Lynch
Career Coach: Self-employment
A career coach focused on self-employment, for people turning their skills into a business they can take abroad.
Learn more
Business visa questions, answered
Is Canada's Start-up Visa still open?
No. Canada stopped accepting new Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons applications on January 1, 2026. Founders who already held a valid 2025 commitment certificate could still apply until June 30, 2026. Applications already in the system are still being processed, and Canada has said a new, more targeted entrepreneur pilot is coming, without a launch date so far.
Can my spouse work if I move abroad on a business visa?
On several routes, yes. Partners of Dutch DAFT holders can generally work without a separate work permit. Spain's entrepreneur route gives the spouse and dependent children residence at the same time as the founder, with the right to work. France's Talent Passport for business creators gives spouses a family permit that allows employment. Rules differ by country, so check the route you're considering.
Which business visas lead to permanent residence?
Several do. UK Innovator Founder holders can apply to settle after three years. Germany can grant a settlement permit after three years of successful self-employment with B1 German. The Netherlands allows long-term residence or naturalization after five years of lawful residence. Ecuador's Professional visa can convert to permanent residence after 21 months, as long as you spend no more than 90 days a year outside the country.
Does Portugal's D2 visa have a minimum investment?
No. Portuguese law sets no fixed minimum investment for the D2. You need a viable business plan and personal means of about €11,040 (roughly $12,700), which is a year at the 2026 minimum wage of €920 a month. The consulate weighs the business plan most heavily. The first residence permit lasts two years, and under Portugal's 2026 nationality law, Americans can apply for citizenship after 10 years.
Can freelancers get a business visa abroad?
Yes. Portugal's D2 accepts freelancers who have a contract or credible proposal to serve clients in Portugal. Germany's freelance permit under Section 21(5) skips the economic-interest test that trade businesses face. The Netherlands' DAFT works with a one-person business. Ecuador's Professional visa lets degree holders freelance in their field with income of $482 a month in 2026.
Which business visa is the simplest for a U.S. freelancer?
The Dutch DAFT permit is the first one many U.S. freelancers check. It's open to Americans through a treaty with the Netherlands, needs €4,500 (about $5,200 in September 2026) invested in your own Dutch business, and works with a one-person sole proprietorship. The first permit lasts two years. The Dutch immigration service looks for more than one client, so a setup where your only customer is a former employer can get flagged as false self-employment.
Do Americans still pay U.S. self-employment tax while living abroad?
Yes. The IRS applies self-employment tax the same way abroad as at home once net self-employment earnings reach $400, and the foreign earned income exclusion doesn't reduce it. A totalization agreement can mean you pay social security tax to only one country. The U.S. has these agreements with countries including the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, Italy, Finland and Canada, but not with Thailand, Ecuador or Albania.
How much money do you need for Japan's Business Manager visa in 2026?
¥30 million in capital, about $191,000 at September 2026 exchange rates, up from ¥5 million before October 16, 2025. The new rules also require at least one full-time employee, Japanese at CEFR B2 level or higher, a master's degree or three years of management experience, a real office, and a business plan certified by a CPA, tax accountant or management consultant. People who already hold the visa have until October 16, 2028 to meet the new standards at renewal.
Sources
Sources
- Innovator Founder visa · GOV.UK (checked 2026-09)
- Start-up Visa Program · Government of Canada (checked 2026-09)
- Japan: Business Manager Visa Reforms Take Effect · KPMG (checked 2026-09)
- Dutch American Friendship Treaty residence permit · Pathway Partners (checked 2026-09)
- Portugal D2 Visa 2026 · GrowIN Portugal (checked 2026-09)
- Emprendedores · Spain, Ministerio de Inclusión (checked 2026-09)
- Talent Passport: business creators · Welcome to France (Business France) (checked 2026-09)
- Start-up entrepreneur residence permit · Finnish Immigration Service (checked 2026-09)
- Smart S (Startup) · Thailand Board of Investment (checked 2026-09)
- Ecuador Professional Visa 2026 · Grace & Nelson Law (checked 2026-09)
- Startup visa · Work in Estonia (checked 2026-10)
- Application for temporary residence · IOM Migration Information Center Slovakia (checked 2026-10)
- Self-Employed Entrepreneurs · Economic Development Board Mauritius (checked 2026-10)
- Self-employment tax for businesses abroad · IRS (checked 2026-09)
- Foreign earned income exclusion · IRS (checked 2026-09)
Talk your business plan through before you file
Book a call with an Expatsi advisor to match the way you earn with the route that fits it.
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