Spain digital nomad visa for founders: can you run your own company?
Can a founder run their own company on Spain's digital nomad visa? Yes. The Startups Law's preamble says holders work for themselves or for employers anywhere in the world, and the law has a separate track for a "professional" (self-employed) relationship with one or more companies not located in Spain. The company you work with must have had real, continuous activity for at least one year, so a founder's own company needs at least a year of trading, and the commercial relationship must have existed for at least the last three months. Local work is allowed. Income needed: unclear: the law only requires sufficient financial resources for you and your family during residence; the official amount could not be read because the immigration ministry and consulate pages block automated access.
Spain's digital nomad visa, from the official pages
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme | Translated from Spanish: non-residents who plan to live in Spain while teleworking for a company not located in Spain apply for the international telework visa, valid for up to one year (or the shorter work period). | boe.es |
| Status | Translated from Spanish: the telework articles were added to Law 14/2013 by the Startups Law, Law 28/2022 of 21 December, in force from 23 December 2022. (The scheme is often attributed to a "Law 14/2022", but the official text shows Law 28/2022.) | boe.es |
| Own company | Translated from Spanish: the Startups Law's preamble says the visa lets holders live in Spain for up to a year while they work for themselves or for employers anywhere in the world. | boe.es |
| Own company | Translated from Spanish: the company or group you work with must show real, continuous activity for at least one year. For a self-employed applicant, a commercial relationship with one or more non-Spanish companies for at least the last three months is also required. | boe.es |
| Local work | Translated from Spanish: employees may only work for companies based outside Spain, but self-employed professionals may work for a company in Spain if that work is no more than 20% of their total professional activity. | boe.es |
| Income | Translated from Spanish: among the general requirements, applicants must have sufficient financial resources for themselves and their family members during their residence in Spain. The law sets no figure; the official amount is published by the immigration authority, whose pages could not be read. | boe.es |
| Stay | Translated from Spanish: the residence authorisation for international teleworking lasts up to three years, and holders can renew it for two year periods while the conditions still apply. Visa holders can apply in the 60 days before the visa expires. | boe.es |
| Requirements | Translated from Spanish: applicants must be qualified professionals, either graduates or postgraduates of recognised universities, vocational training or business schools, or have at least three years of professional experience. | boe.es |
| Health insurance | Translated from Spanish: you need public health insurance or private health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. A clean criminal record and payment of the processing fee are also general requirements. | boe.es |
| Family | Translated from Spanish: a spouse or partner, minor children, adult children who depend financially on the holder, and dependent parents can apply with the holder, at the same time or later. | boe.es |
| Processing time | Translated from Spanish: visa applications under this section are to be decided and notified within 10 working days (residence authorisations within 20 days, with approval by administrative silence if no answer). | boe.es |
| Tax | Translated from Spanish (Spanish Tax Agency): you are a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Spain in the calendar year, with sporadic absences counted unless you prove tax residence elsewhere. | sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es |
Questions founders ask about Spain
- Can I run my own company on the Spain digital nomad visa?
- Yes. The Startups Law's preamble says holders work for themselves or for employers anywhere in the world, and the law has a separate track for a "professional" (self-employed) relationship with one or more companies not located in Spain. The company you work with must have had real, continuous activity for at least one year, so a founder's own company needs at least a year of trading, and the commercial relationship must have existed for at least the last three months.
- Can I work for clients in Spain on it?
- Limited. Employees may only work for companies based outside Spain. Self-employed professionals may also work for a company located in Spain, as long as that work is no more than 20% of their total professional activity.
- How much income do I need for the Spain digital nomad visa?
- unclear: the law only requires sufficient financial resources for you and your family during residence; the official amount could not be read because the immigration ministry and consulate pages block automated access.
- How long can I stay on the Spain digital nomad visa?
- Visa valid up to 1 year; then a residence authorisation of up to 3 years, renewable for 2 year periods. Those already lawfully in Spain can apply for the residence authorisation directly.
- Do I become tax resident in Spain?
- Translated from Spanish (Spanish Tax Agency): you are a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Spain in the calendar year, with sporadic absences counted unless you prove tax residence elsewhere. A visa doesn't settle where you pay tax, so take advice on your own case.
Other countries
Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Croatia · Cyprus · Estonia · Greece · Hungary · Indonesia · Italy · Japan · Malaysia · Malta · Mexico · Portugal · Romania · South Korea · Thailand · United Arab Emirates
To compare the routes, read digital nomad visas for founders and tax residency for remote founders.
- Official name
- Visa and residence authorisation for international teleworking (visado / autorización de residencia para teletrabajo de carácter internacional), Law 14/2013 arts 74 bis to 74 quinquies, added by the Startups Law (Law 28/2022)
- Own company
- Yes
- Local clients
- Allowed
- Stay
- Visa valid up to 1 year; then a residence authorisation of up to 3 years, renewable for 2 year periods. Those already lawfully in Spain can apply for the residence authorisation directly.
- Official page
- boe.es
- Checked
Visa rules, fees and income bars change, and consulates apply them differently. Check boe.es before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the members' chat.