Kingdom of Spain · entrepreneur · Leads to settlement

Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)

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Residence permit for founders establishing an innovative business in Spain under the Entrepreneurs' Law.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyInitial 3 years; renewable.
Processing time
UGE-CE target 20 working days (often exceeded for complex cases).
Government fees
Variable.
Typical duration
Initial 3 years; renewable.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes

In short

As of 30 July 2026, the Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013) for Kingdom of Spain is an unsponsored Spain immigration route. Sources: official Kingdom of Spain government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/spain/entrepreneur-visa#answer

What is the Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013) in Kingdom of Spain?

Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013) is an unsponsored Spain route. Indicative government fees are Variable; indicative processing time is UGE-CE target 20 working days (often exceeded for complex cases); typical duration is Initial 3 years; renewable. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations on 22 June 2026.

Overview

Spain's Entrepreneur Visa covers founders of innovative businesses. The application is evaluated against the "innovative and of special economic interest" standard by ENISA. The route is intended for businesses that create jobs, generate exports, or inject technology into the Spanish economy.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Eligibility

Application pathway

  1. Obtain favourable ENISA report

    This is the defining step; without it, UGE-CE will refuse.

  2. Submit to UGE-CE

    Full package via Mercurio.

  3. Visa/TIE

    Consular or in-country depending on current location.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Spain. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. ApplyApplicant
    Submit entrepreneur residence application ↗

    Use the official electronic procedure to submit the Ley 14/2013 entrepreneur residence application.

    Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check entrepreneur requirements ↗

    Use this official guidance to confirm innovation, business-plan and evidence requirements before filing.

    Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: Variable.. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

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Frequently asked questions

What counts as innovative for the Spanish Entrepreneur Visa?+

ENISA evaluates innovation against the introduction of new products/services, use of technology, scalable models, and export potential. Traditional retail, hospitality, and me-too service businesses rarely meet the bar.

What is the single most important requirement for the Spain Entrepreneur Visa?+

A favourable ENISA report on your innovative business concept is the defining step; without it, UGE-CE will refuse the application. Traditional retail, hospitality, and me-too service businesses rarely meet the innovation bar. Confirm the evaluation criteria with the official source.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Spain

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations

Last checked: 22 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology