Self-employed work visa

​Visa for people aged 16 or over wishing to engage in self-employed activity in Spain.  

Visa and work authorization will be processed simultaneously.

Required documents  

1. National visa application form. Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application. 

2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. 

3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.  

4. Criminal record check certificate. Applicants of legal age must submit both the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

This certificate cannot be older than 6 months, unless the certificate itself specifies a longer expiration.

For UK Criminal Records submit ACRO Certificate.

These certificates must be legalised through the Spanish Consular Representations in the issuing country (double legalization) or, in the case of signatory countries to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, must hold the Hague Apostille, except official documents issued by a Member State of the European Union, which do not require legalization.

Sworn translation into Spanish is also required.

5. Medical certificate. Original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious health repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

This certificate can not be older than 3 months and must be issued by a registered medical practicioner. It should include the following (or similar) terms: 

• If the medical certificate is issued in the United Kingdom: “This health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. (…) does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005"
• If the medical certificate is issued in a language other than Spanish, it must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
• If the medical certificate is issued in Spain: “Este certificado médico acredita que el Sr./Sra. (…) no padece ninguna de las enfermedades que pueden tener repercusiones para la salud pública graves, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el reglamento sanitario internacional de 2005"

This Consulate does not provide information about medical centres that issue this certificate. The applicant may contact any public or private medical centre duly accredited in the territory of the United Kingdom or Spain. Medical certificates issued in countries other than the United Kingdom or Spain will not be accepted.

Medical certificates must hold the Hague Apostille (except documents issued by Spain).

6. Proof of residence in the consular district. Applicants must provide proof of their legal residence in the consular district or proof of their attending classes, in person, in the consular district. To verify your consular district, please visit the relevant web section of this Consulate.

7. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the applicant is a minor, it will be necessary to present originals and submit copies of the identity document or passport of one of their parents, as well as of the document constituting proof of kinship. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

8. Payment of the visa fee. Visa fee payment is compulsory and must be paid when submitting a visa application. The fee is paid in local currency and it is subject to regular changes due to the currency fluctuations. Please check the list of Consular fees.  

When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and a personal interview.

9. INITIAL WORK AND RESIDENCE AUTHORIZATION FOR SELF EMPLOYED WORKERS:

1.  Each applicant must complete and sign, having filled in each section of the EX–07 form. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application. 

2. Activity permits and licences. 

• A list of permits or licences required for the installation, opening or operation of the planned activity or professional practice, indicating the status of the procedures for obtaining them.
• A certification of applications to these permits and licences must be submitted.  

 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 legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together 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 together 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 be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

6. Payment of fees. To pay the fees at the Consular Office, the applicant must complete all the fields, and sign, two copies of form 790 code 052, ticking box 2.1 (initial temporary residence permit), and of form 790, code 062,ticking box 1.5 (self-employed work permits). 

The fee can be paid online, through the links to forms 790-052 and 790-062. In this case, proof of payment obtained from the same webpage must be attached. 

Nationals of Ibero-American countries, nationals of the Philippines, nationals of Andorra, nationals of 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. 

When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and a personal interview.

Procedure  

• 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: BLS. Spain Visa Application Centre , Spain Visa Application Centre, 20 St Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AG 
  
• Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide applicants with a code 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 or attend a personal interview. 
•  Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 4 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 favourable 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.

The appeal addressed to the Visa Department must be posted by Royal Mail or other courrier service provider to this Consulate. All documents attached to the appeal must be translated into Spanish.

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 1 year. Once in Spain, workers have 3 months to register with the Social Security before beginning their professional 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. 

SWORN TRANSLATIONS AND LEGALISATIONS

Please visit the relevant web section of this Consulate for the list of sworn translators-interpreters.

The legalisations and Hague Apostilles must legalise the signatures of the signatories of the certificates: registered medical practitioners, police officers, etc. and not the signature of notaries or solicitors who did not issue those certificates.

The Hague Apostille does not need to be translated into Spanish if one of the languages of issuance is Spanish.