Advisory mandate
Business Immigration
Business residence through a genuine startup, investment, acquisition, or operating company — structured for Pakistani founders.
This overview is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees, and eligibility criteria change. We verify current requirements with licensed counsel before any engagement. Residence and visa decisions are made by host-country authorities and are never guaranteed.
Overview
Business Immigration at Brikseka is advisory for Pakistani passport holders who intend to obtain residence through a company, an investment, or an operating acquisition that the host country recognises. It is distinct from Company Formation. A UK limited company, a UAE free-zone licence, or a Caribbean citizenship-by-investment passport is not, by itself, a right to live in the United States, the European Union, or Canada.
We start from Pakistan. That includes State Bank outward-investment rules, FBR worldwide income, a documented source of funds, and consular or biometric requirements — often in Islamabad or in the host country. Almost every corridor requires you to relocate or to appear in person for biometrics. Each country page states the visit position.
Corridors are organised in three bands. Priority routes are those we most often brief: US E-2 (Pakistan has been a treaty country since 12 February 1961; Caribbean citizenship is not required), UK Innovator Founder, Dutch start-up residence, France Talent, Spain Emprendedores, Portugal D2 and non-property ARI, Italy Startup and Investor, UAE Golden and investor tracks, Singapore EntrePass, and invest or form routes in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. High-capital programmes sit in a second band. Substance-required European and other paths sit in a third, with the statutory tests described in plain language.
Several well-known products are no longer available or are not available to Pakistani nationals. Canada’s federal Start-up Visa is closed to new filings as of 30 June 2026. Spain’s Golden Visa ended on 3 April 2025. Portugal’s property-based ARI is closed. Ireland’s Immigrant Investor Programme is closed. Dutch DAFT is limited to US and Japanese nationals. Those facts appear on the relevant pages. Where an acquisition is the immigration story, this mandate connects to Businesses for Sale. Where you need only an entity and operating tools, that work sits under Company Formation and Business Tools.
Who it is for
Founders, operators, and high-net-worth individuals living in Pakistan (or the diaspora holding Pakistani nationality) who can fund a genuine business or investment and who can travel. This mandate is not designed for digital-nomad visas as a primary leave plan, or for dormant companies presented as residence.
What is included
- Corridor map against capital, family, travel appetite, and host-country tests — including a written no when nothing fits
- Programme-level brief: path type, capital and eligibility, visit requirements, and the Pakistan overlay
- Business plan, investment narrative, or acquisition thesis shaped to the pathway — not a brochure
- Source-of-funds and SBP/FBR sequencing before money moves
- Coordination with licensed immigration counsel and local specialists who file
- Company Formation and Business Tools only where the residence path actually needs the entity
- Document matrix, staged timeline, and portal status
How this mandate runs
- 1
Profile & pathway map
Capital, experience, family goals, and risk tolerance determine which corridors are realistic.
- 2
Business narrative
Startup, entrepreneur, or acquisition thesis is shaped to pathway standards—not marketing slogans.
- 3
Counsel & filings
Licensed specialists execute immigration work while we keep corporate and document tracks coherent.
- 4
Settlement readiness
Entity, banking, and operating steps are sequenced so arrival is not improvisation.
Priority corridors
Business residence corridors for Pakistani founders
These are the routes we typically brief first: startup, investment, acquisition, or a company that can support residence. Open a country for programmes, capital requirements, visit rules, and eligibility notes. Figures are verified with licensed counsel before engagement.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
1
United States
E-2 Treaty Investor · Form company · Buy business / shares · Invest
The United States corridor we advise for founders is the E-2 Treaty Investor route. Pakistan has been an E-2 treaty country since 12 February 1961, so a Pakistani national may apply as a treaty investor; Caribbean citizenship-by-investment is not a prerequisite and is not US residence. Capital must be substantial and at risk in a business the applicant owns at least 50% and will direct. EB-5 is the high-capital immigrant-investor alternative: USD 800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or USD 1.05 million otherwise, plus ten qualifying jobs.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
2
United Kingdom
Innovator Founder · Startup
The UK route we advise for founders is Innovator Founder: an endorsement-gated startup visa, not a Companies House filing. There is no fixed investment minimum; the gates are a genuine endorsing-body endorsement, English at B2, and maintenance funds of about £1,270 per 28 days. Tuberculosis testing for the visa file is typically arranged via IOM Pakistan.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
3
Netherlands
Start-up residence · Startup
The Dutch route we advise for founders is start-up residence: a recognised facilitator plus an RVO innovation assessment, not a BV on the register. DAFT is limited to US and Japanese nationals and is not available to Pakistani nationals. The IND fee is about €423, alongside a living-funds requirement; relocate is via MVV at the Dutch mission in Islamabad.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
4
France
French Tech / Talent Passport — Business Creator · Startup · Form company · Invest
The French business-residence routes we advise are Talent Passport tracks: Business Creator, investor, and French Tech / innovator — not a remote SAS filing. Means are briefed around SMIC of about €22,404; Business Creator is €30,000 plus professional credentials; the investor track is at least €300,000 in assets. Attestation quality decides more files than branding.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
5
Spain
Emprendedores (ENISA) · Startup
Spain’s business-residence route for founders is Emprendedores, typically with an ENISA innovation assessment. There is no statutory minimum share capital; applicants generally need to show financial means of around 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) and a genuinely innovative project. Spain’s Golden Visa programme ended on 3 April 2025 and is no longer a path to residence.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
6
Portugal
D2 (Article 89) — entrepreneur / independent activity · Startup · Form company · Invest
The Portuguese routes we advise are D2 entrepreneur residence (Article 89) and non-property ARI. D2 has no fixed capital floor; subsistence and a genuine activity must be shown. Non-property ARI is briefed at least 10 jobs, or at least €500,000 plus at least 5 jobs and other qualifying funds routes then in force. Portugal’s property-based ARI route is closed. A Portuguese Lda on the register is not residence.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
7
Italy
Italia Startup Visa · Startup · Invest
The Italian routes we advise are Italia Startup Visa and the Investor Visa — both source-of-funds heavy, neither a remote SRL stamp. Italia Startup Visa is €50,000 to establish or €100,000 to join an existing innovative startup. The Investor Visa ranges from €250,000 to €2 million by category. Registering an Italian company is not either visa.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
8
United Arab Emirates
Virtual Working / remote-income residence · Form company · Invest · Property / RBI
The UAE residence routes we advise are Virtual Working, Golden Visa, and a free-zone investor or partner visa completed with biometrics in the UAE. Virtual Working is published at about USD 3,500 per month; some 2026 sources cite USD 5,000 — both figures are verified before engagement. Golden tracks include AED 2 million investment, tax of AED 250,000, and entrepreneur routes as then in force. A remotely issued free-zone licence is a company, not a Golden Visa and not a bank account; practical banking requires an Emirates ID.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
9
Costa Rica
Inversionista · Invest · Property / RBI
The Costa Rican route we advise is Inversionista: an investment or real-estate residence track with a baseline of about USD 200,000 from about 14 July 2026. A Costa Rican company is not automatic residence. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
10
Panama
Qualified Investor / Economic Solvency (Decree 722) · Invest · Property / RBI
The Panama route we advise for Pakistani nationals is Decree 722 Qualified Investor / Economic Solvency. Friendly Nations is not available to Pakistani nationals. Real-estate figures are about USD 300,000, rising to about USD 500,000 from 16 October 2026; securities and fixed-deposit routes sit higher. A Panamanian company is not residence.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
11
Colombia
M Inversionista · Invest · Property / RBI · Form company
The Colombian route we advise is M Inversionista: business, real-estate, or formation-linked investment measured in SMMLV — about 100 SMMLV for business and about 350 SMMLV for real estate. A company on the register is not the visa. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
12
Paraguay
Investor Pass / SUACE · Invest · Form company
The Paraguay route we advise is Investor Pass / SUACE: productive investment from about USD 70,000 plus jobs, with tourism and real-estate routes higher, as published on mic.gov.py. The process is in-country. A paper company is not the residence.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
13
Ecuador
Inversionista temporary residence · Invest
The Ecuadorian route we advise is Inversionista temporary residence: an investment multiple of SBU — about 100 × SBU, approximately USD 48,200 in 2026. A company filing is not the visa. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
14
Peru
Inversionista · Invest
The Peruvian route we advise is Inversionista: capital of PEN 500,000 into a Peruvian company. Wiring into a shelf vehicle without a real investment trail is not the visa. Formation is not residence. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
15
Nicaragua
Inversionista permanent residence · Invest · Property / RBI · Form company
The Nicaraguan route we advise is Inversionista permanent residence: an investment, real-estate, or formation-linked track of about USD 30,000. Dual-citizenship rules tightened in 2026. A company is not automatic residence. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
16
Mauritius
Investor Occupation Permit · Form company
The Mauritius route we advise is the Investor Occupation Permit: about USD 100,000 plus turnover of MUR 5 million / MUR 8 million. The Premium Visa pre-list excludes Pakistani nationals; Premium Visa is not this programme. Forming a GBC is not the permit. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
17
Cabo Verde
Green Card (Law 30/IX/2018) · Property / RBI
The Cabo Verde route we advise is the Green Card under Law 30/IX/2018: a property route at €80,000 or €120,000 depending on the live band. The Remote Working visa nationality list is a separate product. Buying through a paper company is not the Green Card. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
18
Kenya
Class G Investor · Invest · Form company
The Kenyan route we advise is Class G Investor: about USD 100,000 into a real Kenyan enterprise. A shelf company is not Class G. Formation is not the permit. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
19
Malawi
Business Residence Permit (BRP) · Invest · Form company
The Malawi route we advise is the Business Residence Permit: about USD 50,000 into a real business. Incorporating locally is not the BRP. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
20
Rwanda
Investor temporary residence (RDB) · Invest · Form company
The Rwandan route we advise is investor temporary residence through RDB. A single capital figure is not quoted here. A Rwandan company is not automatic residence. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
21
Sri Lanka
Golden Paradise Investor Residence · Invest · Property / RBI
The Sri Lanka route we advise is Golden Paradise Investor Residence: USD 100,000 for five years or USD 200,000 for ten, via deposit, equity, or property as the live scheme allows. It is not the Digital Nomad Visa. A company filing is not Golden Paradise. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
22
Philippines
SIRV / FIV · Invest
The Philippines route we advise is SIRV / FIV: about USD 75,000 of qualifying equity, usually with BOI in the picture. A dummy corporation is not SIRV. Formation is not the visa. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
23
Vietnam
DT1–DT3 investor visa leading to TRC · Invest · Form company
The Vietnam investor-residence route we advise is DT1–DT3 into a Vietnamese enterprise, then TRC. DT3 is at least VND 3 billion; other DT bands follow live rules. DT4 does not get a TRC. An enterprise registration certificate is not the TRC. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
24
Cambodia
CM2H · Property / RBI · Invest
The Cambodia route we advise is CM2H: about USD 100,000 in qualifying real estate or deposit, subject to live nationality eligibility. A Cambodian company is not CM2H. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
25
Armenia
Entrepreneurial temporary residence · Form company
The Armenian route we advise is entrepreneurial temporary residence: about AMD 2 million charter capital. Paying in charter is not a visa by itself. Formation is not residence. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
26
Azerbaijan
Temporary residence — entrepreneurship / investment · Form company · Invest
The Azerbaijan route we advise is temporary residence on entrepreneurship or investment: AZN 50,000 as founder or AZN 100,000–500,000 on invest tracks. A dormant LLC is not temporary residence. Formation is not the permit. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
27
Kazakhstan
AIFC ITRP · Form company · Buy business / shares
The Kazakhstan routes we advise are AIFC ITRP (about USD 60,000–150,000 by track) and C5 business immigration (no fixed minimum; substance still required). The Altyn Visa is pending or closed. Neo Nomad is not a leave-business immigration product. An AIFC or Kazakhstan company is not the residence. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
28
Fiji
Investor Permit · Invest
The Fiji route we advise is the Investor Permit: about FJD 500,000. A local company is not the permit. Relocate is yes.
- Programs, capital, redlines →
29
Moldova
Article 36¹ business residence · Form company
The Moldova route we advise is Article 36¹ business residence: payroll substance of at least 30 × average salary or at least one average-wage job. An empty SRL is not the permit. Formation is not residence. Relocate is yes.
Full directory
Open programmes we brief for Pakistani nationals. Filter by path type. Closed, paused, or ineligible products are listed separately — they are not sold as easy business immigration.
Closed or not applicable programmes
Some well-known products have ended, are paused, or are not available to Pakistani nationals. Company formation without a residence pathway is a separate mandate. Digital-nomad visas that do not lead to residence are outside this service. The notes below are for clarity before you read the country pages.
- Canada Start-up Visa and the federal Self-Employed programme — paused or closed to new applicants (SUV closed to new filings as of 30 June 2026).
- Spain Golden Visa — ended 3 April 2025. Portugal’s property-based ARI route is also closed.
- Netherlands DAFT — available to US and Japanese nationals; Pakistani nationals are not eligible. The applicable Dutch route is start-up residence.
- Panama Friendly Nations — Pakistani nationals are not eligible. The applicable investor route is Decree 722.
- India PRS and e-Visa — not available to Pakistani citizens or persons of Pakistani origin on the terms we advise against.
- Mauritius Premium Visa — Pakistani nationals are not on the pre-list; the Investor Occupation Permit is a separate programme.
- Offshore company formation on its own — a legal entity is not a residence permit.
- Digital-nomad visas as a primary business-immigration plan to leave Pakistan.
- Dormant EU companies transferred for the purpose of claiming residence.
- A remotely issued UAE free-zone licence treated as a Golden Visa or as banking without travel.
- Caribbean citizenship-by-investment treated as Stripe access, or as a requirement for US E-2.
Frequently asked questions
Do Pakistanis need Caribbean citizenship for a US E-2?
No. Pakistan has been an E-2 treaty country since 12 February 1961. A Pakistani national may apply as a treaty investor. Caribbean citizenship-by-investment is a separate passport product; it is not required for E-2 and does not, by itself, confer US residence.
Does buying an empty EU company get me residence?
No. Countries such as Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Czechia, and Romania assess real activity, capital committed to the business, and payroll or other substance. Incorporating or taking a transfer of a dormant company does not create immigration status.
Does a UAE free zone give banking and residence without travel?
No. Residence and practical banking in the UAE require biometrics and an Emirates ID in country. A remotely issued free-zone licence is a company, not a Golden Visa and not a bank account.
Is e-Residency a residence permit?
No. Estonia’s e-Residency is a digital identity that allows you to administer a company remotely. It is not a right to live in Estonia. Business residence is a separate permit, assessed by the Police and Border Guard Board.
Is Canada’s Start-up Visa open?
No. IRCC paused the Start-up Visa to new applicants. As of 30 June 2026 the programme is closed to new filings. Canada options that remain in discussion include C11 Significant Benefit (a temporary work permit), selected provincial entrepreneur streams, and Quebec’s high-capital investor programme — each with its own requirements.
Does Caribbean CBI unlock Stripe or US, EU, or Canadian residence?
No. Citizenship-by-investment is a passport. It is not residence in the United States, the EU, or Canada, and it is not a merchant account. Pakistan is already an E-2 treaty country, so CBI is not a prerequisite for that US route.
Is Canada Start-up Visa still open?
No. IRCC paused the programme to new applicants. As of 30 June 2026 it is closed to new filings. The Canada country page covers C11, selected provincial entrepreneur streams, and Quebec’s high-capital investor programme — none of which is the federal Start-up Visa.
Do you guarantee visas or residency?
No. Immigration outcomes depend on law, evidence, and the decision of the host government. We structure a credible plan and coordinate licensed specialists; we do not offer guaranteed outcomes.
Can buying a business help with immigration?
In some corridors, acquiring or investing in an operating business can support entrepreneur or investment pathways. Fit depends on the country and program. See Businesses for Sale for curated opportunities we can diligence with that dual lens.
Which countries do you focus on?
Priority corridors are listed on this page, beginning with the United States (E-2), the United Kingdom, the UAE, Singapore, and invest or startup routes that remain available. Canada’s Start-up Visa is closed to new filings. High-capital and substance-required countries are listed with their statutory tests. If none of the routes fit your profile, we will say so at consultation.
Do you replace an immigration lawyer?
No. We coordinate corporate advisory with licensed immigration counsel. Legal representation for applications sits with qualified practitioners.
How long do business immigration mandates take?
Months to longer, depending on pathway, document readiness, and government processing. We give a staged timeline after the profile briefing.
Can my family be included?
Often yes under dependent rules of the relevant pathway. Family scope is part of the initial briefing.
Consultation
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Tell us what you are building or where you need to move. We respond within one business day.