General Information
Visa for people over 16, who seek to engage in self-employed activity in Spain.
To obtain a self-employed work visa, it is necessary to obtain an initial residence and self-employed work permit.
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:
1. Send an email with the appointment request to cog.chicago.cit@maec.es (one email per family group)
2. Attach a PDF copy of the applicant`s ID (State ID, Driver's License, or Student ID)
3. 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
- Type of visa
- Intended dates of travel
The procedure comprises two stages:
I. Obtaining an initial residence and self-employed work permit.
Required documents - Please bring to the appointment a USB drive with this scanned documents: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 -
1. Application form EX -07 for an initial residence and self-employe work permit. Each applicant must complete and sign the EX-07 forms. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
2. Passport. A photocopy of every page of a valid, unexpired passport or travel document.
3. Activity permits and licenses. List of permits or licenses required for 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Residence Authorization fees. The applicant must complete and sign, the Initial temporary residence permit form 790 code 052, ticking box 2.1, the fee for 2024 is $ 12 and Self-employed work permit form 990 code 062, ticking box 1.5 ,The fee for 2024 is $223.
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.
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.
Procedure for obtaining an initial residence and self-employed work permit:
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.
- 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
- Notification: The Consular Office will inform the applicant of the decision issued by the corresponding Delegation or Sub-delegation of the Government.
- If the decision is favorable, the Consular Office will invite the applicant to submit a visa application.
- If the decision is unfavorable, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to the Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification 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 permit refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
II. Obtaining a self-employed work visa
Required documents - Please bring to the appointment a USB drive with this scanned documents: 1 and 6 -
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. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. 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. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 2024
Present the payment the day of your appointment. Only money orders are accepted, payable to the Consulate of Spain. No cash, personal checks, nor credit cards. The processing fee will not be returned even if the visa is not granted or canceled.
APPLICANT FEE 2024
Americans $ 270
Other Nationalities $ 88
9. Pre-Paid Priority/Express mail envelope from the United States Postal Services along with a tracking number. Once the visa is approved, the Consulate will return the applicant's passport inside that envelope.
10. Shipping Disclaimer form must be downloaded here.
For representative (Attorney): Copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and notarized power or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, if necessary, submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Procedure for obtaining a self-employed work visa
- Who can apply: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant, or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor.
- 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.
- Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person by appointment at the Consular Office.
Address:
Consulate of Spain in Chicago
180 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60601
- 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 is 1 month 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.