Entrepreneur Visa Assistance — We Manage Your Filing
Residence for business owners relocating an established company to Spain or converting an Investor's Edition (IE) presence into full operations.
We build your business plan and economic-interest justification, coordinate your IE conversion or company registration, and manage your Entrepreneur Visa filing so your existing business qualifies without delays.
Overview
The Entrepreneur Visa (Visado para Emprendedores) is built for applicants running an already-viable business who want to relocate operations, or a founding team, to Spain — as distinct from the Startup Visa, which targets new companies seeking ENISA certification as an emerging startup. Some applicants use this category to convert an Investor's Edition (IE) structure or an existing foreign entity into active Spanish operations, establishing a genuine economic presence rather than a shell registration.
Approval requires a favorable report on the business project, generally issued by Spain's Directorate-General for International Trade and Investment (or the relevant regional economic authority), confirming the project is viable and of interest to the Spanish economy. Initial permits run for two years and are renewable, counting toward permanent residency at the five-year mark.
Eligibility & Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Favorable business report | Confirmation from the relevant Spanish economic authority that the project is viable, generates economic activity, and is of interest to Spain |
| Business plan | Covers the business model, financing, market analysis, and expected job creation or economic contribution |
| Prior business track record | Evidence the applicant has relevant experience or an operating company, unlike the ENISA-focused Startup Visa route |
| Financial capacity | Proof of sufficient funds to support the applicant (and family, if included) during the project's ramp-up phase |
| Health insurance | Private policy with full coverage, no co-payments |
| Criminal record | Clean record certificate, apostilled and translated |
Application Process
- Prepare a detailed business plan demonstrating economic viability, financing, and relevance to the Spanish market.
- Submit the plan for a favorable report from the appropriate Spanish trade or economic authority.
- Register or restructure the business entity in Spain as needed — see Company Registration.
- Gather personal documents: criminal record, health insurance, proof of funds, and evidence of relevant business experience.
- File the residence application at a consulate abroad or through Spain's UGE-CE if already legally present.
- Collect your TIE card and complete municipal registration. See TIE Card.
- Set up banking and tax registration, coordinating VAT and corporate obligations with an accountant — see VAT/IVA & ROI Registry.
Costs & Timeline
Obtaining the favorable business report can take from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the reviewing authority and project complexity. Combined with company registration and residence processing, total timelines commonly run two to four months from initial filing to TIE card collection. Costs include legal and accounting fees for entity setup, translation and apostille of foreign documents, and standard visa fees — larger or more complex business structures generally involve higher advisory costs.
FAQ
What's the difference between the Entrepreneur Visa and the Startup Visa?
The Startup Visa requires ENISA certification as an innovative, scalable emerging company under the Startups Law. The Entrepreneur Visa is broader and covers established businesses or investment projects that demonstrate economic viability and interest to Spain without needing to meet the startup-specific innovation bar.
Can I use this visa to open a second location of my existing US or UK business?
Yes, this is a common use case — relocating or expanding an operating business into Spain is squarely within what this category is designed for, provided the business plan shows genuine economic activity and viability in Spain.
USWill operating a Spanish branch of my business create double taxation issues?
Potentially, depending on how the business is structured. The US-Spain tax treaty addresses permanent establishment rules and provides mechanisms like the Foreign Tax Credit, but a Spanish branch or subsidiary can trigger both US corporate reporting (including potential Form 5471) and Spanish corporate tax obligations. Structuring this correctly from the outset matters — see Tax Residency in Spain.
UKDoes relocating my business to Spain affect my access to UK business banking and credit?
Becoming a Spanish tax resident and relocating operational activity can affect how UK banks assess your business relationship, particularly for credit facilities tied to UK residency or trading history. It's worth reviewing your UK banking arrangements alongside your Spanish Business Bank Account setup before relocating.
Do I need to hire Spanish employees to qualify?
Job creation strengthens the business report but isn't always a strict numeric requirement — the emphasis is on demonstrating genuine economic contribution and viability, which can include job creation, investment, or other measurable economic interest depending on the project.
Can this visa lead to permanent residency and citizenship?
Yes, time on the Entrepreneur Visa counts toward the five years required for permanent residency, and subsequently toward the ten years generally required for Spanish citizenship by residence. See Permanent Residency and Spanish Citizenship.
Relocating your business to Spain?
We help structure the business report, entity setup, and residence application as one coordinated process.
Book a Free Consultation