Opening a business in Spain: subtleties, lists of documents, advice
Those wishing to emigrate to Spain usually consider all possible options. Marriage with a local resident, study, work in Spain – these “paths” are not always available, but opening a business in Spain requires, in fact, only a certain amount of money.
The Spanish government creates conditions for foreigners to do business in the country, as this is beneficial to Spain in terms of economic development and tax collection.
A business visa type “D” allows you to stay in the country for a year and carry out business activities. Obtaining this visa requires providing certain documents and obtaining permission from the Ministry of Labor. It is necessary to confirm that you are the owner of a successful enterprise, have a stable income from it and pay taxes in accordance with the law.
To confirm these facts, it is necessary to submit the relevant certificates to the Spanish Ministry of Labor, and also to present them to the Spanish Embassy when applying for a visa.
How can you create a successful business in Spain if the “D” visa is granted after you have already carried out business activities? One of the common ways for business immigrants is to purchase real estate in Spain, obtain a multiple entry visa on this basis and run the business until the visa expires, a stable income is achieved and an application is submitted to the Ministry of Labor.
For those who have sufficient capital, there is the possibility of acquiring a ready-made business with the help of a notary. You should be prepared for the fact that mostly unprofitable enterprises are sold, and it will be necessary to re-register the business license for the new owner. It is worth noting that in any case, licensing is an integral part of the process and can take several years.
To open your own business in Spain, you must meet a number of conditions. Firstly, you must have a degree in the relevant business specialty, which must also be validated in Spain. Secondly, you must have sufficient funds in your account to guarantee the payment of the owner’s accommodation and housing during the first year of operation.
In addition, a carefully thought-out business plan is required, as no one can give absolute guarantees of the success of opening a new enterprise. It is important to note that the process of collecting the necessary documents can be complex and lengthy, and the first time it may not be possible to collect all the required certificates. However, the Spanish Consulate provides the opportunity to submit missing documents within ten days of submitting the application.
The documents that must be submitted to the consulate to open a business in Spain include the following:
- international passport and its copies;
- certificate of good conduct;
- medical certificate (form 086-u);
- a diploma certified in Spain or other evidence of the applicant’s professionalism;
- bank statement or document confirming sponsorship;
- business plan;
- necessary licenses to open a business.
Once the application has been approved, the applicant must collect the visa from the consulate in person within one month. After receiving the visa, three months are given to enter Spain. Upon entry, it is necessary to register with Seguridad Social and obtain a resident card.
After a year, you need to extend your business visa in Spain. To do this, you need to provide documentary evidence of successful business development and timely and full payment of taxes. The general tax rate is 30% if the annual turnover of the enterprise is less than 8 million dollars.
The documents and the request for renewal must be submitted in advance, two months before the expiration of the business permit in Spain. The new permit will be valid for two years. After the permit is renewed, the resident card must also be renewed.
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