Spain startup visa and residency in 2025

Pros and сons of the Spanish Startup Visa

With a Spanish residence permit for startup owners, you can live in Spain long-term (3 years with an extension) and, in the future, obtain permanent residence and citizenship in an EU country. Other benefits of thу status include:

• The opportunity to build a business in a country with a developed economy and pleasant tax climate to attract investments from European accelerators;
• No investment requirements: the business plan must specify the strategy and sources of financing, but there is no minimum investment amount;
• Company image: Since the project is recognized by the government, it will be easier to cooperate with partners, investors, and banks;
• Free travel within the Schengen zone and the opportunity to stay in any of these countries for up to 3 months (useful for both leisure and business trips);
• Moving with your family immediately, including not only your spouse and children, but also your parents.

In order to move to Spain, you must confirm the innovative nature of your idea. To stay here longer, you must ensure the project’s activity. Experienced lawyers can easily resolve this issue by preparing the necessary documents, helping you obtain a residence permit, and giving further recommendations.

Applicant and startup requirements

To obtain a Spanish residence permit through a startup, a foreigner must:

• Be legally present in Spain (you can enter on a tourist visa or open a special visa for startups);
• Be of legal age;
• Have no criminal record in Spain or other countries where they lived for 2 years before applying;
• Provide a declaration stating that they have not been convicted within the last five years;
• Not be on the list of undesirable persons in countries with which Spain has relevant agreements;
• Get health insurance from a company operating in Spain;
• Have enough money to live in Spain: EUR 600 per month for yourself and EUR 300 for each relative;
• Draw up a detailed business plan;
• Confirm your experience, education, and role in developing a startup;
• Pay the state fee.

Your spouse, dependent children, and parents may apply with you or later. If the applications are submitted together, they will be considered simultaneously. You can even include adult children with you if they have not established a separate family.

The startup is assessed according to the following criteria:

• Level of innovation: Costs of innovation, introduction of new technologies, research and development;
• Attractiveness to the market: Supply and demand in a specific sector are analyzed, as well as the strategy for attracting customers;
• Company life cycle: What is the plan for launching a service/production?
• Business model: scalability in terms of the number of consumers and turnover;
• Competition: How much does the applicant’s idea differ from those of similar companies?
• Investment attractiveness of the project;
• Connections with suppliers, lessors, and other economic entities;
• Potential reputational, regulatory, or other risks;
• Sources of financing;
• Number of jobs and the experience and education of company employees;
• Sales strategy and planned advertising.

According to the law, a startup is a new company or one that has existed for no more than 5 years (7 for key sectors and for developing a completely new technology). A business should not be formed through the transformation of a non-growing company. Additionally, startups cannot sell shares on the stock exchange. The office must be registered in Spain, and at least 60% of the employees must work in the Kingdom.

The procedure for obtaining a startup visa to Spain

The procedure for obtaining a startup visa to Spain consists of four stages. First, prepare the necessary documents, then submit your project to ENISA for confirmation of its innovativeness. Next, apply for a visa. Upon arrival in Spain, you may apply for a residence card, if desired.

1. Prepare the documents

Start with the documents that take the longest to complete because they most often delay submission. First, obtain police clearance certificates from each country in which you have lived for the past 5 years. These certificates must be notarized or apostilled and have a sworn translation into Spanish. This process can be time-consuming, especially if there are long lines at government offices. You should also take out health insurance in advance and contact your bank for statements confirming your financial independence.

The next major step is creating a business plan for ENISA. Carefully think through each section and describe your startup’s idea and strategy in detail. Pay special attention to the innovation component. Describe what technologies have been developed and what is new about the product or service. Explain its purpose in the Spanish market. Many people draw up a business plan with experienced lawyers because they know which projects will be approved.

Additionally, to submit an online request for a residence permit and receive government services, you must obtain an electronic certificate. Visit the National Mint and Stamp Factory (FNMT) website, select the certificate for individuals (Certificado Electrónico de Ciudadano), and choose one of the verification options: via an application, video call, or in-person visit to an identity verification center. Submit your application according to the instructions. After verification, you will receive a code — be sure to save it. Once your application is approved, you can receive your certificate on the FNMT website or app.

2. Incubator and ENISA

The law does not require mandatory cooperation with the incubator. However, you can receive support from such an organization, if necessary, for the development of your business. Examples of incubators include: La Nave (Madrid), Barcelona Activa (Barcelona), and Andalucía Open Future (Andalusia region). Each incubator has its own rules and procedures for participation. For instance, La Nave holds a competition for innovative projects, and requests for participation are submitted through their website. Then, you must go through the initial selection process and interview. If your project is approved, you will be notified by email.

Project approval from ENISA is requested online. Register on their website, select “Residence permit for entrepreneurs,” and then “Fill out the form.” Complete the form by filling out the fields following the instructions. The application review process takes up to 3 months. ENISA will inform the Unit for Large Companies and Strategic Groups (UGE-CE) about your application and provide a report after processing it.

3. Apply for a visa

Once your project has been approved, request a prior residence permit (Autorización de Residencia Inicial) from the UGE-CE. Do this through the electronic service of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration.

Before requesting the permit, pay the Model 790 fee (code 038) and obtain a special NRC code. Next, fill out and sign the MIT form. You can sign it manually and then scan it. Log in to the service and upload the form, as well as scanned copies of your international passport, police clearance certificate, insurance documents, income documents, and confirmation of payment of the fee. Click the “Sign” button. You will then receive a receipt confirming that your request has been submitted.

If you are not in Spain, make an appointment at the consulate to request a visa once approved. First, send an email to the service’s email address. Include your passport number, email address, phone number, first and last name, and the type of visa you are requesting. Appointments must be requested at least 4 days in advance.

You will then receive a message with an access code to the electronic system where you can book the date and time of your visit. At the appointed time, visit the consulate with the original documents. After verification, you will receive a receipt containing a code that you can use to track the status of your application in the electronic system. Once you receive notification that your request has been approved, pick up your passport with the visa within a month.

4. Submit biometrics and obtain a residence permit card

Your visa is valid for 1 year. During this time, you can stay in Spain without a residence card. However, if you would like to obtain this document, make an appointment online through the website icp.administracionelectronica.gob.es to visit the police department at your place of residence. Select your province, then click on “Police – Fingerprinting (Card Issue) Primary, Duplicate, and Law 24/2013” in the “National Police Procedures” category. Select the nearest office.

At your appointment, visit the office with the original documents, submit your biometrics, and pay the fee. You can pick up the card at the police station. Check the processing time and notification instructions when you apply.

Required documents for a Startup Visa to Spain

List of documents required for a startup visa application:

• Application form;
• One recent, color, passport-size photo with a light background. The photo should not have any glare, and the applicant’s face should not be covered by clothing or glasses;
• International passport: original and copy of pages with personal data;
• Previous residency authorization from UGE-CE;
• Confirmation that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and, if applicable, your family members (bank statements, for example);
• A certificate proving you have no criminal record from the country (or countries) where you have lived for the last 5 years;
• Health insurance (public or private) that is valid in Spain;
• Proof that you live in the region to which a specific consulate belongs;
• Visa payment receipt.

Your passport must be valid for at least another year and have at least two blank pages. Old passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.

For each family member traveling with you, prepare most of the same documents: an application form, a photo, a passport, a police clearance certificate, insurance, proof of address, and a duty payment receipt. For minors, a parent must sign the form. Additionally required:

• Confirmation of family relationship: birth certificates, marriage certificates, civil partnership documents, or cohabitation documents;
• For adult children, you need to provide evidence that they are financially dependent on the applicant and have not started a family of their own;
• For parents: Documents confirming that you support them financially.

To apply for a residence card, bring the following documents:

• A current passport with a visa;
• A color passport-size photo on a white background;
• Prior authorization from UGE-CE.

Costs and processing times

Consider additional costs for translating and certifying documents, making copies, and other expenses, as well as the costs of moving to Spain.

Obtaining a Spanish residence permit through a startup

Before your startup visa expires, contact UGE-CE to apply for a 3-year residence permit. The process is completed online through the same service where pre-approval was requested. The application is processed in just 20 working days.

If you have prepared all the documents and have already entered Spain legally (for example, with a Schengen visa), you can skip the visa application stage completely. If so, after UGE-CE approves your residence permit, you must immediately obtain a resident card.

Prospects for permanent residence and citizenship

You can then expect to be granted permanent residence in Spain if you have lived there continuously for at least 5 years. During this period, you cannot leave Spain for more than 6 months at a time or 10 months in total.

You can apply for permanent residence at the immigration office in your area or through the Mercurio online system. Submit the application no later than 2 months before your current residence permit expires.

Permanent residence is valid indefinitely, but the TIE card must be renewed — the first time after 5 years. After that, it is updated every 5 years until the holder turns 30, and then every 10 years.

To obtain Spanish citizenship, you must have lived in the country for at least 10 continuous years.

Taxes for Spanish startups

Income tax for innovative companies has been reduced from 25% to 15% for the first 4 years. There is also a deferment for paying tax debt: 12 months in the first year and 6 months in the second. No interest is charged for late payments.

Why might a startup visa be denied?

A startup visa to Spain may be refused for the following reasons:

• A weak business plan has been submitted that does not demonstrate the project’s viability and/or innovation;
• There is not enough money in the account to support you and your family;
• Incorrect information was submitted (e.g., errors in dates, names, or titles);
• The translation of documents is not certified in accordance with the established procedure and lacks an apostille;
• Deadlines for contacting the competent authorities were missed;

To avoid a refusal, you need to understand all of the ins and outs of Spanish legislation in detail, or you can seek help from lawyers if you do not want to deal with these issues yourself. Mirsatori specialists are ready to provide full support in obtaining a Spanish residence permit through a startup, from preparing a business plan to obtaining resident status.