Spain Entrepreneur Visa (Startup Visa)

The Spain Entrepreneur visa is a type of Temporary Residence Permit that allows you to live and work in Spain for an initial period of three years if you want to start a business in Spain.

The business you plan to start must be considered innovative and must align with the primary interests of the Spanish economy, such as increasing rates of employment and providing further investment opportunities in the country.

This visa is strictly regulated and particularly challenging to receive and before you begin your visa application process, a detailed business plan must first undergo scrutiny by the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office or the Directorate-General for International Trade and Investments (ENISA).

Here, your business plan will be assessed for economic interest, viability, and potential benefits to the Spanish economy.

Once they have analyzed your detailed business plan and strategy, ENISA will provide an official report of their assessment.

A positive assessment report from ENISA is a crucial requirement of the Spain Entrepreneur visa, and only once you receive this report can you begin the visa application process.

Page Contents

• Overview of the Spain Entrepreneur Visa
• Benefits of the Entrepreneur Visa in Spain
• Eligibility Requirements for the Spanish Entrepreneur Visa
• Application Process for the Spanish Entrepreneur Visa
• Required Documents for the Spain Entrepreneur Visa
• Entrepreneur Visa Fee and Processing Time
• Renewal of the Entrepreneur Visa in Spain
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

There are a number of benefits to applying for the Spain Entrepreneur visa over other visas, such as the Self Employment Permit. Examples of benefits include the following:

1. This visa results in a three year Residence Permit in Spain versus the usual one year, and is eligible for renewal as long as your business continues to meet the requirements. After five consecutive years with this Residence Permit, you will be eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence Permit, which can eventually lead to eligibility for citizenship after ten years.
2. Your immediate family members can be included in your application or they can accompany you to Spain and are also eligible for Temporary Residence Permits. This includes your spouse, partner, children, or dependent adult children without their own family unit; they will also be legally allowed to work in Spain with this permit.
3. The Entrepreneur visa is a fast-tracked visa, which means it can take as little as 10-20 days after submitting an application to receive a decision. Including the time it takes to receive a decision on your business plan, it is possible you could receive a decision in as little time as one month.
4. You will be able to access tax incentives offered by the Spanish government for startups and entrepreneurs, this may include reduced tax rates.

The key eligibility criteria for the Entrepreneur visa that differs from other Spanish visas relates to the viability of your business and how it will contribute to Spanish economic interest.

The immigration office aims to encourage entrepreneurial individuals with businesses that will generate employment opportunities or wealth within Spain and generally lead to economic growth of the country.

They also want to be assured that the business plan shows financial viability, so that the business does not need any startup support from the Spanish government and that there is a good chance that your business will be successful and lead to further economic growth.

Finally, alongside the economic benefits of your business, the immigration authorities are looking for innovative business ideas in areas such as technology, IT, research and development, or energy.

Unlike many other visas, you can begin the application process for the Entrepreneur visa from both outside and inside of Spain.

If you are currently in the United States, you can begin the application process by submitting all your required documents online to the electronic headquarters of Unidad de Grandes Empresas (UGE), during which you can request an initial authorisation visa that allows you to enter Spain if you prefer to travel before receiving a decision.

However, it is also possible to wait within your home country for an initial decision on your business proposal.

Once you have created and submitted your business plan, the UGE will assess whether you are eligible to apply for the Entrepreneur visa based on the information you have given them and whether your business idea fulfills their criteria for viability and innovation.

Following their positive decision, you can submit your Entrepreneur visa application and business plan electronically from your home country. After 10-20 days, you can expect to hear whether your business plan and visa application have been approved or denied, after which you can travel to and receive your Residence Permit in Spain.

If you are already in Spain on another visa, such as a Tourist visa, it is simple to apply for the Spain Entrepreneur visa from within the country on your current visitor visa. To apply while in Spain, you can go directly to the UGE head office in Madrid and provide your supporting documents and business plan.

Once you have handed in your documents, the UGE will review your Spain Entrepreneur visa application within 20 days and inform you of their decision. In the case of a positive decision, you will have a month to collect your visa, submit your fingerprints at the immigration office, and collect any submitted documents, such as your passport.

After this, you can then apply for your Temporary Residence Permit within one month of your visa approval.

When applying for the Entrepreneur visa in Spain, you will need to submit:

• Your completed visa application form
• A valid passport, which includes two blank pages and at least one year remaining before expiry
• A recent color passport photo
• Receipt of visa payment
• Evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria
• Proof of private health insurance
• Documents proving family relationship of any individuals who are a part of your visa application
• Evidence of personal financial resources, or regular income for yourself and any relevant immediate family, to the minimum value of 100% of Spain’s income indicator (IPREM), plus an additional 50% for each family member. As of 2026, the IPREM is €600 per month
• Clean criminal record check certificate from any countries you have lived in during the previous five years
• A comprehensive business strategy explaining your business, how it will contribute to the economic climate in Spain, generate jobs, innovation or influence prosperity
• A positive business plan report from ENISA
• Details of your credentials, including your level of education and professional experience
• Supporting information such as reference letters, patents, client contracts or investors

All foreign documents must be translated by a certified translator into Spanish and submitted both with the original document and the translation.

It is crucial that you are able to display to the Spanish authorities that you have the skills and credentials to implement your business plan and result in its success. They will expect to see evidence of your qualifications, experience, and will want to be convinced that you will contribute to the prosperity of the country.

When applying for the Spain Entrepreneur visa, your business plan strategy is vital. To speak to a legal expert call +1 844 290 6312 at Total Law to learn about how to develop the ideal plan to support your application.

The Entrepreneur visa fee as a U.S. citizen is around €73.26, paid when you submit your visa application to the Spanish consulate. Once your visa is approved and you apply for your Temporary Residence Permit, there is an additional fee of €15 to €20.

As this is a fast-tracked visa, you will receive a decision on your visa application in less time than you can expect for other visas. It can typically take 10 days to receive a decision on your business plan and an additional 20 days to receive a response regarding your visa.

If you have a Residence Permit with a Spain Entrepreneur visa, you have permission to stay in the country for up to three years and have the opportunity to renew your residence visa provided you are still eligible and your business is still contributing positively to the Spanish economy.

If your business is going well, you will be able to renew your visa for another two years, after which you will have accrued a total of five continuous years and will be able to apply for a Permanent Residency Permit in Spain.