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Spain Entrepreneur Visa (Startup Visa)
The Spain Entrepreneur Visa is a residence route for non-EU nationals who want to set up, develop and manage an innovative business project in Spain. Applications filed from within Spain receive a 3-year residence permit, with full work rights and direct work authorisation for family members.
What Is the Entrepreneur Visa?
The Spain Entrepreneur Visa, formally known under Ley 14/2013 (Law to Support Entrepreneurs and their Internationalisation) as the residence permit for entrepreneurial activity (Autorización de Residencia para Emprendedores) and reinforced by the Startup Act (Ley 28/2022), is designed for non-EU/EEA nationals bringing innovative, technology-driven and scalable business models to the Spanish economy. Applications filed from within Spain receive an initial 3-year permit, renewable in 3-year periods.
Important: Your business project is at the centre of this visa. Its innovative nature and scalability are assessed by ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación), Spain's national innovation company. A well-structured business plan is the core condition for approval.
Requirements
1. Financial Requirements (2026)
- •Main applicant: A minimum of €2,849 per month (200% of the Spanish minimum wage, SMI) in proven financial means
- •Family members: An additional 75% of the SMI for a two-person family unit (approximately €1,068 per month); 25% of the SMI for each additional member (approximately €356 per month)
- •Accepted evidence: personal savings, bank statements, venture capital, business angel funds, an approved startup budget — ownership, legality and availability of the funds must be proven
2. Innovative Business Project and the ENISA Report
You must present an innovative, scalable business project that adds value to the Spanish economy. Its innovative nature is certified by ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación). The company must be newly established (no older than 5-7 years), must not have distributed dividends, must not be listed on a stock exchange, must have its registered office in Spain and must employ at least 60% of its staff in Spain.
3. Professional Qualification
You must prove either a university degree related to your field or at least 3 years of professional experience in the same field. Spanish authorities focus on professional consistency and verifiable documentation.
4. Health Coverage
Once the business project is up and running, registration under the self-employed regime (RETA - Autónomo) is mandatory and brings you into Spain's National Health System. For the transition period, private health insurance with no co-payments and coverage equivalent to the national system must be presented.
5. Criminal Record and Legal Status
Apostilled, sworn-translated criminal record certificates are required only for the countries of residence in the last 2 years; for the remainder of the 5-year period, a signed Declaration of Responsibility (Declaración Responsable) is accepted. You must not be in an irregular situation in Spain at the time of application. No medical certificate is required for this visa.
Application Process
- 1.Pre-Assessment and Business Plan: Your profile and business idea are assessed against the programme criteria; a business plan aligned with ENISA standards is prepared (project description, product/service, market analysis, financing plan, added value for Spain)
- 2.ENISA Evaluation: A detailed CV and the business plan are submitted on the ENISA platform; the evaluation takes approximately 3 months
- 3.Residence Application: The Tasa 790 (Code 038) fee is paid separately for each applicant; the application is filed electronically with UGE-CE (the Large Companies and Strategic Sectors Unit)
- 4.UGE-CE Decision: Following a favourable ENISA report, UGE-CE decides on the residence permit within 30 days
- 5.Application Route: Applications from within Spain receive a 3-year permit directly; consular applications from abroad first receive a 1-year visa, converted into a 3-year residence permit after entering Spain
- 6.Settling In: Municipal registration (empadronamiento), Foreigner Identity Number (NIE), tax registration, fingerprinting appointment and the TIE card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
Advantages
- ✓3-Year Residence Permit: Applications from within Spain receive an initial 3-year permit, renewable in 3-year periods (1 year + 2-year renewals under the general regime)
- ✓Full Work Rights: You can work in your own company (RETA - Autónomo) and, at the same time, as an employee for another company (cuenta ajena)
- ✓Direct Work Authorisation for Family: Spouse, partner and children can apply together and receive unrestricted work rights without any additional permit
- ✓Beckham Tax Regime: A 24% flat tax rate on Spanish-source employment income for 5 years (up to €600,000); also available to your spouse and children under 25
- ✓Schengen Travel Freedom: Travel across the Schengen area without the 90/180-day rule
- ✓Flexible Residence: No 183-day physical presence requirement; no medical certificate, and criminal record certificates are required only for countries of residence in the last 2 years
Important Notes
- ⚠️The Application Route Matters: Applying from within Spain (while legally present as a tourist or student) grants a 3-year permit directly; the consular route first grants a 1-year visa
- ⚠️Long-Term Residence: After 5 years of continuous residence you may apply for long-term residence (residencia de larga duración); absences must not exceed 6 continuous months or 10 months in total over the 5 years (1 year for work reasons)
- ⚠️ENISA Criteria Come First: Meeting the innovation, scalability and added-value criteria in your business plan is the precondition for approval; allow approximately 3 months for the ENISA evaluation in your planning
Manage Your Entrepreneur Visa with Mi Casa Europa
With 25 years of experience, we manage your Entrepreneur Visa application from start to finish:
- ✓Pre-application eligibility and business idea assessment
- ✓Business plan preparation support aligned with ENISA criteria
- ✓Preparation and translation of all documents
- ✓Tax planning and Beckham Law application
- ✓TIE card application after your arrival in Spain
- ✓Company formation and RETA (Autónomo) registration support
- ✓Housing search and settling-in support
Are You Eligible? Find Out Now
A short quiz checks your eligibility for the Entrepreneur Visa. Takes only 2 minutes.
Ready to Start Your Entrepreneur Visa Application?
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