Who it fits
Non-EU founders who want to launch an innovative business of special economic interest for Spain.
What usually matters
- A business plan with a favourable report from ENISA, which assesses innovation, scalability, the team and viability.
- No fixed minimum investment in the law — you show enough funds to live on and to carry out the plan.
- Residence permit issued for three years, renewable for two more; long-term residence can be requested after five years.
- Spouse or partner and children can be included in the same application.
- Clean criminal record and health insurance are required.
Spain’s start-up visa is the entrepreneur residence created by the Entrepreneurs Law (Law 14/2013) and updated by the Startups Law (Law 28/2022). It is designed for non-EU founders who want to launch an innovative business of special economic interest for Spain.
The heart of the application is the business plan, which must obtain a favourable report from ENISA — the public body that assesses innovation, scalability, the team’s profile and the viability of the plan. The application is then filed with the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE) from inside Spain during a legal stay, or as a visa at the Spanish consulate. The UGE usually decides in about 20 working days.
The residence permit is issued for three years and can be renewed for two more; after five years of residence you can request long-term residence. Your spouse or partner and children can be included in the same application.
Funds, requirements and tax
The law sets no fixed minimum investment. You must show enough funds to live on and to carry out the plan, together with a clean criminal record and health insurance.
Certified start-ups can benefit from a reduced 15% corporate tax rate for their first profitable years, and founders may qualify for the special expat tax regime (the “Beckham law”). Both are always assessed case by case.
Start-up or traditional business?
This route is reserved for innovative projects. For a traditional business — a shop, a restaurant or a freelance practice — the self-employed residence is the right route.
What decides the file
The ENISA report decides the file. It rests on a concrete, innovative and scalable plan, the founder’s track record and evidence of funds. Documents issued abroad need an apostille and a sworn translation, so plan for them early.
LAVCOM’s advisor takes the first call to check whether your project fits this route; our Barcelona partner lawyers then prepare the file.
Sources (checked against official sources on 6 October 2026): Ley 14/2013 (BOE) · Ley 28/2022 (BOE) · UGE-CE, Ministerio de Inclusión.
This page gives general orientation. The right route and the exact requirements are confirmed only after reviewing your file.
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