Residence Permit Conversion for Entrepreneurship
Program for Obtaining a Residence Permit Through Starting a Business
Get a consultationOur experience in numbers
50+Approved modifications
135People Who Modified Their Residence Permit Through Entrepreneurship
0Rejected modifications
What is Residence Permit Modification for Entrepreneurship?
This program allows you to either run an existing business or start your own business in Spain as a self-employed individual. To qualify, you need to:
- Write a convincing business plan
- Register as an entrepreneur
- After approval, conduct business with a turnover of at least €16,000 per year
To obtain this residence permit, you must:
- Provide a business plan
- Demonstrate that your business will positively impact the Spanish economy and generate income
- Show a bank statement with a minimum balance necessary to start the business (at least €16,000)
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Residence Permit for Entrepreneurs
Pluses
- A reliable path to permanent residence (initial residence permit for 1 year + extension for 4 years;
- High approval rate;
- No requirement for high tax payments.
Minuses
- Difficult to include children;
- Approval rates depend on the region;
- You must establish a business in Spain.
Key Requirements
What If I Don’t Have a Business Plan?
El Relocator will handle everything for you and guide you through each step to help you obtain a residence permit by starting a business. We collaborate with two former business analysts who have extensive experience with residence permit and visa modifications and can prepare a business plan for the reviewing committee.
Documents Required for Obtaining a Residence Permit Through Business
To obtain an entrepreneur visa, a person must provide:
- Passport;
- Applicant's questionnaire;
- Bank statement from a Spanish bank showing a balance of at least €16,000; Proof of payment for the application fee (€76-152);
- Business plan approved by a recognized association of self-employed individuals in Spain;
- Proof of qualifications (diploma or resume);
- Documents showing registration as a self-employed individual (for those who are eligible).
A set of documents for a business plan:
- A brief description of the service you intend to provide and a preliminary development plan for the next 3 years;
- Proof of current address;
- Bank statement from a Spanish bank showing a balance of at least €16,000.
- Proof of incurred expenses through invoices (e.g., equipment purchases, hosting, website design) or a plan for future expenditures;
- Rental contract for premises, if required. Freelancers working from home can skip this, provided they include a photo of their workspace;
- Commitment letters for service agreements with future clients and a copy of the Spanish identification document of the signatory or an electronically signed contract. Net profit for the first year should be at least €16,000;
- Diplomas, certificates, etc., relevant to the service you plan to provide.
1 year:
Duration of the residence permit after modification 4 years:
Duration of the residence permit after the first extension 5 years:
Duration of the long-term residence permit, granted after 5 years of living in Spain 10 years:
After 10 years, you can apply for Spanish citizenship 
Dmitry
- Expert in residence permit modification for autónomos
- Specialist in startup visas for European countries and venture consultant
- Has worked in venture capital and strategy, helping early-stage projects attract investments, join incubators, and obtain startup visas
Consultation cost: Free
Semyon
- Expert in residence permit modification for autónomos
- Specialist in startup visas for European countries and financial advisor
- Previously worked as an investment analyst at Gazprom before emigrating from Russia. Has helped startups develop in a technology park in St. Petersburg
Consultation cost: Free
How We Work?
Required of you:
- Passport
- Payment of the fee (depending on the tariff)
- Bank statement
- Proof of qualifications
We do:
- Prepare the business plan
- Manage the business plan evaluation process
- Provide consulting on obtaining documents
- Submit documents to the relevant authorities
- Assist in starting a business in Spain
Process of Modifying a Residence Permit to an Entrepreneurial Residence Permit in Spain:
*students open a sole proprietorship only after approval of the modification
Prices
Basic Package
- Business plan preparation
- Consultation on all documents
- Residence permit application
Price:
€3,000 for the primary applicant
Price:
+€1,000 for a spouse
Price:
+€500 for a child
Standard Package
- Payment of state fees
- Payment for business plan accreditation
- Re-submission in case of refusal
- Opening of autónomo status (not required for Nomads)
- Development of a business concept from scratch/improvement of an existing one
- Handling of issues
- Consultation with a tax lawyer
Price:
€5,000 for the primary applicant
Price:
+€1,000 for a spouse
Price:
+€500 for a child
Turnkey Package
- Assistance with contracts/support letters
- Checklist for extending and transitioning to permanent residence
- Submission for extending the entrepreneurial residence permit
Price:
€8,000 for the primary applicant
Price:
+€1,500 for a spouse
Price:
+€750 for a child
Tariff comparison table
| Service | «Basic Package» | «Standard Package» | «Turnkey Package» |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Plan Preparation; | |||
| Consultation on All Documents; | |||
| Residence Permit Application; | |||
| Application/Portal Interface Design (if applicable) | |||
| Payment of State Fees; | |||
| Payment for Business Plan Accreditation; | |||
| Re-submission in Case of Refusal; | |||
| Opening of Autónomo Status (not required for Nomads); | |||
| Development of Business Concept from Scratch/Improvement of Existing Concept; | |||
| Assistance with Contracts/Support Letters; | |||
| Handling of Issues; | |||
| Consultation with a Tax Lawyer; | |||
| Residence Permit for Children; | |||
| Checklist for Extension and Transition to Permanent Residence; | |||
| Submission for Extending the Entrepreneurial Residence Permit; | |||
| Price; | €3000 | €5000 | €8000 |
| Price for Spouse | +€1000 | +€1000 | +€1500 |
| Price for Child | +€500 | +€500 | +€750 |
| Payment Structure | 50% prepayment, 50% after project approval | 50% prepayment, 50% after project approval | 50% prepayment, 50% after project approval |
Business Plan Preparation
0
Certification of Business Plan by a Local Organization
Duration: 30 days
1
Application Submission
- +45 days: Review and potential additional request;
- +10 days: Response to possible additional request;
- +20 days: Approval;
- +5 days: Scheduling fingerprint appointment.
2
After Receiving Approval
Complete the application for the plastic card and pay the fee:
- +14 days: Submit fingerprints to the police;
- +30 days: Receive the plastic residence permit card.
FAQ about Residence Permit Modification for Entrepreneurs
If you still have questions, write to us!
No, to apply for a residence permit as an individual entrepreneur, you must have a valid legal status (for example, a student temporary residence permit). A tourist visa does not give the right to change status.
As for other types of residence permits: students can apply if there are less than 60 days left until the end of the current residence permit, but no later than 90 days after its expiration. For startups and digital nomads (Nomad), an application can be made after a year of validity of the current residence permit.
A residence permit for individual entrepreneurship (Autónomo/Cuenta Propia) is issued for 1 year. After the first year, the residence permit for individual entrepreneurship can be extended for 4 years. To do this, you must provide documents confirming your activity and financial stability.
The entire process, including document preparation, application submission and waiting for a decision, can take from 3 to 6 months. The time frame depends on the workload of the migration services and the correctness of the documents.
Yes, the period of residence under a temporary residence permit for individual entrepreneurs is counted. After 5 years of residence in Spain, you can apply for permanent residence, and after 10 years - for citizenship. To extend, you must live in Spain for at least 183 days a year.
The spouse can join:
- At the same time as the main applicant, if he/she opens an individual enterprise in Spain (autónomo).
- Through a separate business plan, if the spouse plans to conduct independent entrepreneurial activity.
- Through school studies.
- If the child has lived in Spain for at least 2 years and has left the country for no more than 90 days during this period.
- Through a consulate in another country with an official representative (the process takes 2-5 months).
The main expenses include:
- Social contributions, which amount to about 250-300 euros per month.
- Income taxes, which depend on the level of profit.
- Costs for the preparation of documents, their translation and other legal services (approximately 500-2000 euros, depending on the complexity of the case).
No, a residence permit for an individual entrepreneur only allows you to work as an individual entrepreneur. To work for hire, you will need to change the type of residence permit.
Yes, but the main income and activity must be concentrated in Spain to comply with the conditions of the residence permit. This is important for the extension of the status.
To renew, you must provide the following documents:
- A certificate of payment of social contributions (autónomo).
- A bank statement confirming financial solvency.
- A statement of income and expenses for the last 2 quarters.
In case of refusal, you can file an appeal within 1 month from the date of receipt of the notification. It is recommended to consult a lawyer to prepare a reasoned response. Another option: adjust the package of documents and re-submit them.
Yes, if the conditions for the new type of residence permit are met. To do this, you must submit a corresponding application and provide the necessary documents.
Risks and Challenges of Obtaining a Residence Permit by Starting a Sole Proprietorship
Conflicting Information
After reading forums, you're left with a jumble of contradictory advice.
Unclear Requirements
The Consulate's website provides a general list of documents, but it’s incomplete since everyone’s situation is different.
Gathering a Pile of Documents
You spend time, energy, and money collecting, translating, and legalizing documents.
Risk of Residence Permit Denial and Financial Loss
You pay for rent in Spain, your child's school, and health insurance, all while risking a denial of your residence permit and losing the money you've invested.
Why Choose Us
1
We solve all issues before and after relocation
From obtaining a Schengen visa and selecting the best residence permit, to tax support, finding housing or schools — we offer a complete, hassle-free solution! 2
Work with Professional Migration Experts
We aren’t afraid of complex cases and always find the best relocation solutions, even in the toughest situations. 3
Flexible and Modern Approach
Fast communication via messaging apps and 24/7 support from our managers. You can pay for our services using European/Russian bank cards or cryptocurrency 4
Personalized Approach and Client Care
We assist even if you’re not a client and just want to ask a question! Feel free to reach out with any inquiries about Spain, and we’ll get back to you with an answer. Our blog
We Can Also Help With...
Relocation
We assist in obtaining residency to legally live in Spain and travel across the EU
ПодробнееIntegration
We help with settling in: arranging paperwork, finding housing, and enrolling children in daycare, school, or university
ПодробнееBusiness Support
We can help you transfer your existing business to Spain or start a new one
Подробнее
PDF 5,6 MB