Corporate Mobility / Spain / Route
Spain · Investment route
Form a Spanish S.L. from €1 of share capital and apply for entrepreneur residence backed by an ENISA report, with no minimum investment or job-creation requirement.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE-based founders and companies on business immigration from our Dubai office.
Overview
Spain gives non-EU founders two connected steps: forming a Spanish company, usually a Sociedad Limitada (S.L.), and obtaining residence as an entrepreneur under Ley 14/2013. The entrepreneur route sets no minimum investment and no minimum job creation. What it requires is a business plan that is innovative and/or of special economic interest for Spain, backed by a favourable report from ENISA.
Forming the S.L.
- Minimum share capital: €1, since Ley 18/2022. €3,000 is now a threshold rather than a minimum: below it, 20% of profit must go to the legal reserve, and on liquidation the shareholders are jointly liable for any shortfall.
- NIE (foreigner identity number) for each foreign shareholder or director.
- Company name certificate from the Central Mercantile Registry, issued within 24 working hours and valid for three months, renewable.
- Incorporation through CIRCE, the electronic company-formation system: an S.L. can be incorporated in 1 to 10 days.
Official costs
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NIE (tasa 790/012) | €9.84 | National Police fee |
| Notary + Mercantile Registry: telematic S.L. with standard articles (estatutos tipo), capital up to €3,100 | €100 | €60 notary + €40 registry, regulated tariff |
| Notary + Mercantile Registry: other telematic S.L. | €250 | €150 notary + €100 registry, regulated tariff |
| Notary + Registry outside these regimes | Scales with capital | Regulated tariff |
| Minimum share capital | €1 | Paid into the company |
Municipal activity licences depend on the city and the activity, and translations and apostilles depend on your documents; XIPHIAS quotes them per file.
Residence as an entrepreneur
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneur visa, issued by the consulate | 1 year |
| Residence authorisation granted in Spain (UGE-CE) | 3 years, renewable for 3 years |
ENISA issues its report on the business plan within 10 working days. The authorisation gives residence in Spain; it allows visa-free travel in the rest of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180, but it is not a right to live or work elsewhere in the EU. Your spouse or partner and children can apply to accompany you.
Tax and social security
| Company | 2026 corporate tax rate |
|---|---|
| General rate | 25% |
| Newly created companies (first two profitable tax periods) | 15% |
| Micro-enterprises (turnover under €1 million) | 19% on the first €50,000 of profit, 21% on the rest |
| Reduced-dimension companies (empresas de reducida dimensión) | 23% |
A director or controlling shareholder must register with Social Security as an autónomo societario (RETA). The 2026 minimum contribution base, applied on annual regularisation, is €1,424.40 a month at a rate of 31.40%, about €447 a month at that base. It is a recurring personal cost to budget for from the start.
Timeline
- Name certificate: within 24 working hours.
- Company incorporation through CIRCE: 1 to 10 days.
- ENISA report: within 10 working days.
- Visa or residence authorisation: consular and UGE-CE processing follow, and this is the longest stage.
The Golden Visa is closed
Spain's residence visa for investors (the Golden Visa) was abolished by Ley Orgánica 1/2025 with effect from 3 April 2025. Applications made after that date are inadmissible, including new family applications arising from marriages or births after 3 April 2025. Permits already granted remain valid for their term and can be renewed. For a non-EU founder, the entrepreneur route is the business-based alternative.
Long-term residence and citizenship
After five years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term residence. Spanish citizenship by residence requires ten years for Indian nationals under article 22 of the Civil Code; the two-year period for Ibero-American and certain other nationalities does not extend to India. India does not permit dual citizenship: acquiring Spanish citizenship would end Indian citizenship under Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act 1955. Spanish residence does not.
Risks to plan for
- ENISA's report is the gate: a plan that is neither innovative nor of special economic interest for Spain will not receive a favourable report.
- Residence is in Spain only; Schengen travel is limited to 90 days in any 180.
- Share capital below €3,000 brings the legal-reserve rule and shareholder liability on liquidation.
- RETA contributions are a personal monthly cost for directors and controlling shareholders.
- Renewal depends on the business remaining active.
Talk to our Spain business immigration consultants in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has advised families and businesses since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022. Our immigration consultants in Dubai will take you through the requirements, costs and timeline for your specific case.
Sources
- BOE — Ley 14/2013, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización
- BOE — Ley 18/2022, de creación y crecimiento de empresas
- Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (UGE-CE) — entrepreneur application instructions
- National Police — NIE fee (tasa 790/012)
- BOE — Ley Orgánica 1/2025
- BOE — Civil Code, article 22 (nationality by residence)
At a glanceلمحة
Key highlights
- ✦S.L. from €1 share capital
- ✦ENISA-backed entrepreneur residence
- ✦15% tax for new companies
- ✦Residence in Spain
What you getالمزايا
No minimum investment and no job-creation requirement for entrepreneur residence.
S.L. formation from €1 of share capital.
Corporate tax of 15% for newly created companies in their first two profitable tax periods; 25% general rate.
Three-year residence authorisation, renewable for three years.
Spouse or partner and children can accompany the entrepreneur.
Visa-free Schengen travel of up to 90 days in any 180.
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Government & due-diligence fees
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Non-EU nationality, aged 18 or over.
A favourable ENISA report on an innovative business plan, or one of special economic interest for Spain.
Sufficient financial means for yourself and your family.
Health insurance valid in Spain.
Clean criminal record certificate.
Registered office address in Spain for the S.L.
Who cannot apply
A business plan that is neither innovative nor of special economic interest for Spain.
Insufficient financial means.
Criminal record or immigration violations.
Incomplete corporate or residence documents.
The processكيف نعمل
Business Plan & Consultation
Build a business plan that is innovative or of special economic interest for Spain, and choose the structure.
Obtain NIE (Foreign ID)
An NIE for each foreign shareholder or director (€9.84).
Name Certificate
Central Mercantile Registry certificate, issued within 24 working hours and valid for three months.
Incorporate the S.L.
Sign the deed and register through CIRCE in 1 to 10 days; notary and registry from €100.
ENISA Report
ENISA reports on the business plan within 10 working days.
Residence
Apply for the one-year entrepreneur visa at the consulate, or the three-year authorisation from inside Spain.
Sponsorship & salary rulesالرواتب
Minimum share capital (S.L.)
Since Ley 18/2022. Below €3,000, 20% of profit goes to the legal reserve and shareholders are jointly liable for any shortfall on liquidation.
Legal-reserve threshold
Not a minimum: the capital level below which the extra reserve rule and shareholder liability apply.
RETA minimum contribution base (2026, monthly)
Applied on annual regularisation, at a rate of 31.40%, for directors and controlling shareholders.
- ✦The entrepreneur route has no minimum investment and no minimum job creation.
- ✦The business plan must be innovative and/or of special economic interest for Spain, with a favourable ENISA report.
- ✦ENISA issues its report within 10 working days.
- ✦Applicant needs sufficient financial means, health insurance and a clean criminal record.
Free zone comparisonالمناطق الحرة
Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil)
- ✦The Central Mercantile Registry issues the name certificate within 24 working hours, valid for three months.
- ✦Registers the S.L.; through CIRCE an S.L. can be incorporated in 1 to 10 days.
ENISA
- ✦Issues the mandatory report on the business plan within 10 working days.
- ✦Assesses the founder's profile, the business plan and its value to the Spanish economy.
Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (UGE-CE)
- ✦Decides entrepreneur residence authorisations filed from inside Spain.
- ✦Grants three years, renewable for three years.
Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria)
- ✦Issues the company tax identification number (NIF).
- ✦Corporate tax: 25% general rate, 15% for newly created companies.
Risk notes
Residence is in Spain only; Schengen travel is limited to 90 days in any 180 and is not an EU mobility right.
Share capital below €3,000 brings the legal-reserve rule and shareholder liability on liquidation.
RETA contributions (minimum base €1,424.40 a month in 2026, at 31.40%) are a recurring personal cost.
The Golden Visa was abolished from 3 April 2025 and is not an alternative route.
Spanish citizenship requires ten years of legal residence for Indian nationals.
Compliance
Municipal activity licences depend on the city and the activity, and are quoted per file.
Translations and apostilles are quoted per file.
Renewal requires the business to remain active.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
€1 since Ley 18/2022. Below €3,000, 20% of profit must go to the legal reserve and shareholders are jointly liable for any shortfall on liquidation.
Start the Spain route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.