“I have been managing a language school in Kenya for 5 years, my business a digital platform that runs using AI. In 2021 I decided to scale up my business and expand into the European market. I turned to apply2migrate for the solution, they offered me options from programs in Sweden, Portugal, Spain and Slovakia. I opted for Start-up Portugal, and I was able secure the visa with 5 months”. –Peter Okella, 28 years old, citizen of Kenya
Peter Okella successfully ran language school business in Nairobi Kenya, his wife, Damarice also assisted him in running the business. He opened this business in 2016, the lessons were first held at a local college and two years down the line they launched an online learning website.
The business quickly became popular, Peter was often asked to translate personal documents, presentations and business proposals which opened a new opportunity for his business. At this time, he realised that he was ready to take the business to a new level. The brought together a team of IT professionals, business analyst and legal specialists and discussed creating a digital platform intended to provide a self-paced language learning application and an AI backed translating service.
Peter wanted to register the new business in Europe and he began to search information on how to do that. He learnt that there were many countries offering start-up program for this purpose and granted the founders with a start-up visa to realise their ideas.
Peter contacted us, liking our business terms, an agreement was signed, and we took over his case after conducting our due diligence. We offered him with the options of start-up visa programs provided by Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Latvia, Italy, and Slovakia.
Peter chose Portugal out of them, we provided him with the list of required documents, within a week Peter provided us with those documents. The major documents included a detailed description of the project, a motivational letter, his CV, education credentials, and a bunch of other ancillary documents.
One of the conditions for obtaining a Portugal start-up visa is to find a local business incubator and conclude an agreement with them. The incubator will have to approve the project and agree to incubate it. With our guidance, Peter and his team contacted several incubators and 5 of accepted his offer, Peter selected one of those 5 and signed the agreement in principle with them.
The next stage was to obtain an approval from IAPMEI, under the Portuguese law IAPMEI process an application for participation in the Start-up program within 30 days but the process can take up to 90 days. We applied to IAPMEI and received approval for the project after 49 days. Then Peter was to sign a full agreement with the incubator within a set time, which he did within a week. Peter was given a declaration of participation in the program, valid for 180 days and needed to apply for a visa. He could either apply to a local Portuguese Embassy or come to Portugal or apply to directly to the SEF (Portuguese Immigration Service). He chose to apply to his local Embassy. After 30 days he received D2 visa stamped in his passport which was valid for 120 days.
Peter was then required apply for residence card after his arrival in Portugal. He was given the appointment by the Portuguese embassy to do this. On the day of appointment Peter provided his biometrics and applied for his residence card on the day, he was required to provide:
- His passport
- A declaration of participation in the Start-up visa program
- Proof of accommodation
- Police clearance certificate from his country of nationality and other countries of residence
- A certificate from the bank on the availability of money for covering minimum like expenses – €5,146.80
- Medical insurance
After two weeks, Peter received his residence permit which was valid for 2 years. This could be extended for further three years and after five years Peter can apply for permanent residence or citizenship.
Peter must spend more than six months continuously in Portugal.
Peter has following benefits with this start-up visa:
- Live and expand his business in Portugal and rest of the EU
- Opportunity to tap European market
- Opportunity use services of European banks
- Travel within Schengen are with visas
- Ability to get Portuguese nationality after 5 years for him and his family.
If you are looking for start-up visa, please do not hesitate to contact us.
