SpainTemporary residence permit and authorisation for self-employed activity

Self-employment permit in Spain

The programme is intended for foreign nationals who wish to start an independent activity in Spain. It grants temporary residence and authorisation to work as a self-employed person at the same time. The applicant must show the necessary qualifications, sufficient investment and a clean criminal record. The authorisation is limited to a particular autonomous community and sector of activity. The programme makes it possible to establish independent status and move gradually towards long-term residence.

Visa term

1 year, limited to one autonomous community and one specific sector of activity.

Processing time

3 months from the date the application is lodged at the consulate.

Work

The authorisation works in one autonomous community and in one sector of activity.

Long-term resident status is granted after 5 consecutive years of temporary residence.

Source: Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones — Hoja informativa 14

Who the programme suits

The programme is designed for a range of self-employed professionals. Make sure you meet the requirements for your category.

Professionals and specialists

Consultants and coaches with documented qualifications
IT specialists, developers and designers
Translators, writers and content creators

Entrepreneurs and traders

Owners of small businesses and start-ups
Retailers and online shops
Traders and importers of goods

Craftspeople and artisans

Cooks and owners of food businesses
Craft workers and creative professionals
Specialists in services and maintenance

When the programme will not suit

You are a national of the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Use the right of free movement and residence in the EU/EEA — no separate authorisation is needed

You have criminal convictions in Spain or in countries of residence over the past five years

A criminal record certificate is required; convictions are grounds for refusal

You are in Spain unlawfully or have outstanding voluntary return commitments

You must first regularise your stay and complete every procedural requirement

Your activity requires a licence but you cannot produce the permit documents

Obtain the necessary permits and licences in your country of origin or residence before applying

Documents to gather

All foreign documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator and legalised, either by apostille or through consular legalisation.

Completed and signed form EX-07 (the official application for authorisation)
Valid passport or travel document with at least one year of validity remaining
Criminal record certificate from every country in which you have lived over the past five years
Documents evidencing professional qualifications or experience (diplomas, certificates, licences, references)
Documents authorising the activity (commercial licences, registration notices, retail permits)
Proof that the investment and funds are sufficient to carry out the project (bank statements, evidence of capital, business plan)
Report from an association of self-employed workers (ATA, UPTA, CIAE, OPA, UATAE) — an alternative to financial evidence

How the process runs

Obtaining the authorisation runs through several consecutive stages, each calling for attention to detail and to deadlines.

1
Preparing documents and checking the requirements
2–4 weeks
Gather all the necessary documents, including criminal record certificates, proof of qualifications, financial evidence and permits for the activity. Make sure every foreign document has been translated and legalised. Check that there are no convictions and no unlawful stay in Spain.
2
Lodging the application at the consulate
1 day
Submit the completed application (form EX-07) in person at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence, together with all the documents. Pay the fee under code 052 (initial authorisation) as instructed by the consulate within ten working days of lodging the application.
3
Waiting for the administration's decision
3 months
The Spanish administration has three months from the date the application is lodged to reach a decision. No notification within that period counts as refusal by administrative silence (rechazo por silencio administrativo). Watch for notifications from the consulate.
4
Collecting the visa and entering Spain
1–3 months
After approval you have one month to apply for the visa at the consulate. Once issued, you have three months to use it to enter Spain. On entry you are given a temporary document (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero).
5
Registering with the Seguridad Social and obtaining the ID card
3–6 weeks
Within three months of arriving in Spain, register with the social security system (Seguridad Social) as a self-employed worker. Within one month of registering, apply for the permanent foreigner card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at your local police station or administration office.

Timelines and rights

Residence

Long-term resident status counts 5 years of continuous residence. An absence does not break the record if it lasted no more than 6 consecutive months, and all absences together came to no more than a year over those 5 years.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Self-employment permit	Protección Subsidiaria	Humanitarian protection
Visa term	1 year, limited to one autonomous community and one specific sector of activity	Residence and work permit (TIE) for about 5 years, renewable	Usually 1 year; annual renewal
Money	There is no fixed investment threshold	No state fee; reception and social support	No threshold as with the NLV; treatment and means are assessed
Work	The authorisation works in one autonomous community and in one sector of activity	Full right to work	Often includes a work permit
Residence	Long-term resident status counts 5 years of continuous residence	Live mainly in Spain	Live mainly in Spain

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

The general period is 10 years of lawful residence. For refugees — 5 years. For nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and for Sephardic Jews — 2 years. For people born on Spanish territory and spouses of Spanish nationals — 1 year.

Frequently asked questions about Self-employment permit

What is the minimum investment required for the authorisation?

There is no fixed minimum investment threshold. Instead you must show that the funds you have planned are sufficient to carry out your project and create jobs, including your own. Sufficiency may be evidenced by financial documents (bank statements, evidence of capital) or by a report from an association of self-employed workers (ATA, UPTA, CIAE, OPA, UATAE).

What fees are payable on the application?

The authorisation uses form 790 with two codes: code 052 for the initial authorisation for temporary residence and self-employed work, and code 062 where the work authorisation exceeds six months. The exact amounts depend on the current tax rates and are shown on form 790. The fees must be paid within ten working days of lodging the application.

Can my family move to Spain with me?

The programme's main official page does not set out the rights of family members under the self-employment authorisation. You should contact the Spanish consulate in your country of residence for information on family reunification, the requirements for applications by a spouse and children, and any additional documents needed.

What happens if my application is not approved within three months?

If the administration does not decide within three months of the application being lodged, this counts as refusal by administrative silence (rechazo por silencio administrativo). You may challenge the decision through administrative channels or reapply with additional information, addressing the reasons that may have caused the delay.

The authorisation is limited to one region and one sector — can this be changed later?

The authorisation is valid only in one autonomous community and in one sector of activity. To change region or type of activity you may need to lodge a new application or ask the competent authorities to vary the conditions. It is advisable to check the exact procedures and options with the consulate or the immigration authorities.

Other ways to move to Spain

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Spain.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.