Visa for foreigners moving to Spain to carry out the procedures necessary to undertake an innovative, entrepreneurial activity of particular economic interest for Spain.
The following family members of the entrepreneur may also obtain the visa:
- The spouse or unmarried partner.
- Children and adult children who are financially dependent on the worker and who have not created a family unit of their own.
- Relatives in the ascending line in the worker's care.
ATTENTION! Applications must be sent BY MAIL ONLY WITHIN CANADA. No appointments needed. You can contact the Visa Department at
cog.toronto.vis@maec.es
. We will only answer questions which cannot be resolved with the information on the website.
All the applications must be submitted unfolded and must include photocopies of the following original documents (if required in your application): Passport, RCMP Criminal records check with fingerprints and photo, medical certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate and notarized documents). Please note that if you do not send the photocopies, the Consulate will keep the original copies. None of the documents need to be translated if they are in English for the visa application.
Required documents for the entrepreneur
1. National visa application form. Each applicant, or their representative, must complete and sign a visa application form, filling in each of its sections.
2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. It must conform to ICAO standards, stamped with date and place where the photo was taken.
3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Favourable report on the project. Original and a copy of the favourable report issued by the corresponding Economic and Commercial Office in this consular district or by the Directorate-General for International Trade and Investments. The report must take into account:
- Especially, and as a priority, the creation of jobs in Spain.
- The applicant's professional profile, their professional training and experience, as well as their involvement in the project.
- The business plan detailing the project, product or service, the market analysis and the financing.
- Added value for the Spanish economy, innovation or investment opportunities.
5. Financial means. Three most recent bank statements. Bank statements from other countries must be legalized/apostilled. Investments will be considered a supporting document. You must have the total quantity when you apply for the visa. Original and a copy of the documents proving that the entrepreneur has sufficient financial resources of their own, or accrediting that they have a regular source of income, for themselves and, where applicable, for the family members accompanying them. The minimum required amount is equivalent to 100% of Spain's Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM). To this amount must be added 50% of the IPREM for each family member. Foreign documents outisde of Canada must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish or English.
6. Criminal Record Certificate no more than five months before the application date (Legalized with the Hague Apostille Certification issued by Global Affairs Canada only and translated into Spanish). Documents issued by the Government of Canada. This includes federal agencies and bodies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will be apostilled by Global Affairs Canada only. Criminal Record Certificates issued by the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa do not need to be notarized as long as they are signed by the Director General of the Canadian Criminal Real Time/Identification Services, and they contain the official RCMP dry seal. Applicants of legal age who apply for a visa for a stay of more than 180 days must submit the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years. It must be a negative criminal record issued by the RCMP containing fingerprints and photo of visa applicant. If in the last five years, you have resided in another country, a criminal record from the authorities of that country.
7. Health insurance. Original and a copy of the certificate accrediting the public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain.
8. Proof of residence in the consular district.
9. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and of the power of attorney or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
10. Payment of the visa fee. CHECK THE VISA FEE HERE. For nationals of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the United States of America and the United Kingdom different rates are applied for reasons of reciprocity.
11. An empty prepaid Canada Post XPRESS POST envelope to send you the passport with the visa. Please write down your mailing address in the envelope.
Required documents for family members
For each family member accompanying the entrepreneur, the following must be submitted:
- All the required documents specified in sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 10. Where applicable, those specified in 9 also. In the case of minors, the visa application must be signed by one of their parents or by a duly accredited representative.
- Documents constituting proof of family relationship with the applicant accrediting financial means: birth or marriage certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or any other document substantiating an unmarried partnership with the applicant. Only documents from outside of Canada must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into English or Spanish. If the applicant travels with the family, each member of the family must submit an independent visa application, the documents to be enclosed and a document proving the relationship (marriage or birth certificate, as the case may be). All family applications can be sent in the same envelope.
In the case of adult children, documents proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
- In the case of relatives in the ascending line, documents that prove they are in the entrepreneur's care. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
Procedure
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district.
- Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by an authorized representative just in cases of long distances or proven difficulties in traveling. Appointment must be requested in advance by sending an email to cog.toronto.vis@maec.es.
- 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 10 days as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.
- Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected personally by the applicant without the need for a prior appointment, within a maximum period of 1 month, counting from the day following the date on which the favorable resolution 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 of 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 is valid for 1 year.
The visa accredits residence in Spain during its validity period, making it unnecessary for the entrepreneur to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card. However, the entrepreneur may apply for this card at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station.