Whether you plan to start your own company or work as a freelancer, you need to obtain Autonomo status to legally register in Spain. Find out what the benefits of this status are and how freelancers and the self-employed can register in Spain in 2025

Order an insurance policy for safe travel to any part of the world

Buy

Self-employed workers in Spain must obtain Autonomo status in order to operate. Read more about the main requirements, features and procedure for obtaining Autonomo status in Spain.

What is Autonomo status?

Autónomo is a special tax and social security regime for self-employed people in Spain. Autónomo status can be obtained by sole proprietors, as well as independent workers who own both large businesses and medium-sized or small companies.

Who must register and obtain Autonomo status in Spain?

The rules for autonomo status in Spain are strict. Even if your income is occasional and small - such as selling on eBay, selling at craft markets or selling your own cosmetics - you must be registered.

Bar owners, people who work as IT consultants, English teachers or anyone who runs their own small business and invoices clients - all need to obtain autonomo status.

How common is Autonomo status in Spain?

In Spain, there are currently around 3.2 million self-employed people with Autonomo status, which is around 16% of the total population. Most people work in the service sector, with many also employed in agriculture and construction.

What are the types of Autonomo status?

Depending on the planned activity, there are two types of Autonomo status:

- Societarios – those who run a commercial and trading business.

- Autónomo persona fiscica – sole proprietors or freelancers.

These two broad categories also have sub-classifications depending on the field of activity you are engaged in.

How to register as an Autonomo in Spain?

The registration process depends on the expat’s country of origin:

- Citizens of EU and EFTA member states can enter Spain and work freely without having to apply for a work permit. The next step is to register as a self-employed person, provided that the person has reached the age of majority.

- Citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries will face a more demanding process. In the first stage, you will need to obtain a visa to enter Spain. The next step is a residence permit to stay in the country for a long period of time, and only then a self-employment permit, which is the basis for working as a freelancer.

Important! Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities, each of which sets its own tax rates and social security regime. Therefore, as an autonomo, you will need to follow slightly different rules depending on where you choose to live.

There are two ways to obtain autonomo status in Spain:

- Apply for a work visa for a self-employed person;

- Modify your current work permit.

Procedure for applying for a work visa for self-employment in Spain

A work visa for self-employment will allow you to live and work in Spain for one year. After that, you can extend the visa for two years, and then repeat this until you reach the five-year mark. After five years of obtaining a work visa for a self-employed person, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residence in Spain.

- Requirements for obtaining a work visa for self-employed work in Spain:

1. Not be a citizen of the European Union (EU).

2. Age - over 18 years.

3. Not be in Spain with an illegal immigration status

4. Have no criminal record; confirmed by a certificate issued by the countries where you have resided for the previous five years.

5. Have the appropriate professional qualifications or sufficient experience necessary for the business activity you wish to carry out.

6. Provide evidence of sufficient financial resources to run the business.

Self-Employment Visa Application Package in Spain

To apply for a self-employed work visa in Spain, you will need to provide the following documents:

- Copy of your passport.

- Completed and signed EX-07 application form.

- Professional and academic certificates proving that you have the relevant qualifications required to run the business.

- Initial investment and proof of investment income

- Medical certificate from a doctor stating that you do not have any serious medical problems that pose a threat to society (within the last three months).

- Health insurance policy covering any treatment in Spain.

- Business plan (previously approved by one of the organizations considered acceptable by the Spanish government (such as ATA, UPTA, UATAE, CIAE and OPA).

The application must be submitted to the Spanish embassy or consulate in the country of residence.

Important! If you have lived in Spain for at least one year, you can start the process of converting your residence permit into a work visa for self-employment.

You will need health insurance to safely move and find employment in a new country. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

Procedure for obtaining Autonomo status in Spain

The process of registering as an Autonomo consists of two parts:

Method 1 – Register with the tax office (Agencia Tributaria or Hacienda).

The Agencia Tributaria expects you to be registered as a resident taxpayer, so you will need to fill out a Modelo 36 form (less often Modelo 37) and then submit it to the Hacienda. The form asks you to indicate who you are, where you live, and the type of activity you carry out. You indicate where your business is located and whether you will be paying VAT (IVA).

The form must be accompanied by an identity document, usually your passport, and you will need to provide your NIE number.

Method 2 – Join the Autonomous Social Security System (Regimen Especial de Trabajadores Autonomos or RETA).

To join the Autonomous Social Security System (RETA), you will need to already be registered with the social security system, but this registration process is also simple.

To register as an Autonomo you need a Spanish National Insurance Number (An NIE) and a Spanish bank account. If you are not from the EU, please attach your work permit.

Who pays VAT in Spain?

Whether or not you will have to pay VAT will depend on the type of product or service you charge your customers. Some products and services are exempt from VAT. There are also some exceptions when invoicing companies located abroad. Check with your accountant to see if you need to charge VAT.

Social Security contributions from an Autonomo entrepreneur

Once you have registered for tax and VAT, you need to register for social security.

If you do not make the necessary payments, you will not be entitled to access public healthcare, receive pensions or sick pay, or paid parental leave, etc.

You will need to fill out another form confirming your Autonomo status. This is because different categories of employment trigger different social security payments, so if your work is considered hazardous, you will pay more contributions.

Obligations of a person with Autonomo status in Spain

- Submit quarterly tax returns and VAT (IVA) returns.

- Keep track of your monthly social security payments.

- Issue properly drawn up invoices when necessary.

- Keep accounting records in accordance with Spanish legal standards.

- Pay advance payments and withhold taxes on invoices from other employees of the company.

Benefits for Autonomo status holders in Spain

In order to encourage the maximum number of people to register, many changes have been made to the tax and social security regime for self-employed workers over the last 2 years:

- Reduced initial fixed social security rate of 80 euros per month for the first 12 months.

- Up to 50% of petrol costs can be refunded.

- Up to 20% of electricity, gas and water costs can be refunded if you work from home.

- Lower penalties for freelancers who fail to pay social security contributions on time.

- Autonomos can claim up to €26.67 per day for food expenses if you work away from home during your work. This increases to €53.34 per day to cover accommodation if work is required and overnight accommodation.

Many people choose to hire an accountant to manage their Autonomo accounts. This service usually costs around €60 per month. This service will include filing quarterly and annual tax and IVA returns on your behalf, but there is usually an additional fee for these.

Deregistering or liquidating your business

The good news is that if you do have to close your business, it is easy to cancel your Autonomo status. You just need to fill out the Modelo 36 or 37 forms that you used to register initially to notify the Agencia Tributaria that you have ceased to operate.

Reminder! In 2024, Spain will experience a labor shortage, especially in certain industries. Analysts say that by 2053, the country will need almost 25 million foreign workers. Expats already have a high chance of finding work here, especially in certain areas. We have already told you what positions foreigners will work in Spain in 2024 and what working conditions are.

Igor Usyk - Head of Legal Department at Visit World

To ensure a safe move to Spain, I advise you to contact a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration abroad.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

We monitor the accuracy and relevance of our information, so if you notice any errors or inconsistencies, please contact our hotline.