Spain Freelance Visa (Autonomo visa)

The Spain Freelance Visa (Autónomo Visa) is a type of Self-Employed Work Visa that allows freelancers to live and work in Spain, either as independent contractors or sole traders.

Filipino citizens who want to enjoy life in Spain but do not want to give up their self-employed worker status can apply online for this visa.

Working with an immigration lawyer is the best way to ensure the online application process runs smoothly. Contact Total Law on +1 844 290 6312 to find out how our diverse services could help you move from the Philippines to Spain today.

Page Contents

• Spain Freelance Visa Overview
• Who Can Apply for the Freelance Visa Spain?
• How to Submit the Freelance Visa Application Form?
• Common Problems Faced by Freelance Visa Applicants
• What is the Processing Time for the Spanish Freelance Visa?
• How Much Does it Cost to Apply for the Spain Freelance Visa?
• Can I Extend My Spain Freelance Visa?
• What Happens If a Freelance Visa Application is Refused?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• FAQs

Strict criteria must be met to be granted a Spanish visa. Autonomo Visa Spain or freelancer visa Spain applicants must be:

• Over 16 years old
• Not an illegal Spain immigrant
• Not an EU or EFTA citizen
• Free of a criminal record

The first step is to obtain the Spain Self-Employed Work and Residence Permit by submitting an online application on the Spanish government website.

Then, a visa application must be submitted to the Spanish consulate in either the candidate’s home country (e.g., the Philippines) or their current country of residence.

Once the application has been received, the Consular Office will send the candidate’s dossier to the relevant Foreign Nationals’ Office, and the candidate will receive a copy of their application form.

All applications must include the appropriate supporting documents. The initial Temporary Residence Permit application requires the following:

• Valid passport or travel document (photocopy of each page)
• Application form for an initial residence and self-employed work permit (all sections of Form EX-07 must be completed and the applicant must sign two visa application forms)
• Professional training and qualifications
• Certificate from Spain’s Self-Employed Workers Association (must state that the project is viable)
• Financial means (Evidence of having sufficient financial resources to support oneself while growing the business)
• Business plan (must state how the business will be financed, who the competitors and customers are, what value it brings to the market, the expected returns, the jobs that will be created, and any other vital information about the business).
• Appropriate activity permits and licenses (list of permits required by the business, including certified copies of any existing licences and a description of the progress of obtaining other licences)
• Professional training and qualifications (proof of sufficient experience to grow the business in Spain, including formal qualifications, licences and professional and academic certificates)

Documents written in foreign languages must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish, and any foreign papers must be legalised or apostilled.

The documents required for the Freelance Self Employed Work Visa are:

• Valid passport
• Criminal record certficate
• Signed national visa application form
• Proof of identity and capacity of the self-employed person
• Photograph (recent passport-sized, colour image photograph against a light background)
• Medical certificate (proof that the applicant does not suffer from any disease included in the International Sanitary Regulation of 2005)
• Proof of residence in the consular district

Certain self-employed workers will be asked to provide other additional documents, as each application is unique and the required documents may vary. Reach out to an immigration lawyer for tailored advice.

Some common issues with applying for a Spain Freelance Visa include:

• Not checking the eligibility criteria
• Delayed responses to messages
• Forgetting to include all supporting documents
• Applying for the wrong type of Spanish Visa

To avoid this, meet with an immigration lawyer and explain precisely what you want to get from your visa. Professionals will be able to confirm that you are pursuing the correct visa for you and advise you on how to tackle each step of the process, including where to find the relevant documents.

After applying for a Residence Permit, Filipino applicants may wait up to three months before hearing the final decision on the Self-Employed Visa for Spain. Successful candidates will be able to keep the permit for one year and may renew it before it expires.

The Freelance Visa application will be approved or rejected within one month unless there are delays in the process.

The application fee for the visa is €219.10.

The overall cost is between €400 to € 600 due to medical certificate fees and other fees that the Spanish government may request, depending on the candidate’s situation.

Yes, applicants can extend their Freelance Visa to work in Spain for a longer period of time. This can be achieved by submitting an online application and awaiting a response from the Spanish government.

The validity period of this visa in Spain is 90 days, but it’s advised that candidates apply for an extension before the expiry date; otherwise, they may be forced to return to the Philippines and re-apply.

Some applications will be refused, and it’s important to consider this possibility. However, immigration experts will do all they can to prevent an application from being refused, including ensuring the candidate attaches all the requested information, provides accurate explanations, and communicates in a timely manner.

When a Freelance Visa is refused, there is often an option to pursue an appeal. If the candidate feels the Spanish government has been mistaken or they have access to further information that would improve their application, they can appeal the decision with the help of an immigration lawyer.

The Total Law appeal package allows Filipino candidates to be fully represented in court if their application has been rejected. Reach out to us on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more.