Self-employment and entrepreneur routes
You can tell which self-employed route fits your business, what reviewers want to see and how plausible approval is.
This topic is for anyone planning to move to Spain and work for themselves. It covers the self-employed (cuenta propia) residence permit, the entrepreneur route, and how to choose between these and the digital nomad route.
Pick the article that fits your situation
Autónomo, entrepreneur or digital nomad, which self-employed route is yours?
Spain has three self-employed routes for non-EU nationals, and each is judged on a different test.
Moving to Spain to work for yourself, the self-employment permit
Explains how the Spanish self-employment permit works, what the authorities assess, how the process runs and how hard approval is. It is for non-EU citizens who want to move to Spain and work for themselves.
Proving investment and qualifications for Spain's self-employment permit
Explains how to show reviewers that your planned business is credible: the investment, the licences and, for regulated professions, your qualifications. For non-EU applicants applying for a self-employment residence permit in Spain.
How Spain's entrepreneur visa works
Explains what makes a business count as innovative or of special economic interest for Spain's entrepreneur route, who reviews it, and what the reviewers look for. It is for non-EU founders judging whether their startup is likely to qualify.
What ENISA looks at in an entrepreneur visa business plan
Explains the four things the reviewer judges in an entrepreneur visa business plan: innovation, viability, benefit to Spain and your background. It also lists what weakens a plan. For non-EU founders writing or commissioning a plan.
About this topic
Key rules
- Nomad income: The nomad route needs income of at least 2,849 euros a month in 2026, which is 200% of the monthly Spanish minimum wage.
- Spanish clients: Freelancers on the nomad route may take at most 20% of their income or activity from Spanish clients.
- Entrepreneur residence: Entrepreneur residence is granted for 3 years at first and renews in 2-year periods.
- Self-employed permit: The first self-employment permit is valid for 1 year and renews for 2 years.
This topic is for anyone planning to move to Spain and work for themselves. It covers the self-employed (cuenta propia) residence permit, the entrepreneur route, and how to choose between these and the digital nomad route.
The three routes have different tests: the self-employment permit tests whether your business is viable, the entrepreneur route whether it is innovative, and the nomad route where your income and clients come from. The self-employment permit is discretionary, so approval rests on your business plan.
Start with which route is yours, then read the page for your route.
Setting up a company, paying taxes, recognition of regulated professions and renewal problems are not covered here. Registering as an autónomo and its monthly cost are in how to register as self-employed and what being self-employed costs.
Self-employment and entrepreneur routes: the whole process, step by step
- Choose your route, the self-employment permit, the entrepreneur visa or the nomad route (which route is yours): before you start
- Prepare your business plan, proof of funds and qualifications (investment and qualifications; for the entrepreneur route also the plan review): before you apply
- Entrepreneur route: request the favourable report on your plan (entrepreneur visa): the report takes 20 working days
- Apply at the Spanish consulate, or online or from inside Spain if you are lawfully there, and pay the fees: after your documents are ready (and after the report, on the entrepreneur route). The national visa fee of €80 is paid at the consulate and only if you apply abroad; the residence authorisation costs €73.78, paid with modelo 790 code 038.
- Wait for the decision: self-employment permit, 3 months, and silence counts as a refusal (the permit); entrepreneur route, 20 working days from admission of the file, and silence counts as approval
- If you are refused, file a recurso de reposición or appeal to court: after a written refusal, reposición within 1 month or court within 2 months; after silence on the self-employment permit, reposición at any time or court within 6 months; or apply again with a stronger file
- Collect your visa at the consulate and enter Spain: the self-employment visa is valid for 3 months, the entrepreneur visa for 1 year
- Register with Social Security (RETA) and with the tax office, on both routes: within 3 months of entering Spain
- Apply for your foreigner ID card (TIE) and give your fingerprints at the police: within 1 month of entering Spain; the fee is €16.40, paid with modelo 790 código 012
Documents you may need
Identity and application
- Valid passport and the completed application form — self-employment permit, entrepreneur visa
- Proof that you paid the fee — self-employment permit, entrepreneur visa
Business plan and money
- A detailed business plan covering viability, investment and jobs — self-employment permit, entrepreneur visa, what ENISA looks at
- Proof of funds: bank statements or certificates from your bank showing the funds available — investment and qualifications, entrepreneur visa
- Evidence of the amount already invested or committed, such as quotes, invoices and lease or purchase contracts — investment and qualifications
- CV and proof of your qualifications or experience for the activity (entrepreneur route) — entrepreneur visa
Licences and qualifications
- Licences or authorisations needed to run the activity, or proof you have started the process — investment and qualifications
- Degree, recognition (homologación) and professional-body registration (colegiación) for a regulated profession — investment and qualifications
Health and record
- Full-cover health insurance with a Spanish insurer — self-employment permit, entrepreneur visa
- Criminal record certificate covering the last 5 years — self-employment permit, entrepreneur visa
Foreign documents
- Documents issued abroad: apostille, legalisation and sworn translation depend on the issuing country — investment and qualifications
Explore places
Where you live changes the details. See how Spanish regions and cities compare on rent, jobs, weather, safety and healthcare.
What to read next
More in Eligibility and route selection
Route map and first choices
You leave with a short list of Spanish routes that fit your passport and situation, and know which ones to read next.
Short stays and Schengen limits
You can count your days correctly, know what a short stay allows, and avoid the myths that lead to overstay.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
You know which free-movement category you fall under, what you must be able to show, and where the rules are lighter or stricter than for visa routes.
Also in Immigration and residency
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.