🏛️

Government & Startup Programs

Financial support, visas, and digital services for digital nomads, e-residents, and entrepreneurs in Nordic & Baltic countries.

📋
28
Total Programs
🌐
9
Nomad-Friendly
🪪
6
e-Resident Services
🚀
21
Startup Programs
🌐

Digital Nomad Hub

The Nordic & Baltic region is one of the best in the world for digital nomads. Estonia leads globally with the first digital nomad visa (2020), Latvia and Lithuania followed. Pair your visa with an EU bank account and e-Residency for full remote business freedom.

🇪🇪 Estonia #1🇱🇻 Latvia🇱🇹 Lithuania🇮🇸 Iceland🇳🇴 Svalbard
🪪

e-Residency & Digital Business

Estonia's e-Residency program lets anyone in the world register an EU company and access banking remotely. Over 100,000 e-residents from 170+ countries use it. Open an LHV or Wise Business account with your digital ID card.

🇪🇪 EU Company🏦 LHV Banking💳 Wise Business🔐 Digital ID⚡ Instant

28 programs found

EE flag

Estonian Police and Border Guard Board

🌐 Nomad

Digital Nomad Visa

🌐 Digital Nomad Visa🌐 Digital Nomad💻 Freelancer

Estonia was the first country in the world to introduce a Digital Nomad Visa in 2020. Remote workers earning at least €3,504/month can legally live and work in Estonia for up to 1 year.

Max Term

1y

Up to 12 months stay
Access to Schengen Area
Can open EU bank account
Learn More & Apply →
LV flag

Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia

🌐 Nomad

Digital Nomad Visa

🌐 Digital Nomad Visa🌐 Digital Nomad💻 Freelancer

Latvia introduced the Digital Nomad Visa in 2021 for non-EU citizens working remotely. Stay in Riga for up to 1 year with access to Schengen Area.

Max Term

1y

Up to 12 months (renewable)
Schengen access
Affordable cost of living
Learn More & Apply →
LT flag

Migration Department of Lithuania

🌐 Nomad

Freelancer / Startup Visa

✈️ Startup / Freelancer Visa🌐 Digital Nomad🚀 Startup💻 Freelancer

Lithuania offers a Startup Visa for entrepreneurs and a freelancer-friendly temporary residence permit. Vilnius has a growing tech ecosystem with low taxes and EU access.

Max Term

3y

Startup Visa: 3-year residence
Access to Startup Lithuania network
EU banking & payments
Learn More & Apply →
NO flag

Governor of Svalbard (Sysselmannen)

🌐 Nomad

Svalbard Visa-Free Access

🌐 Digital Nomad Visa🌐 Digital Nomad💻 Freelancer

Svalbard (Norway) is visa-free for all nationalities under the Svalbard Treaty. Remote workers can stay indefinitely — unique in Europe. Note: no ferry to mainland Norway without Schengen.

Visa-free for all nationalities
No time limit on stay
Arctic experience
Learn More & Apply →
IS flag

Útlendingastofnun (Directorate of Immigration)

🌐 Nomad

Long-Term Visa (Type D)

🌐 Digital Nomad Visa🌐 Digital Nomad💻 Freelancer

Iceland offers a 6-month long-term visa for remote workers. Though not branded as a "digital nomad visa", it permits extended stays for location-independent workers.

Max Term

6m

Up to 6 months
Stunning nature environment
Fast broadband infrastructure
Learn More & Apply →
EE flag

Enterprise Estonia (EAS)

🌐 Nomad🪪 e-Resident

e-Residency Program

🪪 e-Residency / Digital Banking🪪 e-Resident🚀 Startup💻 Freelancer

Estonia's e-Residency is a transnational digital identity that allows anyone in the world to establish and run an EU-based company online. Over 100,000 e-residents from 170+ countries have used it.

Digital EU company registration in minutes
Sign documents digitally anywhere
Access to EU banking (LHV, Wise Business)
Learn More & Apply →
EE flag

LHV Pank

🌐 Nomad🪪 e-Resident

e-Resident Business Banking

🪪 e-Residency / Digital Banking🪪 e-Resident🚀 Startup🌐 Digital Nomad

LHV Pank is the go-to bank for Estonian e-residents. Open a fully functional EU business bank account remotely using your e-Residency card. Supports SEPA, SWIFT, and multi-currency.

Remote account opening with e-Residency card
SEPA & SWIFT transfers
Business debit card (Mastercard)
Learn More & Apply →
EE flag

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

🌐 Nomad🪪 e-Resident

Wise Business Multi-Currency Account

🪪 e-Residency / Digital Banking🌐 Digital Nomad🪪 e-Resident🚀 Startup

Wise Business (EU-licensed, EE branch) offers multi-currency accounts ideal for digital nomads and e-residents in Nordic & Baltic countries. Hold DKK, SEK, NOK, EUR, GBP and 50+ currencies.

Hold 50+ currencies
Local account details in EUR, GBP, USD
Real exchange rate (no markup)
Learn More & Apply →
LT flag

Revolut Bank UAB

🌐 Nomad🪪 e-Resident

Revolut Business (EU Banking)

🪪 e-Residency / Digital Banking🌐 Digital Nomad🚀 Startup🏢 SME

Revolut Bank is licensed in Lithuania and serves the entire EU. Business accounts for startups, SMEs and nomads with powerful financial tools. Hold and exchange 25+ currencies instantly.

Lithuanian banking license (EU-regulated)
Instant EUR/currency exchange
Business debit/credit cards
Learn More & Apply →
LT flag

Paysera LT

🪪 e-Resident

Paysera Business Account

🪪 e-Residency / Digital Banking🏢 SME🚀 Startup🪪 e-Resident

Paysera is a Lithuanian fintech licensed as an Electronic Money Institution in the EU. Very popular in Baltic countries for affordable SEPA payments and business accounts.

Free account opening
SEPA & SWIFT transfers
Mass payouts
Learn More & Apply →
EE flag

KredEx (Enterprise Estonia Group)

🪪 e-Resident

KredEx Startup Loan

🚀 Startup Loan🚀 Startup🏢 SME

KredEx provides startup loans and credit guarantees to Estonian companies and e-Residency companies. Startup loans up to €300,000 with favorable terms for early-stage businesses.

Max Amount

300K

Rate from

4.5%

Max Term

5y

Loan up to €300K
Startup-friendly collateral
Mentoring & advisory support
Learn More & Apply →
EE flag

Enterprise Estonia (EAS)

EAS Startup Grant

🎁 Grant / Non-Repayable🚀 Startup💡 Innovator

Enterprise Estonia (EAS) provides grants, advisory services, and support programs for Estonian startups. The Startup Estonia program is a government initiative to make Estonia the best place to start a company.

Max Amount

200K

Non-repayable grants
R&D co-financing
Startup Visa support
Learn More & Apply →
LV flag

ALTUM (State Development Finance Institution)

ALTUM Micro Loan

💰 Micro Loan🚀 Startup🏢 SME👤 Individual

ALTUM is Latvia's state development finance institution. The microloan program supports small businesses and startups with loans up to €25,000 at preferential rates — no collateral required for small amounts.

Max Amount

25K

Rate from

3.0%

Max Term

5y

No collateral for loans ≤ €5,000
Available throughout Latvia
Business advisory support
Learn More & Apply →
LV flag

ALTUM (State Development Finance Institution)

ALTUM Startup Loan

🚀 Startup Loan🚀 Startup🏢 SME

ALTUM's startup loan program targets innovative Latvian startups with loans up to €200,000. Combined with guarantee programs to help young companies access commercial bank credit.

Max Amount

200K

Rate from

4.0%

Max Term

6y

Loans up to €200K
Loan guarantees available
Export financing support
Learn More & Apply →
LT flag

Invega (Investment and Business Guarantees)

Invega Loan Guarantee

🛡️ Loan Guarantee🚀 Startup🏢 SME🏛️ Corporate

Invega provides state guarantees for bank loans in Lithuania, enabling SMEs and startups to access credit they would not otherwise qualify for. Covers up to 80% of the loan amount.

Max Amount

5.0M

Guarantee up to 80% of loan value
Works with all major Lithuanian banks
Startup & SME focused
Learn More & Apply →
FI flag

Finnvera (State-Owned Specialised Financing Company)

Finnvera SME Loan

🏦 Government Loan🏢 SME🚀 Startup🏛️ Corporate

Finnvera is Finland's official export credit agency and SME financier. SME loans up to €1M with state-backed guarantees, particularly useful for small companies without significant collateral.

Max Amount

1.0M

Rate from

3.5%

Max Term

10y

Loans up to €1M
State-backed guarantee
Export credit available
Learn More & Apply →
FI flag

Business Finland

Business Finland Innovation Funding

💡 Innovation Fund🚀 Startup💡 Innovator🏢 SME

Business Finland provides grants and loans for R&D and innovation projects. Startup grants, market access funding, and innovation loans for Finnish companies aiming for international growth.

Max Amount

500K

Rate from

1.0%

R&D grants (non-repayable part)
Innovation loans at low rates
Market access funding
Learn More & Apply →
NO flag

Innovasjon Norge

Innovation Norway Basic Loan

🏦 Government Loan🚀 Startup🏢 SME💡 Innovator

Innovation Norway (Innovasjon Norge) offers basic loans to Norwegian startups and SMEs at preferential rates. Loans from NOK 500,000 to NOK 3M for companies with significant growth potential.

Max Amount

3.0M NOK

Rate from

5.0%

Max Term

7y

Loans from NOK 500K to 3M
Startup & innovation focus
Flexible repayment
Learn More & Apply →
SE flag

Almi Företagspartner AB

Almi Business Loan

🏦 Government Loan🚀 Startup🏢 SME🏛️ Corporate

Almi is Sweden's government-owned business lender, providing loans where commercial banks cannot. Business loans from SEK 100,000 to SEK 10M for startups and growing SMEs.

Max Amount

10.0M SEK

Rate from

6.0%

Max Term

6y

Loans from SEK 100K to 10M
No collateral required for small loans
Startup loan (Startlån) program
Learn More & Apply →
DK flag

Vækstfonden (Danish Growth Fund)

Vækstfonden Growth Loan

🏦 Government Loan🚀 Startup🏢 SME💡 Innovator

Vækstfonden is Denmark's state investment fund providing loans, guarantees, and venture capital to Danish startups and SMEs. Growth loans from DKK 500K to DKK 10M.

Max Amount

kr.10.0M

Rate from

6.0%

Max Term

7y

Growth loans & venture capital
Loan guarantees for bank financing
Startup financing
Learn More & Apply →
IS flag

Byggðastofnun (Regional Development Institute)

Regional Development Loan

🏦 Government Loan🏢 SME🚀 Startup🏛️ Corporate

Byggðastofnun provides subsidized loans for businesses outside Reykjavik metropolitan area, supporting regional development and job creation in rural Iceland.

Max Amount

150.0M ISK

Rate from

7.0%

Max Term

10y

Regional Iceland focus
Job creation priority
Tourism & fisheries eligible
Learn More & Apply →
🇪🇺

European Investment Bank (EIB)

EIB SME Finance (via local banks)

🇪🇺 EU Fund🏢 SME🚀 Startup🏛️ Corporate

The EIB provides funding to SMEs in Nordic & Baltic countries through local partner banks (Nordea, SEB, Swedbank, etc.) at below-market rates. Loans from €25K to €12.5M.

Max Amount

12.5M

Rate from

2.5%

Max Term

10y

Below-market interest rates
Available in all 8 countries
Via local partner banks
Learn More & Apply →
🇪🇺

European Investment Fund (EIF)

EIF SME Guarantee Facility

🛡️ Loan Guarantee🏢 SME🚀 Startup💡 Innovator

The EIF provides guarantees to banks lending to SMEs, enabling businesses to access credit at better terms. Works through local banks in all Nordic & Baltic EU member states.

Reduces bank collateral requirements
Works in EU member states (DK, FI, SE, EE, LV, LT)
Startup and micro-enterprise friendly
Learn More & Apply →
🇪🇺

European Commission

Horizon Europe R&D Funding

💡 Innovation Fund🚀 Startup💡 Innovator🏛️ Corporate

Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship R&D program with €95.5B budget for 2021–2027. All 8 Nordic & Baltic countries participate. EIC Accelerator for startups: grants up to €2.5M + €15M equity.

Max Amount

2.5M

EIC Accelerator: up to €2.5M grant
EIC Equity: up to €15M investment
All 8 NB countries eligible
Learn More & Apply →
🇪🇺

European Commission / EIB Group

InvestEU Programme

🇪🇺 EU Fund🏛️ Corporate🏢 SME💡 Innovator

InvestEU mobilises public and private investment across the EU. The programme focuses on sustainable infrastructure, innovation, digital economy, and social investment in all 8 NB countries.

Max Amount

50.0M

Large-scale infrastructure
Digital transition investment
Green Deal alignment
Learn More & Apply →
🇪🇺

European Commission / EIF

EaSI – Social Entrepreneurship Finance

🇪🇺 EU Fund🚀 Startup🏢 SME👤 Individual

The EaSI (Employment and Social Innovation) programme supports social enterprises and microfinance for vulnerable groups across all EU member states including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, and Finland.

Max Amount

500K

Rate from

2.0%

Microloans up to €25,000
Social enterprise loans up to €500K
Vulnerable group focus
Learn More & Apply →
IS flag

Húsnæðis- og mannvirkjastofnun (HMS)

HMS Housing Fund Loan

🏦 Government Loan👤 Individual

HMS is the Icelandic Housing and Construction Authority. It provides subsidized housing loans for individuals, particularly first-time buyers and lower-income households, with government-backed rates.

Max Amount

100.0M ISK

Rate from

4.5%

Max Term

30y

Government-subsidized rates
First-time buyer priority
CPI-indexed and non-indexed options
Learn More & Apply →
SE flag

SBAB Bank (Government-Owned)

SBAB First-Time Buyer Loan

🏦 Government Loan👤 Individual

SBAB is Sweden's government-owned mortgage bank with a mission to promote competition in the housing finance market. Competitive mortgage rates with a strong sustainability profile.

Max Amount

15.0M SEK

Rate from

3.4%

Max Term

30y

Government-backed stability
Competitive mortgage rates
Green mortgage discount
Learn More & Apply →
ℹ️ Disclaimer: Program details, eligibility criteria, and amounts are subject to change. Always verify directly with the institution or government body before applying. NordicRate is an independent information platform and does not provide legal or financial advice.