Residency for non-EU entrepreneurs and investors launching a business of general interest in Spain. Established under Law 14/2013, evaluated by the Spanish Ministry of Economy.
The Business Project Visa is a residency route under Spain’s Law 14/2013 for non-EU nationals who want to launch or develop a business in Spain that qualifies as a project of general interest. Unlike the Entrepreneur Visa (which targets innovative technology startups evaluated by ENISA, Spain’s national innovation agency), the Business Project Visa is aimed at investors and entrepreneurs whose projects demonstrate broader economic or social value: job creation, socioeconomic contribution, or scientific and technological innovation.
The qualifying criteria are assessed by the Directorate General for International Trade and Investment (Dirección General de Comercio Internacional e Inversiones), operating under Spain’s Ministry of Economy. A positive assessment from this body is the central requirement.
This is not the same route as the Entrepreneur Visa, and it does not require the same ENISA evaluation process. If you are not sure which route fits your plan, that disambiguation is one of the first things we cover in a consultation.
This visa is designed for non-EU nationals who are launching a business in Spain and whose project can be assessed as meeting one of the general interest criteria. You are a likely candidate if you:
The general interest assessment is the central qualifying question, and it is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Projects that have been approved typically fall into one or more of these categories:
The assessment is qualitative as well as quantitative. Having a strong, clearly evidenced business plan prepared for this specific evaluation is not optional; it is the foundation of the application.
The application lives or dies on the quality of the business plan submitted for general interest assessment. Before any immigration paperwork begins, we work with you to understand your project, identify the strongest general interest arguments, and prepare the documentation the Directorate General expects to see.
Your business plan is submitted to the Directorate General for International Trade and Investment for formal assessment. This evaluation is the central gate in the process. A favourable ruling is required before the immigration application proceeds.
With a positive general interest assessment in hand, you apply for the Business Project Visa at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence. We prepare the complete consular application file.
You enter Spain on your visa and apply for the formal residency permit within the validity period. We submit the full permit application and handle any follow-up correspondence with the immigration authority.
Your permit allows you to reside in Spain and manage your business. Ongoing compliance, maintaining the investment and operating the entity as described in the plan, is required for renewal.
We advise on renewal requirements and timelines and prepare each renewal application with updated documentation on the business’s continued operation.
The Business Project Visa requires more preparation than most Spanish visa routes. The general interest evaluation is the critical gateway, and a poorly prepared business plan that fails that assessment delays everything. We do not submit applications we are not confident in.
Here is our role:
The disambiguation from the Entrepreneur Visa is also part of our work. If your project involves an innovative technology startup rather than a general-interest business investment, the Entrepreneur Visa route is different, and we will tell you which one fits.
If your project is an innovative startup evaluated through ENISA (Spain’s national innovation agency), the Entrepreneur Visa is the relevant route. Both visas operate under Law 14/2013 but have distinct evaluation processes and qualifying criteria. We will tell you which one fits your situation.
If you want to invest in Spain’s financial markets, public debt, stocks, or funds rather than launch an operating business, the Capital Investment route may be more suitable. It follows a different set of qualifying investment thresholds.
If you are moving to Spain as a senior professional rather than a business founder, the Highly Qualified Professional Visa provides an employment-based residency route for specialists and executive hires.
If you are launching a business in Spain and want to understand whether your project qualifies for the Business Project Visa, the best place to start is a consultation. We will assess your project against the general interest criteria, determine which route under Law 14/2013 is right for your situation, and explain the timeline and requirements before you commit.
Both fall under Spain’s Law 14/2013, but they are distinct routes assessed by different bodies. The Entrepreneur Visa is for innovative startups evaluated by ENISA (Spain’s national innovation agency) and focuses on technological innovation and scalability. The Business Project Visa is assessed by the Directorate General for International Trade and Investment and focuses on projects that create jobs, deliver socioeconomic benefits, or generate scientific and technological impact. Choosing the correct route is essential because the two processes are not interchangeable.
The Business Project Visa requires a minimum investment of €1 million in the project. The investment must be committed to the Spanish business entity and supported with evidence as part of the application. The capital must be actively invested in the business rather than held passively.
The Directorate General for International Trade and Investment (Dirección General de Comercio Internacional e Inversiones), under Spain’s Ministry of Economy, evaluates whether your project meets the general interest criteria. The business plan must clearly demonstrate expected job creation, socioeconomic contribution, or scientific and technological value.
The overall timeline depends on both the general interest assessment and your Spanish consulate’s processing time. Most applicants should expect the process to take between four and eight months. A well-prepared business plan that addresses the evaluation criteria from the outset helps reduce delays.
Yes. Your spouse or registered partner and dependent children can apply for residency through family reunification once your permit is approved. We can coordinate family applications alongside your main application.
Yes. Time spent living legally in Spain under this permit counts toward the residence requirement for Spanish citizenship. For most applicants, citizenship becomes available after ten years of continuous legal residence, provided all legal requirements are met.
