Becoming a freelancer in Spain: visa options

Do you already have a business model in mind and know how to drive customers? Are you considering becoming your own boss? If your answer is yes, this article is for you.

There are two ways to achieve your goals: open a company in Spain or simply become a freelancer. Becoming a freelancer has a lot of unsurpassable benefits:

• The bureaucratic processes are not so complex as opening a business, considering different topics such as a unique trademark, managing the payroll of your employees, etc
• The taxes required are fewer if you earn less than 60,000 euros a month
• You have more flexibility and freedom

Considering all the benefits one can have as a freelancer, this article will explain the necessary processes you need to carry out in order to become a legal freelancer in Spain.

1. Can I define myself as a freelancer/self-employed (autónomo)?

2. How to apply for a working permit as a self-employed worker?

3. How can I register myself as a legal self-employed autónomo?

4. Advice from Adeslas

1. Can I define myself as a freelancer/self-employed (autónomo)?

Autónomo is the Spanish name for freelancer and self-employed. You can be defined as a freelancer if you sell something (whether it is a physical product or a service) in exchange for a monetary return. In this case, you need to register yourself as self-employed in Spain. Otherwise, the activity you carry out and the money you receive may be seen as illegal.

• If you are an EU/EEA/Switzerland national, you can become self-employed in Spain easily.
• But if you are from other countries: you need to:
  • Get a visa to enter Spain and then a valid working permit to make you self-employed. You can achieve it in the following ways:
    • Get a non-lucrative visa, and a non-lucrative residence card and then make a request for a self-employed residence permit if you want to make money in Spain (Having valid medical insurance is a compulsory requirement for non-lucrative visa requirement. Our expat insurance is the best-rated visa insurance.)
    • Get an investor visa and a residence card accordingly: with the investor residence card, you can carry out working activities freely. (Having valid medical insurance is a compulsory requirement for an investor visa requirement. Our expat insurance is the best-rated visa insurance.)
    • Get a student visa, and a student residence, and then make a request for a self-employed residence permit (Having valid medical insurance is a compulsory requirement for student visa requirements. Our expat insurance is the best-rated visa insurance.)
    • Get a self-employed visa directly: This will be talked about below.
  • Get a valid NIE number
  • Get a Spanish bank account: You can open an account whether in a famous traditional bank or in a more flexible online bank.

Next, we will talk about how to apply for a working visa/working permit as a self-employed/freelancer.

2. How to apply for a working permit as a self-employed worker?

The first time you apply, you will be granted a self-employed working visa valid for 1 year. After 5 years of consecutive renewals, you can apply for a long-term residence.

You can check with your embassies or consulates to see if they accept the application of this visa type and other additional requirements. Besides the normal documents needed for a visa application; you need to prepare the following documents to apply for the visa:

• Proof of training or qualifications necessary to carry out your job: eg, if you want to be a business consultant, you need to own at least a relevant bachelor's or master’s degree or other similar proof.
• Sufficient economic means: You can get investments from your own funds, investors, or even Spanish banks that wish to boost the Spanish economy. The funding should cover at least your personal expenses and professional activities.
• The viability assessment report of your business plan:
  • You need to first have a thoroughly written business plan with everything related to the business, such as marketing plan, financing plan, operations plan, and especially the expected positive outcome of your project during the first 3-5 years.
  • Then you need to send this plan to any of the following organizations to get a viability assessment report (a viability certificate):
    • Federación Nacional de Trabajadores Autónomos ATA
    • Unión de Profesionales y Trabajadores Autónomos UPTA
    • Confederación Intersectorial de Autónomos del Estado Español – CIAE
    • Organización Profesionales autónomos OPA
    • Unión de Asociaciones de trabajadores Autónomos y emprendedores UATAE
  • Once obtaining the certificate, you can then submit all the relevant documents to the consulate.

3. How can I register myself as a legal self-employed autónomo?

After having a legal identity that permits you to carry out freelance activities, you need to register yourself as a legal freelancer and:

• Pay taxes
• Make social security contributions

4. Advice from Adeslas

Our expat insurance is not only 100% satisfactory visa insurance, but also the best private insurance in Spain with the broadest hospital network and advanced technology. We want to protect you while you are achieving new goals in your freelance career.

Check out this blog if you are curious about becoming a freelancer in Spain:

• Guide to the income tax statement in Spain
• Guide on how to open a business in Spain
• Can an international student earn extra money while studying in Spain?
• Job opportunities for expats in Spain
• Guide to a job-seeking residence permit (Permiso de residencia para la búsqueda de trabajo)
• Becoming a freelancer in Spain: how to make a legal invoice
• Becoming a freelancer in Spain: tax payment and social security contributions

Our content will be updated according to the most recent legislation.