Job Search Residence Permit

Everything You Need to Know to Work as a Self-Employed in Spain

If you are a non-EU citizen and wish to start your own business or work as a freelancer in Spain, you need to apply for a self-employed residence and work permit. This guide explains the requirements, application process, and key details to successfully obtain this permit in 2025.

What is the Self-Employed Residence Permit?

The self-employed residence permit is a temporary residence authorization that allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain and operate a business or work as a freelancer.

  • Initial validity: 1 year
  • Renewal possibility: Up to 4 years
  • Requires a business plan and proof of economic viability

This permit is different from the entrepreneur visa, which is for innovative businesses with high technological value.

Self-Employed Residency: Table of Contents

Who Can Apply?

Non-EU citizens who want to work as self-employed professionals in Spain

Over 18 years old

Not residing illegally in Spain

No criminal record in the last five years

A viable business plan

Sufficient investment to launch the business

Relevant qualifications or work experience

Financial resources to support yourself

Where to Apply?

Your application process depends on your location.

From your home country:

✔️ Submit your application at the Spanish consulate in your country.
✔️ This is the most common and recommended process.

From Spain (exceptional cases only):

✔️ If you already hold a legal residence permit in Spain.
✔️ If you are modifying an existing residence permit.

You cannot apply for this permit from Spain if you are in an irregular situation.

What are the process

Application Process Process to Obtain a Self-Employed Residency in Spain

1. Prepare your documents

Gather all the required paperwork, including a business plan approved by a recognized institution such as the Association of Self-Employed Workers (ATA).

2. Submit your application

At the Spanish consulate in your home country.

3. Application processing

&#0149 Processing time: 3 months
&#0149 If approved, you will receive a visa to enter Spain.
&#0149 If rejected, you may file an appeal.

4. Enter Spain

Travel to Spain within three months of visa approval

5. Spanish Social Security

Register as self-employed (autónomo) with Social Security and Tax authorities.

6. Obtaining a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE)

If approved, you must request your TIE card within one month.

What are the requirements

Eligibility Requirements for the Job Search Residence Permit

Important: Foreign documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator and legalized or apostilled under The Hague Convention. Register as self-employed (autónomo) with Social Security and Tax authorities. Failing to submit any of these documents may result in rejection.

Hold a valid student residence permit

You must have a valid student residence permit in Spain at the time of application.

Completed a university degree

Your qualification must be at least Level 6 under the European Qualifications Framework, such as a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD.

No criminal record

You must have no criminal record in Spain or any previous countries of residence.

Valid health insurance

You must have public or private medical insurance that is valid in Spain.

Medical certificate

In specific cases

Sufficient financial means

You need to prove that you have enough financial resources to support yourself in Spain (100% of the IPREM monthly).

Not in an irregular situation

You must not be in Spain illegally at the time of application.

Passport

Valid passport (with at least 12 months of validity)

Application form

EX-01 application form, completed and signed

Payment of administrative fee

Fee 790 Code 052

Make It Easy with Us!

At Fuster & Associates, we take care of all the paperwork, making it easy for you to obtain your Job Search Residence Permit in Spain. Our team of experts will guide you step by step, ensuring a smooth, fast, and error-free process so you can focus on your future.

✉️ Contact us today and start living your new life in Spain with all the legal peace of mind you need.

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

It is valid for up to 24 months, with no possibility of extension.

No. The residence permit for job search in Spain does not authorize employment. If you secure a job, you must apply for a work permit.

Yes. If you find a job related to your field of study, you can apply for a work and residence permit. There are two main options:

  • Work permit as an employee: Your employer will process the work authorization.
  • Self-employed work permit: If you start a business, you must submit a business plan.

Yes, but for the Entrepreneur Visa, your business must be innovative and scalable, meeting the Entrepreneurs Law requirements.

You must either leave Spain or apply for another type of residence permit if eligible.

Yes, but you must comply with entry requirements and ensure your permit is still valid when you return.

It takes 20 business days to receive a decision. If no response is given within this period, the application is considered approved by positive administrative silence

If you submit the application after the allowed period, you may face penalties or rejection.

In our blog

Check posts related with Self-Employed Residency

Privacy Policy

FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L., is especially aware of the importance of the protection of data of a personal nature of the users of the website services. By means of this Privacy policy (referred to as Data Protection policy from here on), FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L., informs the users of the web: https://fuster-associates.com, how personal data gathered on the web is used so that they may decide freely and voluntarily if they wish to provide the information requested. FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L., reserves the right to modify this policy in order to adapt it to new legislation, jurisprudential criteria, information related to the sector or of interest to the entity. Any modification to be carried out will be made available, with the required notice, so that the complete content of these modifications can be made known.
• RESPONSIBLE BODY
Dealing with data of a personal nature is the responsibility of; FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L. With an address at Avenida de La Libertad, 301 – 1ª planta P.6 CP 30710 Los Alcázares (Murcia). Tel: (+34 968575650) and e-mail: info@fuster-associates.com
• WHY INFORMATION IS GATHERED
Information of a personal nature is gathered via the different forms and documents which belong to FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L., and made available to users, so as to be able to manage and deal with requests for information, doubts, complaints, commendations, or suggestions made as regards the publications or any other services or work, acts or events lent, offered, endorsed and/or sponsored by FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L.,
• CONSERVATION PERIOD
Personal data provided will be conserved for the time legally stipulated or as long as the interested party does not request for this information to be deleted and he is entitled to do so.
• LEGITIMATION
FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L., is legitimised to deal with personal data, based on the consent given by the interested party for one or more of the specific needs as set out in article 6.1 a) of the General regulations of personal data protection.
• ACCURACY OF DATA
So that the data submitted to our files, whether computerised or on paper, always reflects the true situation of information submitted, every effort will be made to keep these up to date. With this in mind, the User must make any changes necessary, either directly if he is empowered to do so himself, or by informing the area or department in question at FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L.
• RECIPIENTS
Third parties will not be informed of or given personal data unless doing this is necessary for the development, control and compliance with the objectives regulated by law.
• USERS’ RIGHTS
The owner of the personal data, in any case, may exercise his right, as set out in the General Register of Data Protection (Spanish acronym RGPD), which are: • Right to access his personal data, • Right to request for it to be rectified or eliminated, • Right to request for its use to be limited, • Right to oppose it being used, • Right to the portability of data The interested party may exercise these rights in writing, with a copy of his ID/passport attached, and sending it to the following address: FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L., Avenida de La Libertad, 301 – 1ª planta P.6 CP 30710 Los Alcázares (Murcia), Spain. Which of these rights the user wishes to exercise must be specified.
• SECURITY MEASURES
Finally, FUSTER CONSULTING, S.L., informs that all legally required technical and organisational measures will be taken in order to guarantee the security and confidentiality of the stored data and therefore preventing it being altered, lost, used without authorisation; keeping in mind the condition of the technique, the costs of applying it and the type, its scope, the context and the objective of dealing with the data, as well as the probability risks and the varying seriousness associated with dealings carried out. If you have any questions related to this privacy policy we kindly ask you to contact us by e-mail at: info@fuster-associates.com.