Self-employed work visa

General Information

Visa for people over 16, who seek to engage in self-employed activity in Spain.

To obtain a self-employed work visa, it is necessary to obtain an initial residence and self-employed work permit.

The Consulate of Spain in Houston will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

THE PROCEDURE COMPRISES TWO STAGES: 

STAGE I

OBTAINING AN INITIAL RESIDENCE AND SELF-EMPLOYED WORK PERMIT.

Required documents - Please include a USB drive with the following scanned documents: 1, 2, 3,4, 5 and 7.

FORMA EX -07 AUTORIZACION DE TRABAJO POR CUENTA AJENA. Each applicant must complete and sign the EX-07 forms. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
Passport. A photocopy of every page of a valid, unexpired passport or travel document.
Activity permits and licenses. List of permits or licenses required for the installation, opening or operation of the planned activity or professional practice, indicating the status of the procedures for obtaining them. Certification of applications to the corresponding bodies must be attached.
Professional training and qualifications. Original and a copy of the documents accrediting the legally required training, and where applicable, qualifications, for the professional practice. Foreign documents must be apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.
Plan for the establishment or activity. Plan for the establishment or activity to be carried out, indicating the planned investment, the expected return, and, where applicable, the jobs that will be created. Documents written in a foreign language must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.
Financial means. Original and a copy of the documents accrediting that the applicant has sufficient financial means to carry out the planned investment, or a commitment by financial or other institutions to provide support. Foreign documents must apostilled and, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.
Residence Authorization fees. The applicant must complete and sign, the Initial temporary residence permit form 790 code 052, ticking box 2.1, the fee for 2025 is $ 11 and Self-employed work permit form 790 code 062 , ticking box 1.5 ,the fee for 2025 is $ 214.

The fee can also be paid online, through the links of forms 790 code 052 and 790 code 062 . In this case, the proof of payment obtained from the same webpage must be attached.
Nationals of Ibero-America, Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Sephardim, children and grandchildren of persons of Spanish origin, and foreigners born in Spain are exempt from paying the fee for self-employed work permits.
If a work permit is applied for in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, the fee must be paid directly to that Autonomous Community, the proof of payment must be attached.
Proof of residency in the Consular jurisdiction: State ID, Driver´s Licence or Student ID from one of the following States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-Americans). Must present one of the following documents:

Original and copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green card)
Valid US long-term Visa
Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.

Procedure for obtaining an initial residence and self-employed work permit:

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

Who can apply for a permit: Individual with the necessary legal standing.
Place of submission: Applications and requirements must be submitted via postal mail to Consulate General of Spain in Houston- Visa Department (1800 Bering Dr. Suite 750 Houston, Texas, 77057).
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.

STAGE II

OBTAINING A SELF-EMPLOYED WORK VISA

Required documents - Please include a USB drive with the following scanned documents: 1 and 6

National visa application form. The applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
Photograph. It has to be glued to the application form. A recent, passport-size, 2x2 inches, with white background. The face should be clear and visible.
Valid, unexpired passport. Original and photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
Criminal record check certificate. Stating that the applicant has no criminal records in the place where he has resided for the last five years. Applicants over 18 must present original and copy of the criminal record check certificate issued by the FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC. It cannot be older than 6 months from the application date and it must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.

Local State background checks and Apostilles are not valid.
Bilingual Medical certificate. Original and copy of a medical certificate, issued within the three months preceding the submission of the visa application, accrediting that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Consular visa fees: Money order make out to the Consulate General of Spain in Houston.

US Passport holders fee $270
Other nationalities fee $94

For Nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the visa fee
Only USPS (Express or Priority Mail) self-address prepaid envelope with tracking number.
Postal delivery authorization

For representative (Attorney): Copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and notarized power or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, if necessary, submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

Procedure for obtaining a self-employed work visa:

Who can apply: Individual with the necessary legal standing.
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.
Place of submission: Applications and requirements must be submitted via postal mail to General Consulate of Spain in Houston- Visa Department (1800 Bering Dr. Suite 750 Houston, Texas, 77057).
Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular .maec.es/Ho me.aspx
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 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 month from their registration with the Social Security system.