Spain · Startup Visa
Spain's Entrepreneur Route for Startup Founders
Spain has no program officially called a startup visa. Founders use the entrepreneur residence route in Law 14/2013, reshaped by the 2022 Startups Law, where an ENISA report on innovation and scalability decides eligibility.
- Startup route
- Entrepreneur residence (Law 14/2013)
- Minimum capital
- No minimum investment; favorable ENISA report required
- Permanent residence
- 5 years of continuous legal residence
- Citizenship
- 10 years; 2 for Ibero-American nationals
Residence authorization for entrepreneurs (Law 14/2013)
Non-EU founders who want to start, run or lead an innovative business in Spain, or one of special economic interest to the country, can apply for this residence authorization. ENISA, the state agency that finances young companies, issues a mandatory report scoring the project on innovation and scalability, looking at the market, business model, competition, team and the founder's own profile. Applicants abroad request a residence visa at a Spanish consulate, while those already in Spain legally apply online to UGE-CE. The authorization runs for three years, is valid across Spain and can be renewed for two more. The law sets no minimum investment or job-creation target, and a project can be assessed before any company is incorporated.
- Validity
- Visa up to 1 year; authorization 3 years
- Renewal
- Renewable for a further 2 years
- Processing time
- ENISA report in 10 working days; UGE-CE decision in 20 days
- Silence rule
- No UGE-CE decision within 20 days counts as approval
- Government fee
- Fee 038 on Form 790; confirm amount with UGE-CE
- Family
- Spouse, children and dependents; family members may work
- Leads to
- Long-term residence after 5 years
Requirements
- Be 18 or older, not in Spain irregularly, and have no criminal record in Spain or countries of residence during the previous five years.
- Obtain a favorable ENISA report finding the activity innovative or of special economic interest for Spain.
- Submit a business plan covering the product or service, market analysis, financing, added value for the Spanish economy and a CV.
- Prove sufficient financial means for yourself and any accompanying family members for the whole stay.
- Hold public health cover or private health insurance from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain.
- Pay fee 038 and quote its NRC payment reference in the application.
How to apply
- Register in ENISA's private area and complete the entrepreneur residence form with the project details and business plan.
- ENISA assesses innovation and scalability and sends its report to UGE-CE, which requests it ex officio.
- From abroad, apply for the residence visa at the Spanish consulate; consulates decide within 10 working days.
- If already in Spain legally, file online with UGE-CE: form, passport copy, fee receipt, insurance and proof of means.
- Once approved, start the planned activity; the permit also allows Schengen stays of up to three months per semester.
How the Startups Law reshaped the founder route
Law 28/2022, known as the Startups Law, amended Law 14/2013 with effect from 23 December 2022. It removed the old stand-alone article on entry to start a business and added a residence route for international teleworkers, widely called the digital nomad visa. Under the current text, the entrepreneur authorization lasts three years and renews for two, and the ENISA report is mandatory. ENISA separately certifies companies as emerging companies under the Startups Law; that certificate opens corporate tax and financing incentives but does not grant anyone the right to live in Spain.
ENISA's applicant guide explains what it weighs. Innovation can be shown through patents or other industrial property, in-house technology with research spending of at least 15 percent of total costs, or new processes, products or business models. Some objective markers count as direct proof of innovation, such as public R&D funding received in the last three years or an award as an innovative company with at least regional reach. Scalability is judged on market attractiveness, company stage, business model, competition, management team, shareholders, suppliers and customers.
Questions and answers
Is there a minimum investment for Spain's entrepreneur residence?
No. Law 14/2013 sets no minimum investment and no job-creation quota for this route. The deciding factor is a favorable ENISA report on innovation and scalability, together with proof that the founder can support themselves and any family members. A company does not need to be incorporated in Spain beforehand, because ENISA can assess a project.
How long does a decision on the entrepreneur authorization take?
ENISA must issue its report within 10 working days of the UGE-CE request. UGE-CE then has 20 days from electronic filing to decide, and if it does not resolve in time the authorization is treated as granted. Consulates have 10 working days to decide residence visa applications made from abroad.
Can a founder's family come to Spain and work?
Yes. A spouse or partner, children and dependent relatives can apply together with the founder or later, using the family application form. Under the fourth additional provision of Law 14/2013, their residence authorizations allow work as employees or as self-employed people anywhere in Spain.
Does ENISA's emerging-company certificate give a residence permit?
No. The certificate that ENISA grants under the Startups Law is a status for companies, not individuals. It opens incentives such as a reduced 15 percent corporate tax rate, but a founder's right to reside still depends on the separate ENISA report that UGE-CE requests for the entrepreneur authorization.
Official sources
- Residence Application for Entrepreneursone.gob.es
- Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalizaciónwww.boe.es
- Emprendedores - UGEwww.inclusion.gob.es
- Certifícate como empresa emergentewww.enisa.es
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in Spain.
Startup visa
Entrepreneur visa or permit backed by a favorable ENISA report
02Temporary residence
3-year UGE-CE authorization, then a 2-year renewal
03Permanent residence
Long-term residence after 5 years of continuous legal stay
04Citizenship
10 years with DELE A2 and CCSE; 2 years for Ibero-American nationals