Self-employed Visa
The route for professionals establishing their own independent practice or freelance activity registered inside Spain — distinct from the Digital Nomad Visa, which is for people already working for clients or employers outside the country.
Who this visa is for
Consultants, tradespeople and independent professionals planning to build a genuinely Spanish client base and register locally as autónomo, rather than continuing to bill foreign clients.
Requirements, without the fluff
- A viable business plan for the Spanish activity.
- Professional qualification or license where the activity requires one.
- Sufficient investment or savings to establish the practice.
- Registration with the Spanish Social Security system (RETA) once approved.
Autónomo vs. Digital Nomad
If most of your income will keep coming from clients outside Spain, the Digital Nomad Visa is usually the better fit and carries the Beckham Law tax benefit. The Self-employed Visa is built for people building a local Spanish practice from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Spanish-registered business first?
No — the visa approval and RETA registration typically happen together as part of the same process.
Can I switch to this from a different visa later?
Often yes, depending on your current status — this is a common case we handle through Renewals & Modifications.
What ongoing obligations does RETA registration carry?
Monthly Social Security contributions and standard Spanish tax/VAT filings, which the Business Suite's accounting service manages on an ongoing basis.
What happens next
We build the business plan the filing needs, then hand off RETA registration and ongoing bookkeeping to the Business Suite so day one of the visa is also day one of a compliant Spanish practice.