(In all types of residence visas, the presence of all people on the day of the interview is required)

Visa for people aged 18 or over who seek to engage in self-employed activity in Spain.

To obtain a self-employed work visa, it is first necessary to obtain an initial residence and self-employed work permit. For this reason, the procedure comprises two stages.

Obtaining an initial residence and self-employed work permit

Procedure

This Consular Office is competent to accept applications from individuals residing in the consular district.

• Who can apply for a permit: The application for an initial residence and self-employed work permit must be submitted in person by the applicant, or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor.
• Notification: The Consular Office will inform the applicant of the decision issued by the corresponding Delegation or Sub-delegation of the Government.
  • If the decision is favorable, the Consular Office will invite the applicant to submit a visa application.
  • If the decision is unfavorable, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to the Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the permit refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
• Individual with the necessary legal standing: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor.
  • Visa application period: Visas must be applied for within 1 month of the day following the date on which the notification of a favorable decision regarding the initial residence and self-employed work permit is received.
  • Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
  • Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 1 month as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.
  • Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative (if the applicant is a minor) within a maximum period of 1 month, counted as of the day after the date on which the favorable decision is notified. The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.
  • Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
  • Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
  • Validity period of the visa: The visa will be valid for 90 days. Once in Spain, workers must register with the Social Security system within a period of 3 months and before beginning their employment activity. They must also apply for a Foreigner Identity Card at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station within a period of 1 year from their registration with the Social Security system.