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.

Key rules

Nomad route: Freelancers may take at most 20% of their income or activity from Spanish clients; employees must work for a company outside Spain.

Nomad income: You need income of at least 2,849 euros a month in 2026, which is 200% of the monthly Spanish minimum wage.

Self-employment permit: You must show a viable plan, enough investment and the licences needed to operate.

Entrepreneur route: Your venture must be innovative or of special economic interest for Spain; ordinary shops and bars do not qualify.

Which route fits you

Pick the route by where your clients are and what you plan to build.

Your clients are mostly outside Spain and you work remotely: the nomad route.
You will run an ordinary business or freelance practice in Spain: the self-employment permit (cuenta propia).
You are launching something innovative or of special economic interest: the entrepreneur route.

Each route has its own test. Meeting one does not help you with another.

The three routes side by side

	Nomad route	Self-employment permit	Entrepreneur route
Who it fits	Remote workers: employees of a company outside Spain, or freelancers with clients mainly outside Spain	People who will run an ordinary business or freelance practice in Spain	Founders of an innovative project or one of special economic interest
The test	A monthly income test, and a degree or 3 years of experience	A viable plan, enough investment, the licences and, where regulated, the qualifications	An innovative plan with a favourable ENISA report
Money	No savings test, only the income above	No legal minimum; plan on at least €20,000 of investment for a small activity	No fixed minimum; funds that cover the plan and your living costs
Where you apply	Consulate, or from inside Spain with the Large Business Unit	Consulate, or from inside Spain from a student or employee permit	Consulate, or from inside Spain in any lawful status with the Large Business Unit
Decision time	20 working days; silence counts as approval	3 months; silence counts as a refusal	Report in 20 working days, then decision in 20 working days; silence counts as approval
First permit	Up to 3 years	1 year, then 2-year renewals	Visa for 1 year, then residence for 3 years and 2-year renewals

On all three routes your spouse, registered partner and children can join you; the proof for each is in the family rules.

If you fit two routes, for example a founder whose clients are abroad, choose the nomad route if you mainly want to live in Spain on foreign income, the entrepreneur route if the business is innovative and based in Spain, and the self-employment permit if it is an ordinary business.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You do not use these three routes. They are for non-EU nationals. As an EU citizen, you register under the EU citizen rules. A UK citizen with Withdrawal Agreement rights follows the Withdrawal Agreement rules (are you covered?); a UK citizen without them is treated as a non-EU national and can use these routes.

If you are an employee of a Spanish employer

You do not apply on your own. The Spanish employer files the work and residence authorisation application for you with the immigration office. You then apply for the visa at the consulate.

Do you need Spanish clients before applying as self-employed?

No, Spanish clients are not strictly required before you apply for the self-employment permit. Pre-contracts, letters of intent or other proof of demand still help show your business can work. You also need enough funds, the qualifications or experience for the activity, and any licences it requires.

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