In today’s globalized business environment, relocating employees to Spain can be a strategic move for startups and growing companies. Spain’s Entrepreneur Visa (commonly known as the Startup Visa) offers a unique pathway for relocating essential team members, including co-founders and key employees, when launching or expanding operations in Spain.
If you’re an HR leader planning to move employees to Spain under this route, here’s what you need to know to ensure a smooth and compliant process.
What is Spain’s Entrepreneur Visa?
Spain’s Entrepreneur Visa is designed to attract international talent and investment by allowing non-EU nationals to establish innovative businesses in Spain. Unlike traditional work visas, this permit is tailored for startup founders and essential personnel who are critical to the company’s success.
This visa is particularly useful for:
- Co-founders moving to Spain to build their company.
- Specialized employees whose roles are key to the development of the project.
- Startup teams looking to establish a local presence in Spain’s growing innovation hubs.
Why HR leaders should consider the Entrepreneur Visa for employee relocation
Relocating talent via the Entrepreneur Visa offers several advantages:
- Streamlined Process: The application is faster than traditional work permits, especially if the project is classified as “of interest” by the Spanish authorities.
- Family Inclusion: Employees can relocate with their family members under the same permit framework.
- Mobility within the EU: Once approved, the visa allows for travel within the Schengen Area, making cross-border business easier.
For HR departments aiming to relocate employees to Spain efficiently, this visa can be an agile solution.
Key requirements to relocate employees under the Entrepreneur Visa
When planning employee relocation to Spain using this route, companies should ensure:
- The business project is innovative and adds value to the Spanish economy.
- The employee’s role is critical for the success of the project (technical specialists, leadership, etc.).
- The company can provide a detailed business plan and financial projections.
- Application approval from the Spanish High Council for Commercial and Economic Affairs is required to validate the project’s innovative nature.
Working with a legal partner like Orience can help structure the application to meet all government expectations.
How Orience supports employee relocation to Spain
At Orience, we specialize in helping companies and HR teams navigate the complexities of moving employees to Spain under the Entrepreneur Visa.
Our support includes:
- Eligibility assessment for co-founders and key employees.
- Preparation of all legal documents and visa applications.
- Business plan review to align with Spanish immigration requirements.
- End-to-end project management to ensure fast-track approvals.
We work hand-in-hand with HR teams to make international employee relocation to Spain a seamless experience.
Conclusion
If you are expanding your operations and considering relocating startup teams to Spain, the Entrepreneur Visa is a powerful tool to bring in essential talent quickly and efficiently.
Whether you are moving a co-founder or specialized staff, Orience is your trusted partner for the entire process.
👉 Contact us today to discuss how we can support your employee relocation to Spain.