Spain Startup Visa (Entrepreneur Visa – Law 14/2013)
Spain ESP
Spain's Startup Visa, established under Law 14/2013 on Support for Entrepreneurs and their Internationalisation, provides a streamlined residence permit for non-EU founders seeking to launch or scale an innovative business project in Spain. The programme is administered by the Large Business and Strategic Collectives Unit (UGE-CE) of the Spanish immigration authorities and grants initial residence for up to two years, renewable for two further years. The defining feature of the route is the ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación) assessment: applicants must obtain a favourable report from ENISA — or another accredited evaluating body — confirming that the proposed venture is genuinely innovative and commercially viable. There is no prescribed minimum capital investment, making the visa accessible to knowledge-based and technology startups that may not require significant physical capital. A fast-track processing target of 20 business days applies once a complete application is accepted, making it one of the faster entrepreneur routes in the EU. Successful applicants receive a residence and work authorisation, allowing them to operate their company, take on employment in Spain, and access the Schengen Area. Family members may be included at the time of application or through subsequent family reunification. After five years of legal residence, applicants may apply for long-term EU residence; Spanish citizenship is available after ten years of continuous legal residence, subject to language and integration requirements.
Program Details
- Category
- Entrepreneur
- Processing Time
- 1 months
- Application Fee
- $80
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Spouse/partner and dependent children may be included as family unit members under the same application or subsequent family reunification
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 10 years
- Physical Presence
- Must reside in Spain; no fixed minimum days per year specified for the startup visa itself, but physical presence is expected to run the business. PR requires not exceeding 10 months absence in 5 years.
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- Holders who become tax residents (183+ days/year) are subject to Spanish worldwide income tax. The Beckham Law (Ley Beckham, Article 93 LIRPF) may allow qualifying arrivals to pay a flat 24% rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to 6 years instead of progressive rates up to 47%, provided application is filed within 6 months of registration.
- Renewal Cost
- $80
No fixed minimum income threshold; applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and dependents during initial residence. A business plan showing financial viability is required.
Application Timeline
Apply
1mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 10 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Favourable innovation and viability assessment from ENISA or an accredited evaluating body
- ✓Detailed business plan demonstrating the innovative nature of the project and its economic value to Spain
- ✓Proof of professional or entrepreneurial qualifications relevant to the business activity
- ✓Valid passport with at least one year's remaining validity
- ✓Clean criminal record certificate from all countries of residence in the past five years (apostilled and translated into Spanish)
- ✓Proof of sufficient financial means to support applicant and dependents during initial residence
- ✓Private health insurance from an authorised insurer operating in Spain
- ✓No prior irregular immigration history in Spain or Schengen countries
- ✓Application submitted through the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos)
Am I eligible for Spain Startup Visa (Entrepreneur Visa – Law 14/2013)?
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Nationality eligibility
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This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not require this visa and may establish businesses under freedom of movement, Nationals subject to UN or EU sanctions are excluded
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Prepare business plan and documentation
home countryDraft a comprehensive business plan in Spanish covering the innovative nature of the project, market analysis, financial projections, and the applicant's role. Gather criminal record certificates, proof of qualifications, and financial means evidence.
Typical duration: 4-8 weekssource ↗
- 02
Obtain ENISA favourable report
onlineSubmit the business plan to ENISA (or an accredited alternative evaluating body) for assessment of innovation and commercial viability. ENISA aims to issue its report within 15 business days. This report is mandatory for the visa application.
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
- 03
File visa application at UGE-CE
home countrySubmit the complete application package — including the ENISA report, business plan, criminal record, health insurance, financial proof, and application form EX-17 — to the UGE-CE. Applications may also be initiated at a Spanish consulate in the applicant's country of residence.
Typical duration: 1-3 weeks to compile and submitsource ↗
- 04
Await fast-track decision
home countryThe UGE-CE targets a 20 business-day processing window once the file is accepted as complete. The applicant or their representative will be notified of the outcome. Silence beyond the deadline constitutes administrative denial under Spanish law (silencio administrativo negativo).
Typical duration: 1 monthsource ↗
- 05
Travel to Spain and register
destinationOn approval, enter Spain on the visa (if applied from abroad). Register with the local Foreigners Office (Oficina de Extranjeros), obtain NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), register for Social Security if applicable, and collect the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) residence card.
Typical duration: 4-8 weeks for card issuance
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Applicant's home country government | No | — | — |
| Criminal record certificate | Police or judicial authority of each country of residence in the past 5 years | Yes | Spanish | 90 |
| ENISA favourable assessment report | ENISA or accredited evaluating body | No | — | — |
| Business plan | Applicant | No | Spanish | — |
| Proof of professional qualifications or track record | Relevant institutions (universities, prior employers) | Yes | Spanish | — |
| Proof of financial means | Applicant's bank | No | Spanish | 90 |
| Private health insurance | Authorised insurer operating in Spain | No | — | — |
| Application form EX-17 | Applicant (official Spanish immigration form) | No | — | — |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: government_fee, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high.
Government fees are low relative to comparable EU routes. The main cost drivers are legal/advisory fees for business plan preparation and the ENISA submission, plus relocation. Costs exclude cost of living and office/co-working space in Spain.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait2–8 weeks
- Decision → arrival4 weeks
- Residence card issuance6 weeks
- Total to residence card12–24 weeks
ENISA assessment (2-4 weeks) is often the longest single step. UGE-CE targets 20 business days once the file is complete. Consulate appointment availability varies significantly by country of application. Overall end-to-end timeline from starting documentation to card in hand is typically 3-6 months.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 24 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 24 months
- Renewal fee
- $75
- Requirements
- Evidence that the business project is operational and progressing as planned; updated ENISA assessment may be required; continued private health insurance; no criminal convictions; continued residence in Spain
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Integration test
- Not required
- Application fee
- $100
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 10
- Language test
- Yes (A2)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Application fee
- $100
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Beckham Law (Ley Beckham – Article 93 LIRPF)24% flat rate on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000; 47% above
Non-residents who become tax residents due to employment or business activity in Spain; must not have been tax resident in Spain in the prior 5 years; application within 6 months of Social Security registration
Duration: 6 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Public system access
- After 6 months
Examples: Sanitas, Adeslas, Asisa, Mapfre Salud
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse or partner included on the visa has the right to work in Spain without needing a separate work permit
- Child school enrolment
- Dependent children have the right to enrol in Spanish state schools
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠The ENISA assessment is the critical bottleneck — submit early and engage advisors who have worked with ENISA before. A negative report ends the application.
- ⚠Dual citizenship is generally not permitted after naturalisation; Spanish law requires renunciation of prior nationality (with limited exceptions for citizens of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal).
- ⚠The Beckham Law election window is strict: 6 months from first Social Security registration. Missing it means being taxed as a full resident on worldwide income from day one.
- ⚠Business plan language requirements are strict — submission in Spanish is standard and translations must be certified.
- ⚠Silence from UGE-CE beyond 20 business days is treated as denial (silencio administrativo negativo), triggering the need for an administrative appeal rather than automatic approval.
- ⚠Law 28/2022 (Startup Act) amended and expanded Law 14/2013 provisions — confirm current implementing regulations with a lawyer as secondary legislation is still evolving.
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Employment with a Spanish company other than the applicant's own startup (without separate work authorisation)
- ×Passive investment without active management role in the business
- ×Extending indefinitely without demonstrating the business is operational at renewal
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Business plan deemed insufficiently innovative or lacking clear market differentiation
- •Negative or inconclusive ENISA assessment
- •Incomplete documentation — particularly missing apostilles or translations
- •Criminal record certificates expired (older than 90 days at submission)
- •Insufficient proof of financial means to sustain applicant during initial period
- •Applicant's qualifications not demonstrably linked to the proposed business activity
- •Prior irregular immigration status in Spain or Schengen Area
Recent Legislative Changes
2023-01-01
Law 28/2022 (Startup Act / Ley de Startups) amended Law 14/2013, introducing improved conditions including faster processing targets (20 business days), extension of initial authorisation period, and introduction of the separate digital nomad visa alongside the existing entrepreneur route.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ENISA assessment the same as an ENISA loan?+
No. The ENISA assessment (informe favorable) for the startup visa is a separate evaluation process from ENISA's financing and lending programmes. Obtaining a positive assessment does not require taking an ENISA loan, and vice versa.
Can I apply for the startup visa if my company is not yet incorporated?+
Yes. Law 14/2013 allows the visa to be granted before incorporation, with the expectation that the company will be established upon arrival in Spain. The business plan should detail the intended structure.
Does the startup visa lead to permanent residency?+
Yes. After 5 years of legal residence in Spain (with absences not exceeding the regulatory limits), holders may apply for EU long-term resident status (residencia de larga duración), which provides indefinite right to remain.
How does the Spain Startup Visa differ from the Spain Digital Nomad Visa introduced in 2023?+
The startup visa targets founders building an innovative business inside Spain, requiring an ENISA endorsement of the business plan. The digital nomad visa (also under Law 14/2013 as amended by Law 28/2022) targets remote workers employed by or contracting with companies outside Spain. Founders actively building a Spanish company should use the startup visa route.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
Related Guides
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified 2026-06-01