Self-employment work and residence visa
Key eligibility criteria & requirements
Here are the main requirements you’ll need to meet:
You must be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (so third-country national) wanting to carry out self-employed activity in Spain.
You must present a viable business plan that sets out the activity you’ll carry out, how it will operate in Spain (market, demand, financing, etc).
You must show sufficient funds both to sustain yourself and to cover the business start-up/operation.
You must possess the necessary skills/qualifications/experience for the intended activity, especially if your profession is regulated (e.g., doctor, architect) and you may need recognition in Spain.
You must have no criminal record, i.e., certificates of good conduct from your country of residence (and possibly any country you lived in) for the past years.
If relevant, you’ll need any required professional licences/permissions for your business activity in Spain.
Financial / investment thresholds & duration
One useful guide states that you should prove you can cover at least 100% of the IPREM, which currently is around €600/month (≈ €7,200/year) for living expenses, though real expectations are often higher.
In addition to personal living costs, you’ll need to show funds for your business start-up/operation. Exact amounts depend on the business type and context.
The initial permit/visa is usually valid for 1 year, and then can be renewed (often for 2 years, etc) provided conditions are met.
Usually, the permit may be limited to a specific activity and region (autonomous community) in Spain.
Application process – step by step
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
Prepare your documentation: business plan, qualifications, financial proof, criminal record certificate, translated if needed.
Apply for the self-employment work and residence permit at the competent Spanish authority (often the Provincial Aliens Affairs Office) before leaving your home country.
Once approved, apply for the Visa (national D-type) at the Spanish consulate/embassy in your country of residence.
Enter Spain, then register: obtain your Foreigners’ Identity Card (TIE) and register with Social Security as self-employed.
Start your self-employed business activity and maintain compliance (taxes, social security contributions, licences, etc).
Renew the permit/visa when applicable, showing your business is active and complying with obligations.
Things to watch / pitfalls
The business plan must be realistic and show that the activity will contribute to the Spanish economy (jobs, market demand) rather than be purely speculative.
If your profession is regulated in Spain (e.g., medical, legal, engineering), you may need to get your qualification recognised (“homologación”).
The permit might be restricted to a specific autonomous community or a specific business activity. If you change activity or move region you may need to update permit.
You cannot normally convert a tourist stay into a self-employed permit directly; you must apply from your country of residence.
Keep in mind the time-frames: processing can take several months, so plan ahead.
After you arrive, you must fulfil tax and social security obligations like any self-employed person in Spain.