Self-employed work visa

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​Visa for people aged 16 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​​

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Required documents​​ 

1. ​​​Visa Application form 2024.pdf.  Each applicant must complete and sign two visa application forms, having filled in each section of the EX07.pdf form. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application. 

2. Passport. A photocopy of every page of a valid, unexpired passport or travel document. Otherwise, we will not initiate the process. While your application is being processed, you will not be able to travel with your passport.Important note: To apply for the visa you must be in the USA and wait in the USA for approval of your visa.​​   ​

3. Activity permits and licences. List of permits or licences 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. 

4. 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 legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

5. 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 together with an official translation into Spanish. 

6. 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 be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

7. Payment of fees. To pay the fees at the Consular Office, the applicant must complete all the fields of, and sign, two copies of form 790 ​code 052, ticking box 2.1 (initial temporary residence permit) and of form 790, code 062, ticking box 1.5 (self-employed work permits).

The fee can also be paid online, through the links to forms 790-052 and 790-062. In this case, the proof of payment obtained from the same webpage must be attached. 

Nationals of Ibero-American countries, nationals of the Philippines, nationals of Andorra, nationals of 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. 

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 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.  

• Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person at the Consular Office. An appointment is necessary.   

• Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with a copy of the application form (EX07.pdf​) and, where applicable, of the receipts of payment of the fees (forms 790-52 and 790-62) and will forward the dossier to the corresponding Foreign Nationals' Office. Said Office will have a period of 3 months, from the day after the date on which the application is received, to reach a decision. 

• 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 favourable, the Consular Office will invite the applicant to submit a visa application. 

• If the decision is unfavourable, 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.
  

Obtaining a self-employed work visa​​

Required documents​ 

1. National visa​ application form. Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application. 

2. Photograph.pdf. 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. 

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 4 months and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.  

4.Criminal record check certificate. Applicants over 18 must present original and copy of the criminal record certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years.The Criminal record check certificate cannot be issued more than 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application.

Residents in the US:​

- Certificate must be based on fingerprins and issued by FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC and translated via an official Translators - Sworn Interpreters (exteriores.gob.es)

- FBI BACKGROUND CHECK:  https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

- APOSTILLE: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/apostille-requirements.html

- Translations: Translators - Sworn Interpreters (exteriores.gob.es)

Applicant(s) that has lived outside the United States during the past 5 years must provide an additional criminal background check from every country where he/she has lived, authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague and translated into Spanish, with a notarized copy of both documents.

If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must by authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in said country.

Note: Criminal record check certificates issued by US Local/State authorities will not be accepted. Applicant will be informed in the cases when they can be required in addition to the FBI records.Apostilles are required: Contact Official Apostille authorities to get an estimate on processing times before submitting your visa application.​​

5. Medical Certificate.pdf. Original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious health repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. ​

6. Proof of residence in the consular district. 

7. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the applicant is a minor, it will be necessary to present originals and submit copies of the identity document or passport of one of their parents, as well as of the document constituting proof of kinship. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

8. Payment of the visa fee. The visa fee is of an amount equivalent to 80 euros. For nationals of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the United States of America and the United Kingdom different rates are applied for reasons of reciprocity. In these cases, the amount of the fee must be consulted with the Consular Office.  

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​ 

• 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 favourable decision regarding the initial residence and self-employed work permit is received. 

• Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person at the Consular Office. An appointment is necessary.   

• 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 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 favourable 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 month from their registration with the Social Security system. ​