Entrepreneur Visa Spain (2026)
The Spain Startup Visa, officially known as the Entrepreneur Visa, is designed for founders launching innovative or scalable business projects.
It’s processed through Spain’s fast-track unit (UGE-CE) and can lead to permanent residency after 5 years (if you maintain legal residence).
Health insurance is mandatory for the application and must meet strict visa standards (no copays, no waiting periods, full cover).
Need visa-ready health insurance? Get a compliant quote:
Full rules explained here:
Table of Contents
- What Is the Entrepreneur Visa Spain?
- Who Can Apply (Eligibility in 2026)
- Requirements (2026)
- The Business Plan: What “Innovative” Really Means
- Documents Checklist
- How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Processing Times & What Happens After Approval
- Family Members (Immediate Reunification)
- Entrepreneur Visa vs Digital Nomad vs HQP
- Common Mistakes That Cause Delays or Refusals
- Official & External Resources
- Related Spain Visa Guides
- FAQs
- Get Visa-Approved Health Insurance
What Is the Entrepreneur Visa Spain?
A residence authorization designed for founders creating an innovative business in Spain (tech, digital, R&D, scalable services, high-impact models). It’s part of Spain’s “entrepreneur/international talent” framework.
The Entrepreneur Visa is regulated under Spain’s Startup Act (Ley 14/2013), which defines the legal framework for innovative business immigration and fast-track residency permits.
Official legal reference:
If you’re still choosing the right route, start here: Spain Visas Guide
Who Can Apply (Eligibility in 2026)
You may qualify if you can show:
- Non-EU citizenship (EU/EEA/Swiss don’t need this route)
- A genuinely innovative/scalable project (not a standard local business)
Innovation and economic interest are assessed by Spain’s official fast-track authority for large companies and strategic projects.
Official authority:
- Relevant founder profile (experience, training, portfolio, sector fit)
- Sufficient financial means to support yourself (and dependents, if any)
- Clean criminal record (last years, apostille/legalisation as applicable)
- Mandatory private health insurance meeting Spanish visa standards
Entrepreneur Visa Spain Requirements (2026)
These Entrepreneur Visa Spain requirements focus on innovation, scalability and economic impact rather than investment volume.
A) Innovative business + viable plan
Your project must clearly show innovation + scalability + impact (details in Section 4).
B) Health insurance (mandatory)
For visa/residence processing, consulates and immigration typically require private health insurance that is:
- No copayments
- No waiting periods
- Full medical + hospital coverage
- Valid nationwide
- From an insurer authorised to operate in Spain
To understand how private health insurance works in Spain beyond the Entrepreneur Visa — including public vs private healthcare, when private insurance is legally required, and how coverage changes after Social Security registration — see the complete guide:
These health insurance conditions are explicitly required by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) for long-stay residence permits.
Official requirement:
Product page:
Guide (legal criteria):
C) Clean criminal record + formalities
Criminal background certificate (often last 5 years), correctly legalised/apostilled + translated when needed.
D) Proof of funds
No single “one-size” number works for every profile, but in practice founders usually present clear liquidity plus a realistic runway aligned with their plan.
Alongside the business plan evaluation, founders must also meet the general Spain visa requirements, such as legal documentation, financial means, and visa-compliant health insurance.
The Business Plan: What “Innovative” Really Means
Your business plan should make it easy for evaluators to say “yes” quickly.
Your plan should show:
- Innovation: a new product/service/process, or a meaningful technological improvement
- Scalability: potential to grow beyond a local lifestyle business
- Economic impact: job creation, investment, strategic sector value
- Feasibility: roadmap, execution plan, team capability
- Founder strength: credible experience and proof you can deliver
Recommended structure (simple and accepted):
- Executive summary (what you’re building + why Spain)
- Founder profile + evidence (CV, portfolio, references)
- Market + competition
- Value proposition + traction (if any)
- Business model + pricing
- Tech/product roadmap
- Operations + hiring plan
- Financial projections + funding strategy
- Risk analysis + mitigation
The innovation assessment follows criteria established by ENISA, the public entity responsible for evaluating entrepreneurial projects in Spain.
Official reference:
Documents Checklist (Founder + Project)
- Full business plan (as above)
- Pitch deck (recommended)
- Proof of experience (CV + portfolio)
- Traction evidence (optional but powerful): users, revenue, pilots, LOIs, partnerships
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Prepare the business plan (clear, structured, credible)
- Collect legal documents (criminal record + translations early)
- Secure visa-compliant health insurance (this is a common failure point)
- Submit via the appropriate channel (Spain vs consulate route depends on your case)
- Wait for evaluation + resolution
Applications submitted through the fast-track route are processed by Spain’s central immigration unit for strategic projects.
Official processing authority:
7. After approval: travel (if needed), then complete TIE steps (Section 7)
For the big-picture pathway and links to each visa type:
Processing Times & What Happens After Approval
Once approved, you typically move into “activation mode”:
- Empadronamiento (address registration)
- TIE appointment (fingerprints + residence card)
- Practical setup (bank, housing, utilities)
Full practical checklist:
Family Members (Immediate Reunification)
One of the major advantages of this route is that family members can usually be included immediately (spouse/partner, children, sometimes dependent parents case-by-case).
Each dependent generally needs:
- Their own documentation set
- Health insurance coverage meeting the same standards
Family reunification rights for entrepreneurs are regulated under Spain’s immigration framework for strategic projects.
Legal reference:
Entrepreneur Visa vs Digital Nomad vs HQP
Choose the route that matches reality:
- If you’re building an innovative startup in Spain → Entrepreneur Visa
- If you’re working remotely for foreign clients/employer → Digital Nomad Visa
- If you have a Spanish high-skill job offer → HQP
Common Mistakes That Cause Delays
- Business plan reads like a local small business (no innovation/scaling)
- Weak proof of founder capability (no portfolio/track record)
- Non-compliant health insurance (copays, waiting periods, limited cover)
- Financials don’t match the plan (no runway, unclear income/funding logic)
- Late criminal record/legalisation (timing kills applications)
Official Legal Government Sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) — exteriores.gob.es
- ENISA – National Innovation Entity — enisa.es
- UGE-CE – Ministry of Inclusion, Migration & Social Security — inclusion.gob.es
- Spanish Startup Law (Ley 14/2013) – BOE — boe.es
- Immigration Regulation (RD 557/2011) – BOE — boe.es
FAQs — Entrepreneur Visa Spain (2026)
Do I need a minimum investment?
There’s often no fixed minimum, but your plan must be credible, viable, and properly funded.
Can I apply with a non-tech business?
Only if it’s truly innovative/high-impact. A typical local service business usually won’t fit.
Is health insurance required?
Yes. It must meet strict standards (no copays, no waiting periods, full cover).
Can my family join me immediately?
Commonly yes (case depends on your situation and documentation).
Get Visa-Approved Health Insurance
If you want to move fast and avoid the #1 avoidable mistake (wrong insurance):
Full rules explained:
