Entrepreneur Visa

Spain's Entrepreneur Visa (Visado para Emprendedor) enables non-EU nationals to reside and work in Spain for the purpose of launching or managing an innovative business. Established under Law 14/2013 on Support for Entrepreneurs, and enhanced by the 2022 Startup Law (Ley 28/2022), the program targets startup founders, technology entrepreneurs, and business innovators whose ventures are assessed as having special economic interest to Spain.

• Non-EU national intending to carry out innovative entrepreneurial activity in Spain
• Business plan approved by ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovacion) demonstrating innovation, scalability, and economic value
• ENISA evaluates plans against eight criteria: degree of innovation, market attractiveness, development stage, business model scalability, competitive differentiation, team capability, third-party dependencies, and client base
• Sufficient financial means: at least 100% of IPREM (currently €600/month) for the main applicant, plus 50% of IPREM (€300/month) per family member
• Valid health insurance from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain
• Clean criminal record from countries of residence in the last 5 years
• Must be over 18 years of age

• Completed application form (MIT form)
• Valid passport (minimum 1-year validity, 2 blank pages)
• ENISA favorable report on the business plan
• Proof of financial resources (bank statements, income documentation)
• Health insurance certificate
• Criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator)
• Fee payment receipt (Tasa 790, Codigo 038: €73.26)
• Passport-size colour photograph (white background)

The entry visa is valid for 1 year. The residence authorization lasts 3 years, renewable for additional 3-year periods as long as the business remains operational and continues to meet its original objectives. After 5 years of continuous legal residence, holders may apply for long-term (permanent) residence. Spanish citizenship may be pursued after 10 years of legal residence.

Spouse or unmarried partner (registered or with proof of a stable relationship), dependent children under 18 (or over 18 if financially dependent and not forming their own household), and dependent parents may accompany the entrepreneur. Family members receive their own residence and work authorization for the same duration, permitting them to work throughout Spain without additional employment restrictions. Each family member requires a passport, criminal record certificate, health insurance, and proof of the family relationship (birth or marriage certificates, apostilled and translated).

Entrepreneurs spending more than 183 days per year in Spain become tax residents, subject to progressive personal income tax (IRPF) on worldwide income at rates of approximately 19% to 47%. Qualifying startups under the 2022 Startup Law benefit from a reduced 15% corporate tax rate for the first four years, deferral of corporate tax payments for the first two years, and an increased stock option exemption of €50,000 per year. Entrepreneurs who have not been Spanish tax residents in the prior 5 years may be eligible for the Beckham Law special tax regime, allowing taxation at a flat 24% rate on Spanish-source income up to €600,000.

The process has three stages:

1. ENISA evaluation: Submit the business plan online through ENISA's platform (enisa.es). ENISA has up to 3 months to issue its favorable report.
2. Residence authorization: Once the ENISA report is received, submit the residence application electronically through the UGE-CE electronic headquarters (using a digital certificate or Clave) or in person at UGE-CE offices in Madrid. Processing takes 20 business days, with automatic approval if no decision is issued and all documents are complete.
3. Entry visa: Applicants outside Spain then apply at their nearest Spanish consular office, which processes the visa within 10 business days. The visa must be collected within 1 month of notification.

Upon arrival in Spain, the holder must register with the municipal census (empadronamiento), apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) within one month, and register with the Spanish Social Security system as self-employed (autonomo).