Spain Entrepreneur Visa

Summary

Spain's Entrepreneur Visa (Visado de Emprendedor) is the headline residency route for non-EU founders who want to launch, relocate, or scale an innovative business in Spain. It was created by Law 14/2013 (the Entrepreneurs Law) and significantly modernized by Law 28/2022 (the Startup Act) and most recently updated by Royal Decree 1155/2024 (effective 20 May 2025). Spain uses it to attract founders in tech, biotech, cleantech, AI, advanced manufacturing, medtech, fintech, and other high-innovation sectors.

What makes it distinctive:

• Not quota-bound — no annual cap. Applications process year-round on their own merits
• No fixed capital minimum — Spain evaluates plans holistically rather than applying a hard threshold
• No employer sponsorship — founders apply directly
• Two filing paths — from the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your country/state of residence (1-year visa, later renewed to 3 years) or direct from Spain at the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos) for a 3-year residence permit

The ENISA review — the heart of the application. Every application is reviewed by ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación, S.A.), Spain's national innovation agency under the Ministry of Industry. ENISA evaluates the business plan against Spain's "innovative and of special economic interest" criteria and issues a favorable report (informe favorable) that is effectively a prerequisite for the visa.

ENISA's evaluation considers:

• Innovation — is the product, technology, or business model genuinely novel?
• Professional profile — is the founder qualified to execute?
• Business plan viability — market analysis, financial projections, go-to-market
• Job creation — how many direct Spanish jobs will this create?
• Economic impact — export potential, R&D spending, regional development contribution
• Funding — committed capital, investor interest, runway

No statutory capital minimum, but ENISA expectations. Unlike the Italian Startup Visa (€50k hard floor), Spain doesn't publish a fixed capital requirement. In practice, most successful applications show €50,000–€100,000+ in committed capital or investor backing. ENISA wants to see the business can actually execute — insufficient funding is a common reason for unfavorable reports.

Qualifying sectors. Tech, software, biotech, cleantech, AI/ML, robotics, advanced manufacturing, medtech, agritech, fintech, space, renewable energy, digital health. Traditional businesses — restaurants, small retail, standard consultancies, real estate agencies — are harder to qualify under the Entrepreneur Visa. Spain has separate self-employment (autónomo) visa routes for those, with lower-innovation thresholds but tighter quota and labor-market-test scrutiny.

The business plan — what ENISA wants.

• Executive summary and innovation thesis
• Market analysis — target market size, competitive landscape, Spanish/European positioning
• Product or technical description — the innovation itself, with supporting technical detail
• Team bios — founder credentials, co-founders, advisory board
• Financial projections — 3–5 year P&L, cash flow, funding plan
• Job creation plan — specific Spanish hires planned, timeline
• Capital and funding — current commitments, planned raises

Most successful plans run 20–40 pages. ENISA accepts applications in Spanish or English. Engaging a Spanish immigration attorney and/or a specialized startup consultant is common practice.

The permit structure under the 2025 reform:

• From the Spanish consulate abroad: 1-year entry visa, then renewable to a 3-year residence permit
• From within Spain (UGE-CE): 3-year initial residence permit directly
• First renewal: 2 years
• Total: up to 5 years, then eligible for long-term (permanent) residency

Family members. Spouses and dependent children can apply simultaneously under the visa's family reunification structure — no separate filing later, no waiting period, and immediate work rights for adult family members. This is a significant practical advantage over the Non-Lucrative Visa (where family members can't work).

The Beckham Law — tax consideration. Entrepreneur Visa holders acting as employed directors of the Spanish company (a common structure) can elect Spain's Beckham Law special tax regime:

• 6-year tax regime
• Flat 24% tax on Spanish-source income up to €600,000 (47% above)
• Foreign income generally not taxed in Spain
• Election within 6 months of arrival

Founders structured as pure shareholders (not employees of the Spanish entity) may not qualify — structuring matters.

Path to permanent residency. After 5 years of legal residence in Spain, Entrepreneur Visa holders can apply for long-term (permanent) residency — no income test, no work restriction.

Path to citizenship. Time counts toward Spanish naturalization (10 years for most non-EU applicants, including those from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia). Spain generally requires renouncing prior citizenship at naturalization (exceptions for Latin American, Portuguese, Andorran, Filipino, and Equatorial Guinean applicants — applicants without these ties typically don't qualify). Most non-exempt Entrepreneur Visa holders stop at permanent residency after 5 years.

Eligibility

• Innovative or high-impact business in a qualifying sector (tech, biotech, cleantech, AI, advanced manufacturing, etc.)
• Structured business plan with market analysis, financial projections, team bios, innovation rationale
• Committed capital — no statutory minimum, but ENISA expects enough to execute (typically €50k+)
• Favorable ENISA report — issued after review; without it, the visa won't be granted
• Private health insurance with full coverage, valid in Spain
• Clean criminal record from your country of citizenship and any other country of residence in the past 5 years
• Proof of accommodation in Spain
• Dual citizenship at Spanish naturalization is generally NOT permitted for nationalities outside the recognized exception list (including U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia) — most non-exempt holders stop at permanent residency

What This Route Allows

This route can allow you to live in Spain through the qualifying investment, business, or self-employment basis described above. The proof package should be concrete before filing: accepted investment or business activity, lawful source-of-funds records, corporate, property, or bank documents where relevant, background checks, and the government forms for this pathway.

What This Route Is Not

This is not just a business idea on paper. Entrepreneur and self-employment routes usually require a credible plan, real activity, funds, qualifications, or official endorsement.

Next Steps

1. Validate the innovation fit — confirm your business would meet ENISA's criteria (novelty, market potential, job creation, economic impact)
2. Prepare the business plan — 20–40 pages covering market analysis, financial projections, team, product, capital, and Spanish economic impact. English or Spanish is fine
3. Engage professional support — a Spanish immigration attorney and/or a specialized startup consultant is common; improves ENISA approval odds
4. Obtain a codice-equivalent NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) — Spanish tax number, often obtained at the consulate with the visa application
5. File the ENISA application — submit business plan, founder CVs, and funding documentation
6. Gather supporting documents — passport, police clearance from your country of citizenship (e.g., U.S. FBI check), apostilled; medical certificate, proof of funds, degree certificates
7. Apostille each civil record under the 1961 Hague Convention (or use your country's legalization procedure) and obtain certified Spanish translations from a sworn translator (traductor jurado)
8. Choose the filing path:
   • From abroad: file at the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your country/state of residence for the 1-year visa
   • From Spain: enter on a standard tourist stay and file at the UGE-CE for a 3-year permit (processing 20 business days, target)
9. Incorporate the Spanish company — typically an S.L. (Sociedad Limitada) or S.L.U. (single-member S.L.). Can be started before or after arrival
10. Enter Spain and within 30 days apply for the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
11. Register as a Spanish resident (empadronamiento) at your local town hall
12. Elect the Beckham Law within 6 months (Form 149 with Agencia Tributaria) if structured as an employed director
13. Renew after the initial permit (2-year renewal)
14. After 5 years of legal residence, apply for long-term (permanent) residency
15. After 10 years, consider applying for Spanish citizenship

Sources

• Consulate General of Spain in New York — Entrepreneur Visa
• Law 14/2013 — Entrepreneurs Law (founding legislation)
• Law 28/2022 — Startup Act (modernization of Entrepreneur Visa)
• Royal Decree 1155/2024 — 2025 reform of immigration regulations
• ENISA — Empresa Nacional de Innovación
• UGE-CE — Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos
• Agencia Tributaria — special tax regime for displaced workers
• Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C.
• Apostille Convention (HCCH) — U.S. competent authorities