Visa category guide
Investor and founder visas let you move abroad by putting capital into the economy or building a business there. Some reward a qualifying investment; others need a business idea endorsed by an approved body. Both look hard at where your money came from.
By Krosz Editorial Team · Reviewed by Krosz Visa Operations · Updated 2026-10-13
Typical stay
Multi-year, renewable
Work allowed?
In your business; rules vary
Main gate
Qualifying investment or endorsed business plan
Leads to residence?
Often, if conditions are met
Overview
Investor routes are capital-led: you invest a qualifying amount in approved assets, businesses or funds, and maintain it for a set period. Some countries call these residence-by-investment or "golden" visas, and several have tightened or closed them in recent years.
Founder and startup routes are idea-led: an approved incubator, accelerator or endorsing body confirms your business is innovative, viable and scalable. The capital needed is usually smaller, but you must actually run and grow the company.
Every route in this family runs strict source-of-funds checks. Expect to trace the money back through ITRs, sale deeds, business accounts and bank statements over several years.
At a glance
Dark marker = this category. Light dots = the other 11 categories. Positions are a typical, qualitative comparison and vary by country.
Visas in this category
Open any guide for permitted activities, full documents, process steps, refusal reasons and FAQs.
Flowchart
The general path most applications in this category follow. Exact steps differ by country.
Are you only visiting to meet investors or partners?
Yes
A business visitor visa is enough
No
An investor or founder route fits
Pick capital-led or idea-led
Investment threshold vs endorsed business plan.
Prepare the plan or investment
Business plan, endorsement, or qualifying investment structure.
Prove source of funds
Years of documented income and asset history.
Apply with professional help
Legal and tax advice are strongly recommended.
Maintain conditions
Keep the investment or business active for renewal.
Compare
| Visa | Best for | How you usually apply |
|---|---|---|
| Investor Visa | High-net-worth individuals willing to invest the required amount and meet source-of-funds rules. | Embassy or in-country residence application with detailed investment and source-of-funds evidence. |
| Entrepreneur / Startup Visa | Founders with a viable business idea, often backed by an accelerator or investor endorsement. | Residence application with a business plan and endorsement evidence. |
A Krosz visa expert can match your trip to the right category and checklist.
Documents
A starting checklist for this category. Your destination and visa type decide the final list.
Business plan
Market, financials, hiring plans.
Endorsement
From an approved body where the route requires it.
Investment proof
Funds transfer, share purchase or asset title.
Source of funds
ITRs, sale deeds, business accounts, gift deeds.
Company records
Incorporation and ownership documents.
Police clearance
Character checks for the applicant and family.
Avoid refusals
For Indian passport holders
FAQ
Tell us where you're travelling and our visa experts will guide you on the right visa and documents.
Explore
Travel & visitor visas
Holidays, short stays and visiting family
Business visitor visas
Meetings, conferences and business trips
Work & skilled visas
Employment, sponsorship and skilled work
Nursing & care pathways
Named routes for nurses and care workers
Student & exchange visas
University, school and exchange programmes
Family & partner visas
Partners, spouses and eligible relatives
Permanent residence
Settlement and long-term immigration
Transit visas
Travel through a country en route elsewhere
Digital nomad & remote work
Work online while living abroad
Protection & humanitarian
Humanitarian and protection pathways
Other named pathways
Specific roles and circumstances
Krosz is a private visa & travel assistance service — not a government website, agency or embassy. Visas are granted solely by the relevant government authorities.
Krosz is a private visa assistance platform and is not affiliated with any government or embassy. Visa decisions are made by the relevant authorities. Rules change — confirm the current requirements for your destination before applying. Last reviewed: 2026-10-13.
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