How much does Spain startup visa cost? Is the application expensive?

Spain startup visa application cost is very affordable — only €73.26 government fee for document review. Additional costs include health insurance, criminal record certificate (apostilled), and official translations. Total startup visa cost rarely exceeds €300-€600. With 90% approval rate and 90-day processing time (2025), it's an excellent investment for entrepreneurs seeking EU residency.

How many co-founders can apply for Spain startup visa together?

Spain startup visa allows multiple founders: typically 3 co-founders work well (CEO, CTO, CMO). Up to 5 founders can apply together for complex tech projects with substantial R&D or when all founders have proven entrepreneurial experience. Each founder gets individual residence permit with full work rights in Spain and EU.

Must I follow the business plan I submit?

Will be checked only when renewing residence permit. You must at least open a company and start some activity. If you do nothing — no sanctions, but you won't be able to renew residence permit.

What makes a startup idea innovative enough for Spain startup visa?

Spain startup visa requires genuine innovation and technology. Qualifying startups include: SaaS platforms, fintech solutions, AI/ML applications, blockchain projects, IoT systems, mobile apps with unique features, e-commerce with tech innovation. Avoid traditional businesses — instead of pizzeria, create food-tech delivery platform. Instead of consulting, build AI-powered consultancy tools. Focus on scalability, technology, and global market potential.

Can I bring my family with Spain startup visa? What about spouse and children?

Yes! Spain startup visa includes family reunification benefits. Eligible family members: spouse/partner, children under 18, financially dependent adult children over 18, and parents (with proof of dependency). All family members receive full Spanish residence permits with complete work authorization — both employment and self-employment rights. Family can also benefit from Beckham Law (24% flat tax rate), making Spain startup visa even more attractive for entrepreneurs with families.

What is Spain startup visa approval rate and processing time in 2025?

Spain startup visa has 90% approval rate for authentic entrepreneurs with real projects (2025 data). Processing time: 90 days average. Success factors: working MVP/product, real customers or contracts, documented funding, proven team experience, clear innovation. ENISA (evaluation body) prioritizes genuine startups over theoretical projects. With proper preparation and authentic business, approval is highly probable.

What are Spain tax benefits for startup visa holders? Beckham Law explained

Spain offers exceptional tax benefits for startup visa entrepreneurs! Beckham Law (since 2023) provides 24% flat tax rate on all income for 6 years — one of Europe's most competitive rates. Without Beckham: progressive 19-47% rate. Corporate tax benefits: 15% rate for first 4 profitable years (vs standard 25%). Plus: no wealth tax in most regions, favorable capital gains treatment, and R&D tax deductions up to 42%. Spain startup visa + Beckham Law = unbeatable tax optimization for entrepreneurs.

Spain startup visa vs digital nomad visa: which is better for entrepreneurs?

Spain startup visa offers superior benefits for serious entrepreneurs: 3-year initial permit (vs 1-year digital nomad), path to permanent residency and citizenship, no minimum income requirement, family reunification rights, and freedom to build local business and hire employees. Digital nomad visa requires €2,000+ monthly income, remote work only, and limited business activities. For tech entrepreneurs building companies, startup visa provides much better long-term opportunities in Spain and EU.

What if my tourist visa expires during Spain startup visa processing?

No worries! Spanish immigration law (Article 76, Ley 14/2013) automatically extends your legal stay during startup visa processing. You can remain in Spain legally throughout the 90-day review period, even with expired Schengen visa. Restriction: no EU travel until residence permit approval. This legal protection ensures entrepreneurs don't face overstay issues while their startup visa application is processed.

Do Russian and CIS citizens get Spain startup visa? Nationality restrictions?

Spain startup visa has no nationality restrictions. Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and other CIS citizens regularly receive approvals. July 2023 statistics show 50%+ of approved applications from Russian and CIS passport holders. Spain evaluates projects on merit, not nationality. Focus on strong business plan, innovation, and genuine entrepreneurial activity — nationality is not a barrier.

Can I submit multiple startups at once?

Strongly not recommended. This means lack of focus and uncertainty in projects. Founder should be fully dedicated to one specific business. However, you can have existing business as gained experience.

How to guarantee Spain startup visa approval? Best practices for entrepreneurs

Spain startup visa approval requires strategic preparation: 1) Build working MVP before applying, 2) Secure real customers/contracts with documented revenue, 3) Show funding sources (personal, investors, grants), 4) Demonstrate team's tech expertise and previous experience, 5) Create detailed 3-year business plan with market analysis, 6) Highlight clear innovation and scalability, 7) Prepare all documents professionally. With 90% approval rate in 2025, proper preparation virtually guarantees success.

Startup Visa Spain | StartupVisa.Barcelona

Key facts about startup visa

Duration

3 years

Financial requirement

€33,152 for main applicant

Family inclusion

Spouse, children, and parents

Business plan

Innovative IT project

What do you get?

Full Spanish residence permit for 3 years for you and your family — spouse, children, and parents — with the right to work and do business.

Free movement within the Schengen area without visas

Permanent residence after 5 years of living

Children born in Spain get citizenship after 1 year

Spanish passport after 10 years

Open account with European bank without problems

Latest ENISA Updates 2025

Recent changes in the startup visa review process

June 2025

Processing Time Extended

Current processing time is around 90 days (3 months) as of June 2025, replacing previous 1-2 week ENISA review

Financial Requirements Updated

Required personal account amounts updated in March 2025 — current requirement €33,152 per founder

Success Rate Statistics

Current approval rate at 90% for real founders with genuine projects, focusing on quality over quantity

Key Points for ENISA Project Description

Innovation

Critical importance of innovation — describe proprietary technology development and R&D spending, and show significant useful difference from other players in the niche

Project Traction

Important to have TRACTION — product in MVP stage or launched, investments received, and clients available (at least pre-contracts or LOI)

Founders Team

Founders should present themselves as talents — team must match project complexity and topic

B2B Preferred

B2B is always better than B2C. General formulations won't work — important to specifically explain how it works, why, and what UVP

Approval Statistics 2025

Current data on startup visa approvals for real founders and projects

Current Approval Rate

90%

For real founders with genuine projects (July 2025). Review time reduced to 90 days

Key Success Factors

95%+

Projects with strong factors achieve excellent results:

Product exists (service or app launched, can be tested)
Clients exist (contracts provided or real payment system statements)
Investors or money (investments shown or real investors)
Founders' entrepreneurial experience (previous startups, searchable with proofs)

Innovation Types for Startup Visa

What innovations are accepted for visa approval

1

Breakthrough Innovations

New technical or scientific-technical solution

New neural network, new material with unique properties — requires scientific work and patents

2

Improvement Innovations

Enhancement of existing solution

Retrained neural network working better than competitors, implants lasting 25 years instead of 10

3

Combinatorial Innovations

Combination of existing solutions

Connecting two neural networks to get new business result

4

Diffusion Innovations

Transfer of solution from one field to another

Using GPT to generate management reports from video instead of text

Requirements

1

Innovative business plan (any IT project can be wrapped as such)

2

Professional experience that will combine with startup business plan

3

Ability to enter Spain (any Schengen visa for any period)

4

Have a startup idea (project description and business model) + some traction

5

Show availability of financial resources (200% minimum salary for founder per year — €33,152 + for family)

Procedure and timeline

Step-by-step process for obtaining startup visa from document preparation to receiving residence permit card.

1

Write business plan

Write business plan in ENISA form format, and prepare documents

1 week

2

Come to Spain

Come to Spain, and make passport scan with entry stamp. Each person must be legally in Spain

Upon arrival

3

Submit documents online

Upload documents online (as PDF files), and submit documents for residence permit authorization

1 day

4

Wait for decision

Current review time is 90 days (July 2025). NOT REQUIRED to wait in Spain

90 days

5

Get approval

Residence permit approved! Decision comes as PDF file. No need to collect anything in person at this stage

When ready

6

Submit fingerprints

ONLY IN PERSON IN SPAIN — Make appointment with police, go, and submit fingerprints

1 visit

7

Get residence permit card

Get residence permit card (TIE, plastic card). All who submitted fingerprints come in person

3-5 weeks

Document list

Required documents for main applicant and family members

Main applicant

Passport scan — all pages
Show availability of financial resources (bank statement for €33,152)
Medical insurance
Paid fee — €73.26
Main application — Form MI-T
Criminal record certificate (jurado translation) + criminal record declaration
Business plan (fill ENISA form)
Legal entry confirmation to Spain
Power of attorney for submission (if documents not uploaded by you)

Family members

Main application — Form MI-F
Paid fee
Marriage/birth certificate (jurado translation)
Passport scan — all pages
Medical insurance
Bank statement (same as main applicant)
Criminal record certificate (jurado translation)
Legal entry confirmation to Spain
Power of attorney for submission
Certificate that marriage is still valid

Legal Framework

Official documents and laws regulating startup visa

Residencia para emprendedores

Ley 14/2013

Official UGE Instructions

Document submission process instructions from Unidad de Grandes Empresas

Download PDF Instructions

ENISA Form

Official form for business plan submission

Go to ENISA website

Law 14/2013

Full text of the entrepreneur support law

Read the law

“La solicitud de autorizaciones de residencia previstas en esta sección prorrogará la vigencia de la situación de residencia o de estancia de la que fuera titular el solicitante hasta la resolución del procedimiento”

— Article 76, Ley 14/2013, About extending legal stay during application review

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most popular questions about startup visa

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