Entrepreneur visa routes in Kingdom of Spain
Thinking about Kingdom of Spain as a place to work? Below are the 3 Kingdom of Spain visa routes that most commonly fit entrepreneurs, with what each one needs and a link to the official government source. Always confirm the current rules on the primary source before acting.
Also searched as: startup founder, business owner, company director.
What this means for entrepreneurs
Of the 3 Kingdom of Spain routes that commonly fit entrepreneurs, 0 need a sponsoring employer and 3 do not, 3 have confirmed permanent residence mapping. Entrepreneurs are not usually a licensed profession, so your main gates are securing a qualifying job offer where a route needs a sponsor, and meeting any salary or points threshold, rather than re-credentialing.
The most-used skilled route into Kingdom of Spain overall is the Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit; it is not specific to entrepreneurs but is worth understanding as the benchmark route.
Typical figures — Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Salary you must earn
€28,800/yr
Non-lucrative Visa — passive-income minimum
Verified 1 January 2026 · Ministerio de Inclusión — Non-lucrative residence
How long it takes
3 months
Spain publishes a legal decision period of up to 3 months for the initial non-lucrative residence authorisation; requests for documents or an interview can extend the case.
Legal decision period, not a typical forecast; appointment time before lodgement is separate.
Verified 10 September 2026 · Ministry of Inclusion - Initial non-lucrative residence
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship (10 years for most nationalities; 2 for Latin American).
Leads to Residencia de Larga Duración, then Spanish citizenship.
Occupation salary-floor answer
Entrepreneur salary floor in Kingdom of Spain
Verified 30 July 2026
Salary floor
€28,800 / year
Non-lucrative Visa — passive-income minimum
This is the route-level floor from the current source-backed dataset; a more specific occupation, region, age band or employer rule may bind higher.
Compare this occupation across priority destinations · Source datasets: /api/public/salary-thresholds, /api/public/visas
Licensing vs visa timeline
Entrepreneur: visa vs licensing timeline in Kingdom of Spain
Version 2026-07-02
This separates the immigration filing track from the profession, regulator or recognition track. It uses route source data and cost-to-complete evidence; it is indicative and not legal advice.
Visa track
- 1
Confirm route fit
Before relying on an offer
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is the representative route for this profession page. It does not require an employer sponsor and is mapped as leading to settlement.
- 2
Check current route figures
Before budgeting
Current source-backed figures on this page include salary floor €28,800/yr, processing 3 months.
Source: Visa Atlas figure datasets
- 3
Follow the official application pathway
After route fit is clear
Check the responsible Spanish mission’s live instructions for jurisdiction, appointments, submission method, and any external service provider.
Licensing / recognition track
- 1
No separate licence line modelled
After route fit is clear
This profession category is usually driven by offer, salary, qualification and route fit rather than a separate professional-registration clock. Still confirm the official route source before filing.
Method: Compares the representative visa track with profession-sensitive recognition, registration or skills-assessment evidence found in the route cost model; it does not create country-specific regulator claims when no source-backed line exists. Source datasets: /api/public/visas, /api/public/cost-to-complete, /api/public/salary-thresholds, /api/public/processing-times.
Source basis
This profession page uses Kingdom of Spain's official immigration portal plus the primary government source for each matched route. The route cards link to full eligibility and source records.
Reviewed
Primary sources
- Ministerio de Inclusión — Portal de Inmigración
Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations (Spain) - verified
- Ministerio — Non-Lucrative Residence
Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations - verified
- Ministerio — Entrepreneur residence
Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations - verified
- BOE — Organic Law 1/2025 ending the property Golden Visa
Boletín Oficial del Estado - verified
Routes that fit entrepreneurs
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Residence visa for financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals not planning to work in Spain.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Initial 1 year; renewable for 2-year periods; leads to permanent residence after 5 years.
Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)
Residence permit for founders establishing an innovative business in Spain under the Entrepreneurs' Law.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Initial 3 years; renewable.
Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025)
Residence-by-investment route announced to end on 3 April 2025; residual queries reference historical rules.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Closed to new property-based applications from 3 April 2025.
Figures by route
Verified salary floor and processing window per matched route, each primary-sourced. Indicative, not legal advice.
| Route | Salary floor | Processing | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) | €28,800/yr | 3 months | Yes |
| Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013) | — | No fixed national clock published | Yes |
| Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025) | — | No fixed national clock published | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit entrepreneurs moving to Kingdom of Spain?+
Kingdom of Spain has 3 routes that commonly fit entrepreneurs: Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013), Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025). The best fit depends on whether you already have an employer sponsor, your salary, and your qualifications — open any route below for its full eligibility criteria and primary government source.
Do entrepreneurs need a job offer to move to Kingdom of Spain?+
Not always. 3 of the 3 matched Kingdom of Spain routes can be pursued without an employer sponsoring you (such as the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)), while 0 need a sponsoring employer or a confirmed job offer. If you do not yet have an offer, start with the no-sponsor routes.
Can entrepreneurs settle permanently in Kingdom of Spain?+
Yes. 3 of the 3 matched routes lead toward settlement or permanent residence. Permanent-residence timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
What salary do entrepreneurs need in Kingdom of Spain?+
For entrepreneurs, the mapped Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) floor is €28,800 / year, effective 1 January 2026 (Ministerio de Inclusión — Non-lucrative residence). This is the route-level floor from the current source-backed dataset; a more specific occupation, region, age band or employer rule may bind higher.
How long does the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) take to process?+
The typical published decision window is 3 months (Ministry of Inclusion - Initial non-lucrative residence, verified 10 September 2026).