General Information
Visa for people over 16, who seek to engage in self-employed activity in Spain.
The Consulate of Spain in Chicago will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Applications are in person by appointment only. To request an appointment please follow these instructions:
Send an email with the appointment request to cog.chicago.vis@maec.es (one email per family group)
Attach a PDF copy of the applicant`s ID (State ID, Driver's License, or Student ID)
Include this mandatory information :
- Name and last name of the applicant (for a family group, include all the applicant's names in the same email)
- Email address
- Phone number
Upon receipt of the appointment confirmation email, applicants must submit the required documentation in advance in PDF format and bring the orginals and copies to the appointment.
If it is not possible to submith all documents in a single email, they may submit them in multiple emails, clearly numbered (1,2,3,…) ensuring that all required the complete documentation is received at least 24 hours prior to the appointment.
Please write the email subject as follows: “APPOINTMENT REQUEST. SELF-EMPLOYED VISA. Given Name FAMILY NAME. Email Number”
Visa and work authorization will be processed simultaneously.
Required documents
1. National visa application form. The applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
2. Photo glued to the application form. An updated photo-paper picture, passport size, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. Photographs of toddlers and babies must not show any part of the adult holding them.
3. Passport. A photocopy of every page of a valid, unexpired passport or travel document. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction: State ID, Driver´s License, or Student ID.
5. Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-Americans). Must present one of the following documents:
- Original and copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green card)
- Valid US long-term Visa
- Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.
6. Visa fee. For nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the complete most recent visa fees.
Present the payment the day of your appointment. Only money orders are accepted, payable to the Consulate of Spain. The processing fee will not be returned even if the visa is not granted or canceled.
7. Criminal record certificate. Applicants over 18 must present an original and photocopy of the criminal record certificate issued by FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC. It cannot be older than 6 months from the application date.
- The applicant must present criminal record certificates from the countries of residence of the last 5 years.
- A certified translator must translate the certificates into Spanish. American Translators Association https://www.atanet.org/
- Local State Apostille is not valid.
8. Bilingual Medical certificate, accrediting applicant´s good health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. It must have the Doctor's Stamp, or can be printed on medical center´s letterhead; it must not be older than 3 months. It is recommended to use our template.
Nationals of Ibero-America, Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Sephardim, children and grandchildren of persons of Spanish origin, and foreigners born in Spain are exempt from paying the fee for self-employed work permits.
If a work permit is applied for in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, the fee must be paid directly to that Autonomous Community, the proof of payment must be attached.
9. INITIAL WORK AND RESIDENCE AUTHORIZATION FOR SELF EMPLOYED WORKERS:
2. Activity permits and licenses. List of permits or licenses required f3or the installation, opening or operation of the planned activity or professional practice, indicating the status of the procedures for obtaining them. Certification of applications to the corresponding bodies must be attached.
3. Professional training and qualifications. Original and a copy of the documents accrediting the legally required training, and where applicable, qualifications, for the professional practice. Foreign documents must be apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.
4. Plan for the establishment or activity. Plan for the establishment or activity to be carried out, indicating the planned investment, the expected return, and, where applicable, the jobs that will be created. Documents written in a foreign language must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.
5. Financial means. Original and a copy of the documents accrediting that the applicant has sufficient financial means to carry out the planned investment, or a commitment by financial or other institutions to provide support. Foreign documents must apostilled and, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.
6. Residence Authorization fees. To pay the fees at the Consular office, the applicant must complete all the fields of, and sign, two copies of form 790 code 052, ticking box 2.1, (initial temporary residence permit) and of form 990 code 062, ticking box 1.5. (self-employed work permits). When applying for a work permit in the CCAA Catalonia, the fees shall be paid directly to then and proof ot payment shall be provided. Only money orders are accepted, payable to the Consulate of Spain.
The fee can also be paid online, through the links of forms 790-052 and 790-062. In this case, the proof of payment obtained from the same webpage must be attached.
Procedure
This Consular Office is competent to accept applications from individuals residing in the consular district.
- Who can apply for a permit: Individual with the necessary legal standing: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant, or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor.
- Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person by appointment only at the Consular Office. Address:
Consulate of Spain in Chicago
180 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60601
- Visa application period: Visas must be applied for within 1 month of the day following the date on which the notification of a favorable decision regarding the initial residence and self-employed work permit is received.
- Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular .maec.es/Ho me.aspx
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
- Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision by the inmigration office will be approximately five or six months as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.
- Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative (if the applicant is a minor) within a maximum period of 1 month, counted as of the day after the date on which the favorable decision is notified. The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.
- Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
- Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- Validity period of the visa: The visa will be valid for 90 days. Once in Spain, workers must register with the Social Security system within a period of 3 months and before beginning their employment activity. They must also apply for a Foreigner Identity Card at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station within a period of 1 month from their registration with the Social Security system.