Spanish startup residence permit

What is a Startup Residence Permit

A startup visa is an immigration program that allows a team with an innovative project or idea to obtain a residence permit. In turn, a residence permit allows you to legally live and do business from one to five years, depending on the country. If the project continues to operate, the residence permit is extended for an additional period.

Program participants can move with their families and get the right to work in the country.

It is important for developed countries to attract entrepreneurs, especially those involved in innovative projects. Therefore, these types of visas are often considered as a matter of priority. There is also a tendency to simplify procedures for obtaining this type of visa. Countries can provide preferential terms of taxation, financing and other development support to projects that have received a residence permit on this basis.

An important advantage of a startup visa is that a project may not have a working product or business; many countries consider projects even at the idea stage. Also, if the project is not implemented for some reason, the residence permit is retained.

Who is a Startup residence permit suitable for?

Entrepreneurs who want to develop a business in Spain or a global business from Spain

Self-employed/hired employees with remote income who are unable to apply for Spain's digital nomad due to insufficient grounds

People who want to obtain a long-term residence permit in a safe jurisdiction, live in Europe, and decide where to go next

The advantages of Spain and the Spanish startup visa

A long period of residence permit. Initial for 3 years+extension for 2 more

The right to work in Spain for family members

One of the quickest retrieval processes

One of the highest application approval rates

You don't have to defend your project yourself and report on progress

A residence permit issued for 3 years will not be taken away, even if you do not work on the project

Deadlines

For what period is a residence permit issued on a startup visa?

3 years.

How long can a residence permit be extended on a startup visa?

2 years.

How long does it take to get a residence permit on a startup visa?

The process of obtaining a residence permit can be divided into several stages:

Collecting documents and preparing business materials (on average, a month, we do it)
Arrive in Spain and apply online. If the necessary documents are prepared in advance, submission from Spain can be made in a few days. Then you can either stay in Spain while the application is being processed, or fly back
Waiting for approval of the business plan (about 2 months)
Sign up for fingerprints and obtaining a residence permit card (about 2 months)

As a result, the whole journey to a residence permit can take 4-5 months.

Does this period count for permanent residence and passports?

Yes. After 5 years of living in Spain, it will be possible to apply for permanent residence, and in 10 years for a passport.

Can I leave Spain while my residence permit is being considered

Yes, it is possible to leave, the main thing is to have a valid Schengen in order to return to Spain.

Requirements

Requirements for the applicant

Lack of EU citizenship
Over 18 years old
No criminal record
The ability to enter Spain legally (any Schengen for any period)
There are enough financial resources to live in Spain. It is necessary to show €31,752 for the main applicant, + €11,907 for a partner, + €3,969 for each additional family member in a bank account outside the Russian Federation and Belarus

Project requirements

Innovative project
The project is beneficial for the Spanish economy
There is potential for scaling
The team must have no more than 5 applicants (co-founders)
Projects are considered from the idea stage to the stage when the business is already operating

Required personal documents for online submission to UGE (reviewing authority) from Spain

Business plan
Completed application form
A police clearance certificate with an apostille and a notarized translation into Spanish issued by the country of residence or residence where the entrepreneur has lived for more than 6 months during the past two years and a criminal record declaration from the countries where he has lived for the past 5 years
Passport scan with all pages
Bank statement (non-Russian and non-Belarusian) showing that the entrepreneur has at least 31,752 euros in his account for the main applicant
Spanish health insurance
Marriage certificate (if you are married) with an apostille and notarized translation into Spanish
Declaration on maintaining family ties with a marriage partner
Children's birth certificate (if you have children) with an apostille and notarized translation into Spanish

10. Proof of payment of the submission fee with the NRC number.

Additional costs at the stage of applying for a residence permit

Payment for Spanish medical insurance (500-1000 euros per person per year) - monthly payment is possible, if you cancel the insurance, no further payment is required (please specify in advance)

Visa fee (payable at a Spanish bank) per family member (€75 per person)

Document translation fee per family member (about €50 per person)

Fee for apostilling documents (about 25 euros per person)