Spain Startup Visa in 2026

Spain remains one of the most popular countries in Europe to relocate to. And it's not just the climate - it's the terms of its visa programs. Today many entrepreneurs arrive on the startup visa. It is issued for three years and allows legal residence in the country and travel across the Schengen area without restrictions.

The main advantage is that there is no minimum investment requirement. The main challenge is proving that the project is genuinely new, scalable, and beneficial to the country's economy.

With this status you can live and work in Spain and grow your company. After 5 years you become eligible to apply for permanent residence, and after another 5 years, for citizenship.

Main requirements for the applicant and the startup

Spain does not consider just any business. This program requires an actual startup - a project with an innovative idea, growth potential, and a clear business model. An ordinary local business without technological or market novelty generally does not qualify.

When assessing a project, four things are examined:

• innovativeness;
• uniqueness in the market;
• scalability;
• economic impact.

The startup must either use modern technology or offer a solution that stands out clearly from competitors. An additional plus is the ability to create jobs and attract investment.

The project is assessed by ENISA. The organization checks not just the idea but the business's real chances of growth. The applicant's personal documents are reviewed by the UGE, the unit for foreign nationals' affairs.

Projects in fields such as artificial intelligence, fintech, green energy, automation, education, digital services, and business-process management tend to make the most convincing case. This is not a closed list, but it is in these areas that it is easiest to demonstrate novelty and scaling potential.

There is no formal requirement for the applicant to have relevant education. Proving entrepreneurial experience is not mandatory either.

For the application, you need to show personal savings: from €33,150 for the main applicant. If a spouse is included in the application, the amount increases by €12,432. €4,144 must be added for each child.

The money must be held in a personal account at a bank that raises no concerns for the Spanish authorities. Accounts at Russian and Belarusian banks are generally avoided. In most cases, the movement of funds does not need to be shown separately, but the balance itself must be confirmed by a bank statement.

Family members can be included in the application. This is usually a spouse, children under 17, children aged 18 to 26 if they are studying and financially dependent, and parents over 65.

How does the startup visa differ from the digital nomad visa?

These statuses are often confused, but they are designed for different scenarios.

The digital nomad visa suits those who already have a stable remote income. This could be work for a foreign company, consulting, a private practice, or cooperation with clients abroad. In this case, the person is bringing an already-working income model to Spain.

The startup visa is for those building a company. Here, what's assessed is not current income from remote work but the project itself:

• how viable it is;
• how it differs from competitors;
• whether it can grow into a full-fledged business.

The difference is also visible in the documents. For the digital nomad, the basis of the application is contracts, statements, and proof of regular income. For the startup visa, the main document is the business plan.

There is also a practical difference. A digital nomad moves to Spain with an already-established source of income. A startup founder moves in order to develop a project, hire a team, look for partners, and enter the market.

The application process: a step-by-step plan

The first step is to assess the project itself. Before applying, you need to understand whether it can be defended as an innovative startup. If the idea does not look new, does not scale, and does not offer the country a clear benefit, even perfectly assembled paperwork will not save the application.

The second step is preparing the business plan. This is the key document of the entire process. It normally describes the product or service, the project's novelty, the market, competitors, the team, partners, the financial model, and plans for raising investment.

The third step is gathering documents. You typically need to prepare:

• a passport;
• a criminal record certificate;
• a bank statement showing the account balance;
• Spanish medical insurance for at least a year;
• a resume or LinkedIn profile;
• marriage and children's birth certificates, if family is included in the application;
• the business plan.

Documents are submitted with a Spanish translation. Some documents, including the criminal record certificate, need to be apostilled.

There are two ways to apply. The first is through a Spanish consulate in the country of citizenship or residence. In this case, the applicant receives a one-year entrepreneur visa, arrives in Spain, and only then applies for a residence permit.

The second is to apply for the residence permit directly from within Spain. For this, you need to be legally present in the country, for example on a Schengen visa. The application is submitted online, and the resident card is then collected in person from the police.

A visa application submitted through a consulate is reviewed within 10 business days.

You also need to factor in associated costs. Apostilling and translation typically cost from around €1,000. Medical insurance costs roughly from €1,200 per person. The consular fee is €80 per person. The government fee for the residence card is €73.26.

The first residence permit is valid for 3 years. It can then be renewed every 2 years as long as the startup develops in line with the stated business plan. In other words, the status is confirmed through the project's real progress and development.

Renewal of the Spanish residence permit can be refused for reasons such as:

• a weak or unconvincing project;
• errors in the documents;
• inaccurate information;
• unconfirmed income;
• non-compliance with the program's conditions.

Russian citizens have an additional obligation: after obtaining a Spanish residence permit, they must notify Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs within 60 days. If the person is abroad at the time, the countdown starts from the moment of their first entry into Russia after obtaining the status.

Conclusion

The Spain startup visa is a strong tool for entrepreneurs who are genuinely building an innovative project, rather than simply looking for a convenient way to relocate. The program grants residency for 3 years, requires no fixed investment, and allows you to bring your family.

But what matters most here is not the application form but the quality of the project. If the startup looks convincing both on paper and in reality, the chances of approval are strong.

If you are planning to launch or grow a startup in Spain, it is important to properly assess the project before filing documents. Reach out to our specialists for help. We can help you understand the program's requirements, prepare a filing strategy, and put together a strong application.