Self-employment in Spain: residence permits for freelancers and business owners

What is cuenta propia and what is different from other ways

Cuenta propia is part of the general regime of foreigners: residence permits and self-mutilating activities for a person over 18 years of age who enters Spain for more than 90 days and less than five years [1]It does not replace Ley 14/2013 special permits, which have different logic.

How to choose between two ways for business explains the article :: Business (emprendedor) or Cuenta propiaFor freelancers on foreign clients there is a comparison DNV or cuenta propiaThe opening of SL does not in itself give a residence permit: it decides a personal permit rather than a form of business, which is further and further in the autónomo and SL material.

Requirements and documents for cuenta propia

Article 84 of the RD defines six conditions: compliance with the requirements that the law imposes on citizens to open and work such activities; professional qualifications or sufficient experience and cogitation when needed; adequacy of investment and impact on employment, including self-employment; no period of obligation not to return after voluntary departure; no threat to public order (checking criminal records in the case of persons with disabilities); Spain and police report); paid duty [1]. The package includes [2]:

• The form of the EX-07 application you signed and the full passport;
• A certificate of no criminal record from the countries of residence over the past five years;
• For retail trade and services from the Ley 12/2012 annex, at fixed points up to 750 square metres: declaración responsable or pre-message;
• For the remaining activities: list of licences and work permits, with the stage of their receipt;
• Qualification documents and for regulated occupations, homologation and cogitation;
• The Ministry refers to the evaluation report from self-employed associations, UPTA, CIAE, OPA or UATAE as examples.

Foreign documents are translated and apostilles or legalized by the jury [2].

Memoria project: how it is prepared in Catalonia

Generalitat highlights separately that the core of the case file on cuenta propia is memoria descriptiva project, while personal data and qualifications only accompany it [4]There are two manuals for drafting: the creation of a new company and entry into the existing company, as well as a support service for the preparation of memoria [3][4].

The plan must be verifiable. Share three budgets: initial investments, regular business expenses and personal maintenance. Purchase of equipment does not prove you have money for rent and current payments. Note which assumptions are supported by agreements or proposals and which remain hypotheses: the revenue projection is not equal to the current contract. The amount of the investment is not therefore called "the minimum amount of money from the contract. You don't need to look for ads. You're looking for enough for your project. [1].

The permit does not replace municipal and sectoral requirements, and the list depends on the scope and territory of the activity. [1][2]Don't charge unconditional expenses just by saying "the owner has worked here before".

Method and timing of steps

1. Prepare memoria and documents. Identify what you're selling, who's who, who's who, what licences you need. [3][4].
2. Write a pay letter for your work permit. In Catalonia, this is the first step: confirmation is attached to the application. The residence fee is paid later when assigned to the NIE. [3]General codes modelo 790: 052 for residence permit and 062 for work permit for six months [2].
3. Hand it over to the consulate in person. The representative is allowed only in justified cases by a decision of the consulate. [3].
4. Wait for the decision. Three months from receipt of the consulate ’s message; in silence, the application is considered rejected [1].
5. Get a visa. After a positive decision, apply for a visa within a month, the consulate decides within a month, withdraws a visa within a month [2].
6. Come to Spain and stand on the alta. Entry within three months of the visa, then within three months of the entry of alta into the Seguridad Social. If it is not available in three months, you must leave Spain. [1][2].
7. Put TIE on. The card is requested personally within a month after the alta [1].

How to formalize tax registration and RETA after entry is shown in the article autónomo registration by stepThe amount of monthly payments is discussed in the material Cuota autono in 2026.

Year 1, extension and change of basis

The primary permit is valid for a year, in one autonomous community and in one sector. If you want to operate in the first year in several communities and in the same sector, you need to have the appropriate permits for each of the two communities. [1]The extension is filed within two months before the end of the decision and the duration of the decision is three months: in silence, the extension is considered granted. [1]A renewed permit is issued for four years, allowing for employment and for self-employment throughout the country and in any sector [1]If you have minor children of school age, you need a report on their school registration for extension. [1].

If you are already in Spain, you can go without a visa. Article 190 allows a graduate to move to a cuenta propia from the educational estancia, article 191 allows for a change of base for residents, article 192 describes a change from a job to a job of cuenta propia. [1]. In Catalonia, there are separate Generalitat procedures: MOD01c, MOD03b and MOD07. d d [4]Details: change of residence permit basis.

Typical Errors

• They're giving me a "open business in Barcelona" without a description. The answer is, what, who, how and what do you do personally? [4].
• Beautiful profits instead of the numbers we've checked. The prognosis without the agreements and calculations will not pass [1].
• SL is considered a residence permit. The company does not replace personal authorization and the right to work [1].
• They sign the lease before they check the licences. The facility may not be suitable for an activity.
• They're putting the alta in RETA. Without her, three months after her entry, we'll have to leave. [1].
• They're running a cuenta propia with an emprendedor. The second has another procedure, a time frame and ENISA. [5].
• Forget about the school registration certificate when you renew it. Without it, they won't give you an extension. [1].

When Individual Review Is Needed

A review is needed if your activity requires a licence or a co-operation, if you are a partner in a company, if you want to operate in several regions, if you have other sources of income in Spain, or if you need to choose between cuenta propia and emprendedor.

What can we help you with?

The NEXO team in Barcelona helps determine the path that your project is suited to, structure the package and memoria, prepare translations and apostilles, accompany autónomo registration and the tax steps after entry. First 30 minutes freeService: work permitII. General order of: Residence permit in Barcelona and WorksheetThe cost of maintenance is considered to be individually estimated, duties and transfers are paid separately.

Frequent issues

Related materials

The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.