Launch and grow your innovative business in Spain
Spain's Entrepreneur Visa is designed for non-EU nationals who want to start, develop or manage an innovative business project with special economic interest for the country. This residence category supports international founders whose projects offer technological, economic or social value, and provides a fast-track immigration route under Spain's Entrepreneurs Law.
At NomadTaxSpain, we work closely with founders, startups and investors to secure the required approvals and manage the entire residence process, ensuring compliance and maximising the chances of a successful application.
What is the Entrepreneur Visa?
The Entrepreneur Visa allows non-EU nationals to reside in Spain while developing an innovative, high-impact business project. The core element is obtaining a favourable report from ENISA, the Spanish public innovation agency, confirming that the project is innovative and of special economic interest.
This visa is suitable for founders and teams such as:
- Startup founders launching a scalable or technology-driven project.
- Innovators developing new products, services or business models.
- Entrepreneurs relocating to Spain to direct or grow their venture.
- Teams with early traction, investment or strong industry support.
The initial residence authorisation normally has a three-year validity and can be renewed for an additional two years, as long as the project remains active and aligned with the original plan.
Who can apply?
You may qualify for the Entrepreneur Visa if:
- Your business idea is innovative and provides economic, technological or social value.
- You have the skills, experience and leadership capacity to develop the project.
- Your business has potential for job creation, growth or strategic relevance for Spain.
- You meet the general requirements of Spain's Entrepreneurs Law, including regular status in Spain, clean criminal record, health insurance and sufficient financial means.
Family members (spouse or partner and dependent children) can apply at the same time under the same procedure.
Key requirements
- Innovative business project
You must present a detailed business plan in Spanish that clearly explains:
- Product or service and its degree of innovation.
- Market analysis and target customers.
- Competitive advantages and differentiating factors.
- Business model and revenue streams.
- Operations and implementation roadmap.
- Founding team and key roles.
- Investment plan and financial projections.
- Sources of funding (own funds, investors, grants).
- Founder profile
Your CV should demonstrate relevant professional experience, qualifications and a clear connection with the project. The authorities assess both the quality of the idea and the capacity of the founder to execute it.
- Supporting evidence of economic or social interest
You can support your application with documents such as:
- Letters of support from incubators or accelerators.
- Client contracts or letters of intent (LOIs).
- Patents, trademarks or technological assets.
- Evidence of financing, investment or public grants.
- Financial means
You must demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself and your family members, if they apply with you. As a reference, the administration often considers at least 100 percent IPREM for the main applicant and 50 percent IPREM per additional family member, although higher levels may be advisable depending on the project and circumstances.
- Other standard requirements
As with other residence permits under the Entrepreneurs Law, you must also provide:
- A valid passport.
- Criminal record certificate and responsible declaration.
- Private or public health insurance authorised to operate in Spain.
- Apostilled and translated documents where required by law.
How the application works
- Submitting the application
If you are legally in Spain, the application is submitted electronically to the UGE-CE (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit) using the MI-T form and selecting the Entrepreneur option.
If you are outside Spain, the process begins at your local Spanish consulate with the visa application. After approval, the residence authorisation is issued and you can enter Spain.
- Assessment by ENISA
Once the application is filed with UGE-CE, the unit automatically requests an evaluation report from ENISA. ENISA analyses the innovative nature, scalability and economic impact of the project.
ENISA issues a binding report, usually within ten working days, which is a key element for the final decision.
- Resolution
If ENISA issues a favourable report, UGE-CE proceeds to grant the residence authorisation. When applying from abroad, the consulate then issues the visa. When applying from Spain, you can request your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) after approval.
- Duration and renewal
The initial authorisation is valid for three years. Renewal is typically granted for a further two years, provided the project remains active, viable and aligned with the approved business plan.
- Family members
Your spouse or partner and dependent children can apply simultaneously for residence authorisation under the same procedure, benefiting from the same fast-track treatment by UGE-CE.
Processing time
One of the main advantages of the Entrepreneur Visa is the speed of the procedure compared with standard immigration routes.
- Applications submitted to UGE-CE: the legal deadline is twenty working days, and positive administrative silence applies. This means that, if the administration does not respond within the deadline, the application is considered approved.
- Applications submitted at consulates: the usual deadline is one month, and silence is negative. In this scenario, lack of response is treated as a refusal.
In practice, the entrepreneur permit is one of the fastest and most efficient immigration procedures in Spain for qualified founders and innovative projects.
Why choose NomadTaxSpain?
Our team assists founders at every stage of the Entrepreneur Visa process, from the early evaluation of your idea to the final residence permit and ongoing tax compliance in Spain.
Our support typically includes:
- Evaluation of whether your project qualifies as innovative and of special economic interest.
- Drafting, refining and structuring the business plan according to ENISA and UGE-CE criteria.
- Preparation of the complete application file, including founder documentation and supporting evidence.
- Electronic submission and follow-up with UGE-CE and ENISA.
- Visa support at the Spanish consulate if you apply from abroad.
- Post-arrival registrations and residence formalities, such as TIE and local registrations.
- Ongoing tax and compliance advice for founders, startups and investors operating in Spain.
We regularly support technology entrepreneurs, digital businesses and startup teams relocating to Spain from Europe, North America, Asia and beyond, tailoring our approach to the specific needs of each project.
Start your Entrepreneur Visa application
If you are planning to develop an innovative business in Spain, our team will assess your project and provide a personalised roadmap to secure your residence permit under the Entrepreneurs Law.
We combine immigration, tax and business know-how so that you can focus on building your company while we take care of the legal framework.
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