Application file for entrepreneurs and self-employed workers

Key rules

• Favourable report: On the entrepreneur route you need a favourable report on your plan before you apply; the visa cannot be granted without it.
• Minimum investment: No fixed minimum investment applies to the entrepreneur route; the plan must show enough for the project.
• Company registration: Neither route requires you to register a Spanish company at the first stage.
• Foreign documents: Foreign qualification documents normally need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation.

What to expect

Entrepreneur and self-employed files are assessed on their substance, not just on paperwork. You need a business plan, proof of your qualifications, the right licences and evidence of your investment. Start early: the report, the qualifications and the licences each take time.

Both routes share the common documents: form, passport, criminal record certificate, medical certificate, fee and proof of funds. The national (type D) visa fee you pay at the Spanish consulate is €80. You also pay the €73.78 residence fee with modelo 790 code 038. The criminal record and medical certificates are valid for 3 months from issue.

A UK citizen without Withdrawal Agreement rights is treated as a non-EU national and follows this route; a UK citizen with Withdrawal Agreement rights does not use it.

If the visa is refused, you can file a recurso de reposición within one month of notification, or go to the contencioso-administrativo court within two months. If you are late, the refusal becomes final and you must file a new application.

The entrepreneur route: the business plan comes first

Your plan is assessed first by UGE-CE, a Spanish immigration unit for large companies and strategic groups.

The plan should cover:

• the project, and the product or service
• market analysis
• the founders' profile
• financing and investment needs
• the jobs you expect to create
• expected economic returns

The unit looks at job creation, your professional profile, the investment you make, innovation, and the benefit to Spain's economy or to the region where the business is based. You need the report before you apply. The exact format and the weight of each criterion are set by the unit, so ask it before you write the plan.

The self-employed route: a different assessment

If you file as self-employed (autónomo), UGE-CE is not involved. The provincial immigration office or the consulate assesses your file.

Qualifications

As a self-employed applicant, you must show the qualifications or experience your activity requires.

• Regulated professions: you need the degree or diploma, its recognition (homologación) in Spain, and enrolment in the professional association (colegio profesional) where needed.
• Other activities: proof of training or experience is enough.
• Foreign documents: documents issued in another EU state need no apostille, and EU multilingual standard forms replace a translation. Documents from a non-EU country that is a Hague Convention member need an apostille and a sworn translation into Spanish. Documents from a non-EU country that is not a Hague member need full legalisation through the foreign ministry and the Spanish consulate, plus a sworn translation.

Recognition of a foreign degree can take months, and each profession has its own rules. Start it before anything else.

Licences

Your file must show that the activity can legally be carried out in Spain. If it is regulated, for example health, legal, financial or food, you need the relevant licences or registrations, or proof you have applied for them.

• Self-employed route: provide the licences and authorisations, or proof they are being processed.
• Entrepreneur route: licences are not required up front for the UGE-CE review, but the plan should address them.
• Licences issued only once you are in Spain: these are generally not required at the visa stage, but the file must show you can obtain them.

Requirements depend on the activity and on the town or region that grants the licence. Ask the relevant town hall or regional office.

Investment evidence

Show it with bank certificates and statements, proof of funds, and investment or company documents.

On the self-employed route, prove both the planned investment and the expected income. The income must be enough to support you and any family.

Your family can apply for residence together with you or later, and you must show the means to support them. Each relationship has its own rule:

• Spouse: the marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised and sworn-translated if foreign.
• Registered partner: the partnership registration certificate, with the same legalisation and translation.
• Unmarried, unregistered partner: has no automatic right. The file is decided on its merits, and you must prove a lasting relationship.
• Children: minors, and adult children who depend on you; the birth certificate, plus proof of dependence for adults.

Family residence is linked to yours and decided on the file; it is not automatic.

Timeline and deadlines

• Prepare the business plan: before you request the report
• Request the favourable report from UGE-CE electronically, with the plan: before you apply for the visa
• Wait for the report to be issued: Expect it within 20 working days.

Documents you need

• Business plan (entrepreneur route).

• Favourable report on your plan from UGE-CE (entrepreneur route).

• Project plan with an investment and income forecast, plus an economic viability study and proof of financing (self-employed route).

• Bank certificates, statements, proof of funds and investment or company documents showing your investment and means of support, enough for you and any family.

• Foreign qualification documents, apostilled or legalised.

• Sworn translation of your foreign qualification documents.

• Licences or authorisations the activity requires, or proof they are being processed (self-employed route; for regulated activities on the entrepreneur route).