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# 10 Best Latin American Countries for Startup Founders and Entrepreneur Visas in 2026
- URL: https://www.techloy.com/10-best-latin-american-countries-for-startup-founders-and-entrepreneur-visas-in-2026/
- Published: 2026-05-29T15:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-29T15:45:00.000Z
- Description: These countries are attracting startup founders with founder-friendly visas, expanding tech scenes, and pathways to long-term residency.
- Author: David Adubiina
- Tags: / Career Guide, Digital Nomad, / Startups

[Latin America](https://www.techloy.com/tag/latam/) is becoming one of the most attractive regions for startup founders looking to build globally without the high costs and immigration hurdles common in places like the United States or parts of Europe. Across the region, countries are introducing investor-friendly visa programs, startup accelerators, tax incentives, and residency pathways designed to attract entrepreneurs, remote founders, and foreign investors. 

According to StartupBlink’s latest [startup ecosystem report](https://www.startupblink.com/startupecosystemreport), cities like São Paulo, Mexico City, Bogotá, Santiago, and Buenos Aires are continuing to emerge as some of the region’s strongest startup hubs, driven by growing investment activity, expanding tech ecosystems, and increasing founder participation across fintech, e-commerce, AI, and digital services. 

At the same time, lower operating costs, growing tech talent, and expanding digital markets are making the region increasingly appealing for early-stage startups looking for both scale and long-term growth opportunities. 

Here are some of the best Latin American countries for startup founders, including their visa options, investment requirements, startup ecosystem size, and pathways to permanent residency or citizenship. 

## /1\. Brazil 

![Christ Redeemer statue, Brazil](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518639192441-8fce0a366e2e?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDJ8fEJyYXppbCVDMiVBMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODAwNTIzODB8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Raphael Nogueira](https://unsplash.com/@phaelnogueira) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** Investor Visa (VITEM IX) 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 5,175 Startups 

**Minimum investment required:** Now R$ 500.000,00 ($150,000); however, if the startup meets the conditions presented by the resolution, the minimum amount required to invest will revert back to R$ 150.000,00 

**Validity:** Granted for up to 2 years. 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** Initially grants a temporary residence permit valid for 2 years, which can be upgraded to a permanent residence permit, provided your business plan is successfully executed and the investment remains active. Once you hold legal residency (temporary or permanent) for 4 continuous years, you become eligible to apply for Brazilian citizenship via naturalization. 

## /2\. Colombia 

![cars parked in front of green and white concrete building during daytime](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583531352515-8884af319dc1?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDJ8fENvbG9tYmlhJUMyJUEwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDA1MjQ0MXww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Leandro Loureiro](https://unsplash.com/@lealoureiro) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** Migrant (Type M) Business Owner/Shareholder Visa 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 2,137 Startups 

**Minimum investment required:** 100 SMLMV ($36,000) 

**Validity:** Granted for up to 3 years 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** Allows you to accumulate time toward permanent residency, which can be applied for after 5 years. You become eligible to apply for Colombian citizenship after a total of 5 years of accumulated residency. 

## /3\. Chile

![bird's eye photography of house lot](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517956918805-bbacc31d5f81?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDI5fHxjaGlsZXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODAwNTI1MTZ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Bailey Hall](https://unsplash.com/@baileyelisehall) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** Startup Visa is tied to the globally renowned Start-Up Chile program. 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 874 Startups 

**Minimum investment required:** Instead of investment from the migrant founder, the Start-Up Chile program grants up to $80,000 USD in equity-free seed funding and access to free coworking spaces in Santiago, aside from the startup visa. 

**Validity:** Valid for 1 year. 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** After holding the temporary visa for 1 year, you are eligible to apply for permanent residency in Chile, and eligible after 5 years of combined temporary and permanent residency. 

## /4\. Argentina 

![blue and white striped flag](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1592593640541-9363711fdb2c?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDN8fEFyZ2VudGluYSVDMiVBMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODAwNTI2MDN8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Angelica Reyes](https://unsplash.com/@angiereyes22) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** No specific "startup visa," but business owners can use the Investor Visa (Visa Inversionista) 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 1,030 Startups 

**Minimum investment** **required:** Minimum personal investment of 1.5 million ARS (approx. $1,100) in a productive, commercial, or service activity. 

**Validity:** Initially valid for 1 year and can be renewed annually for up to a total of 3 years 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** You are eligible to apply for permanent residency status after 2 years of holding an Investor Visa, and citizenship after holding permanent residency for two years. 

## /5\. Mexico

![people walking on sidewalk near brown concrete building during daytime](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1585464231875-d9ef1f5ad396?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDV8fG1leGljb3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzk5NjU3MTB8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Bhargava Marripati](https://unsplash.com/@bk%5Fadvtravlr) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** No specific "startup visa," but startup founders can use the Temporary Resident Visa for Investors 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 1,431 Startups 

**Minimum investment** **required:** At least MXN 1,400,000 ($75,000) 

**Validity:** Initial single-entry visa is valid for 180 days, after which, upon arrival, you can exchange this visa for a Temporary Resident Card valid for 1 year. 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** After maintaining legal temporary residency for 4 years, applicants can apply for Permanent Residency, followed by Mexican citizenship after 5 years of total legal residency 

## /6\. Peru 

![Bust of jose diaz with peruvian flag flying](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771258872175-8217bd58e97b?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDE2fHxQZXJ1JUMyJUEwJTIwZmxhZ3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODAwNTI3NTZ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [SnapSaga](https://unsplash.com/@catauggie) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** Investor Visa 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 218 Startups 

**Minimum investment required:** At least PEN 500,000 ($133,000). 

**Validity:** Issued for 1 year 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** Leads to permanent residency after 3 years, and you can apply for citizenship after 2 years of residency. 

## /7\. Costa Rica 

![green trees beside blue sea](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1536709017021-ce8f99c17e38?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDF8fENvc3RhJTIwUmljYSUyMGN8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzgwMDUyOTg5fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Atanas Malamov](https://unsplash.com/@atanasmalamov) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** No specific "startup visa," but business owners can use an Investor Visa (Inversionista). 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 93 Startups 

**Minimum investment required:** At least $200,000 in a Costa Rican business, which can be less depending on the business type. 

**Validity:** Grants a 2-year renewable temporary residency. 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** After maintaining legal temporary residency for 3 years or more, applicants can apply for Permanent Residency, followed by citizenship after 7 years of residency. 

## /8\. Panama 

![white red and blue flag](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605990925792-b70ab82638a1?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDE2fHxQYW5hbWF8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzgwMDUzMTUxfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Luis Gonzalez](https://unsplash.com/@luchox23) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** No specific "startup visa," but Entrepreneurs can use the Business Investor Visa. 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 76 Startups 

**Minimum investment required:** At least $160,000 in the capital stock of a Panamanian corporation. 

**Validity:** Grants a 2-year renewable temporary residency. 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** After 2 years on this temporary visa, you can apply for permanent residency if you still meet all requirements. You can apply for citizenship after 5 years of permanent residency. 

## /9\. Paraguay 

![a large building with palm trees in front of it](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1708007736300-89c16fa57b40?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDF8fFBhcmFndWF5JUMyJUEwJUMyJUEwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDA1MzI0Mnww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Tobias Meza](https://unsplash.com/@tobimezaa) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** SUACE (Unified System of Opening and Closing Companies) visa 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 35 Startups 

**Minimum investment required:** A minimum of $70,000 to be invested in a local business plan over a 10-year span. 

**Validity:** Permanent residency is valid for 10 years and must be renewed upon expiration. 

**Pathway to citizenship:** Offers a pathway to Citizenship after 3 years. 

## /10\. Ecuador 

![white and brown concrete building near green mountain under blue sky during daytime](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1610226977124-9fd2755d09f2?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDJ8fGVxdWFkb3J8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzgwMDUzMzAzfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Mauricio Muñoz](https://unsplash.com/@mauricio%5Fmunoz%5Fdel) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

**Visa:** Investor Visa (Visa de Inversionista) 

**Number of** **Startups:** About 92 Startups 

**Minimum investment** **required:** At least a minimum of $48,200\. 

**Validity:** Issued for two years. 

**Pathway to permanent residency or citizenship:** After holding your temporary investor visa for at least 21 months, you can apply for a Permanent Residency Visa. Following three total years of residency, you become eligible to apply for Ecuadorian citizenship.

[Countries With The Best Family Inclusion Visa for Tech TalentThese countries make it easiest for tech professionals to relocate with their families through inclusive, hassle‑free visa options.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)TechloyDavid Adubiina![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c1/a6/c1a6d111-d951-41ad-a392-c1e841210b93/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1732023992801-52aef0995187-83d7a530e1f8092a082148ef206c2a60920fdad37a0bfd9e4b3ac2dcd6d79255)](https://www.techloy.com/countries-with-the-best-family-inclusion-visa-for-tech-talent/)