Spain Self-Employed Visa (Freelance Visa)

The Spain Freelance Visa is suitable for anyone looking to live and work independently in Spain, work remotely or start their own company in Spain.

To be eligible to apply for a Self-Employed Visa in Spain, you should not be a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and be over the age of 16.

At Total Law, we can determine your eligibility for a Spain Self-Employed Visa. Contact us online or call +44 (0) 333 305 9375 today, and we can support you through the process.

Page Contents

• Who Can Apply for the Freelance Visa for Spain?
• Requirements for Self-Employed Visa Spain
• Obtaining an Initial Residence and Self-Employed Work Permit
• Obtaining a Self-Employed Work Visa for Spain
• How Much Does it Cost for a Freelance Visa for Spain?
• Processing Time for Spain Self-Employed Visa
• Validity and Extension for Self-Employed Visa in Spain
• How Total Law Can Help
• Frequently Asked Questions

You must first obtain a Work and Residence Permit to apply for the Spain Self-Employed Work Visa. Self-employed work permits are a type of residence authorization required when a non-European Union citizen wants to start their own business in Spain.

As part of the application process, you must provide evidence of your identity and employment status and meet the following Spain Self-Employed Visa requirements:

• Have no criminal record for the past 5 years and are not currently facing any criminal charges
• Be living in Spain illegally or living in Spain under an expired visa
• Have a well-thought-out business plan and be aware of any tax obligations
• Meet the Spain Freelance Visa income requirements to support the type of work you’ll be doing for the 1-year duration, whether that’s founding a company or working as a contractor
• Must have the licenses and authorizations to run a business, if applicable
• Work activities must comply with the social security scheme for self-employed workers

To apply for the Spain Self-Employed Work Visa, you will need first to obtain an Initial Residence and Self-Employed Work Permit (valid for 1 year), a foreigner identity card, and register as self-employed through the Social Security System (Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social).

You will need to complete and sign the EX-07 application form (a parent must sign on behalf of minors under the age of 16) and provide the following documents as part of the visa application process:

• Valid passport with 2 blank pages and a minimum expiry date of four months
• Recent passport-size photograph
• In-depth business plan
• Professional qualifications and training
• Permits and licenses required for running a business
• Certificate from the Self-Employed Workers Association
• Criminal record check certificate
• Medical certificate
• Proof of residence
• Bank statements demonstrating the financial means to support your business

Once you have obtained the Initial Residence and Self-Employed Work Permit, you can book an appointment with the Consular Office and apply for a Self-Employed Work Visa at your local Spanish consulate or embassy.

When your Initial Temporary Residence Permit is issued, you can apply for a Self-Employed Work Visa and stay in Spain for a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 5 years.

The application for a Self-Employed Work Visa must be made in person at your local Spanish Embassy or consulate in the US. There, you will need to complete and sign a visa application form. You must also register as self-employed with the Spanish Social Security system.

As part of the security and identity checks for your visa application, you must provide personal documents to the Foreign Nationals Office to prove your eligibility. These are:

• Visa application form for an Initial Residence and Self-employed​ Work Permit
• Valid passport
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Professional training and qualifications
• Bank statements to prove you have sufficient financial means to support your business
• Medical certificate proving that they do not have any of the diseases on the International Sanitary Regulation of 2005

It takes 3 months for the Consular Office to decide on your application.

The Self-Employed Visa in Spain has a validity of 90 days. Once you are living in Spain, you will need to register with the state Social Security System within a set time of your arrival in Spain, through a regime for self-employed workers called RETA (Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos)

The Self-Employed Visa in Spain has a validity of 90 days. Once you live in Spain, you must register with the state Social Security System within 3 months of your arrival in Spain. After registering, you must apply for a Foreign Identity Card (TIE)  at the Foreign Nationals Office or police station where you reside within 1 month. You can then open a Spanish bank account.

The application fee for a Freelance Visa in Spain depends on your country of origin, but there are also additional expenses, including a proof of visa fee of €60. You will also need to pay for a medical certificate, which you’re required to obtain as part of the visa application process.

The visa fee can range from €120 to  €1447. Typically, for US citizens, it is $190. This fee can be paid in cash or online via debit or credit card. Visa fees are compulsory for all applicants.

Once your application has been submitted, the minimum time to process a Self-Employed Visa is 30 working days. Please note that it may take up to 60 days in some cases if an interview and additional documents are required.

The Foreign Nationals Office has 3 months from the day it is submitted to decide on your application. The consulate does not provide any information regarding the status of a visa application or why a visa application has been refused.

If your application is denied, you can appeal to the Spanish Consular Office within 1 month. In addition, you can request a judicial review at the High Court Justice of Madrid within two months of your visa being refused.

To ensure you get your visa approved in time by the Foreign Office, make sure to apply as far in advance as 90 days before your planned journey to Spain. Total Law’s lawyers have years of expertise assisting people with work visas. Call +44 (0) 333 305 9375 for step-by-step guidance to ensure your visa is approved and processed smoothly.

A Residence Permit is valid for 2 years, and a Self-Employed Visa is valid for 1 year. If you want to extend your Self-Employed Visa in Spain, you can extend it for 4 years if you can prove that you have continued working as a self-employed individual and have sufficient funds. If you still wish to live and work in Spain after 5 years, you will be eligible for a Long-Term Residence Permit.

A Self-Employed work Permit can be extended between 60 days before and 90 days after expiration.