After you move to Madrid and plan your business, you can apply for a self-employed visa. This permit allows you to live in Spain and run your own freelance activity.
What is the self-employed visa?
The official name for this permit is the visado de trabajo por cuenta propia. Most expats call it the freelance visa or the autónomo visa.
This visa is for people who want to start a local business in Spain. You can open a shop, start a restaurant, or offer freelance services to local clients.
This is different from the Digital Nomad Visa. The Digital Nomad Visa is for remote workers with foreign clients.
The self-employed visa is for businesses active in the Spanish economy. The visa is initially valid for 1 year.
You can renew it for 2 additional years if your business remains viable.
How to Apply for a Spanish Residence Permit (TIE)
Key requirements
You must meet strict professional and financial criteria to qualify. Spanish authorities will review your qualifications and business feasibility.
First, you must prove you have the skills to run your proposed business. You must show relevant university degrees or work experience certificates.
Second, you must show you have sufficient funding. You must have enough money to launch your business and support yourself in Spain.
Finally, you must obtain a certificado de viabilidad (viability certificate) for your project. This is the most important document in your application.
The business plan and viability certificate
You must write a detailed plan de negocio (business plan) in Spanish. This plan must show that your business will be profitable.
You cannot submit the business plan directly to the consulate. You must first get it approved by a recognized professional organization in Spain.
These organizations include Federación Nacional de Asociaciones de Trabajadores Autónomos (ATA) and Unión de Profesionales y Trabajadores Autónomos (UPTA). They will review your plan and issue a viability certificate.
Your business plan must include a description of your services, market research, and financial projections for 3 years. It must also show your initial investment capital.
Financial requirements
You must prove you have enough money in your bank account. Consulates check two types of funds.
First, you need investment capital to start your business. This amount depends on your activity.
A consultant needs less capital than a restaurant owner. Authorities usually expect to see at least €10,000 to €15,000 in business funds.
You must prove this with bank statements or credit agreements.
Second, you must show you can support yourself. The consulate uses the Spanish public income indicator to calculate this.
This indicator is called the Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples (IPREM). You must show a monthly income of 150% of the IPREM.
For 2026, the IPREM is €600 per month. You must show at least €900 per month or €10,800 per year in personal savings.
If you bring family members, you must prove additional savings.
Stage 1: The consulate application
You must apply for the freelance visa from your home country. You cannot apply while in Spain on a tourist visa.
You must book a visa appointment at the Spanish consulate. You must bring all your completed documents to this appointment.
All foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled. You must translate non-Spanish documents using a traductor jurado (certified translator).
Required document checklist
- Application form EX-07 : The completed and signed work permit application form.
- Visa application form : The national visa application form with a recent photo.
- Passport : Your valid passport with a copy of all pages.
- Business plan : The plan approved by ATA, UPTA, or another authorized body.
- Viability certificate : The official validation report from the professional association.
- Professional qualifications : Academic degrees, certificates, or proof of work experience.
- Financial proof : Bank statements showing your investment and maintenance funds.
- Criminal record certificate : A clean criminal record check from countries where you lived in the last 5 years.
- Medical certificate : A doctor’s letter showing you do not carry major infectious diseases.
- Private health insurance : Full coverage from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain.
- Fee receipts : Proof of payment for the application processing taxes.
The empadronamiento: How to register your address in Madrid
Stage 2: Processing and approval
The consulate will send your application to the regional immigration office in Spain. For Madrid, this is the Delegación del Gobierno.
This office has 3 months to make a decision. If they approve the work authorization, the consulate will notify you.
You must collect your visa within 1 month of notification. The visa is stamped in your passport and is valid for 1 year.
You must enter Spain within the validity period of your visa. This period is usually 3 months.
Steps after arriving in Madrid
You must complete several registration steps after you arrive in Madrid to start your business legally.
First, you must register your address. This procedure is called the empadronamiento.
Second, you must register with the Spanish tax agency, which is the Agencia Tributaria or Hacienda.
Third, you must register with the Spanish social security system. You must do this within 3 months of entering the country.
You will join the special regime for self-employed workers. This regime is called the Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos (RETA).
Finally, you must apply for your physical residency card. This card is the TIE.
You must book a fingerprinting appointment at a local police station within 30 days of registering with social security.
How to register your address in Madrid
Paying application taxes
You must pay two administrative fees when submitting your application. These taxes are called tasas.
The first fee is for the work authorization. You must complete and pay the form Tasa 790 Código 062 (fee form 790 code 062).
The second fee is for the residence authorization. You must pay the form Tasa 790 Código 052 (fee form 790 code 052).
The cost for both fees is approximately €200 in total. You can pay them online or at most banks in Spain.
How to Apply for a Spanish Residence Permit (TIE)
Questions and answers
Can I change from a student visa to a freelance visa?
Yes. You can modify your student visa to a self-employed residence permit after 1 year of study in Spain. You do not need to return to your home country to apply.
How long does the application process take?
Between 3 and 6 months. The immigration office in Spain takes up to 90 days to approve the work permit. Preparing the business plan and getting ATA or UPTA approval also takes several weeks.
Do I need to speak Spanish to get this visa?
No, but it helps. The consulate does not require a language certificate. However, your business plan and all documents must be in Spanish.
Can I hire employees with this visa?
Yes. The freelance visa allows you to hire workers in Spain. You must show the potential to create jobs in your business plan.
What happens if my business fails?
You might not renew your permit. When you renew the permit after 1 year, you must prove the business is still active and profitable. You must also show you paid taxes and social security.
