The Process of Self-Employed Registration in Spain
Becoming self-employed in Spain can raise quite a few questions and can often be a confusing process. Autonomo in English means being self-employed or working as a freelancer, is an excellent way to earn an income doing something that you love. Registering for autonomo status can be tedious. At Lusa Legal, we are experienced in knowing when autonomo status is necessary and how to easily go about applying for it. We are pleased to be able to provide you with all of the details on self-employment registration in Spain.
Do I Need to be Registered as Autonomo in Spain?
Being registered as autonomo means that you are self-employed or working as a freelancer in Spain. The rules for autonomo in Spain are very strict and therefore if you are earning any kind of income, from any type of work, it must be legalized and autonomo registration is required. Without this registration you are considered to be bringing in money illegally and therefore are not paying taxes on it and you are also unable to provide receipts to your customers and they are therefore unable to claim their purchases as a deduction on their taxes.
Classifications of Autonomo in Spain
There are two different types of classifications for autonomo in Spain. Each classification has different subcategories as well and the classification that your business falls under may affect the type and amount of income taxes that have to be paid. Our legal team would be pleased to review your business and aid you in determining the type of autonomo registration that you require.
The main categories are:
- Autonomo Empresarial – Commercial and trading businesses will fall under this category.
- Autonomo Profesional – Professionals and freelancers will fall into this category.
How do I Apply for Autonomo in Spain?
Once you have decided on the correct autonomo classification, the process of how to become autonomo in Spain requires the following:
- A NIE number
- A Spanish bank account
- A work permit if the applicant is not an EU resident
- Social Security registration (RETA)
Unlike opening a traditional business, being self-employed in Spain does not require you to prove that you have professional qualifications to perform the job. You are also not required to provide a business plan or to put up any initial start-up capital.
Do I Need to Pay Social Security?
If you are earning a regular income then you must register for Social Security, in person at the local Social Security Office. Monthly payments must be made which are withdrawn from your bank account and begin at a rate of €53 and increase to €184 after approximately one year’s time. If you are not making enough money to properly sustain yourself from your self-employed endeavors, it is possible to apply for Social Security exemption. Lusa Legal can assist in filling out and filing the proper exemption forms if you qualify.
How Can I Reverse my Autonomo Status?
In the event that you are no longer self-employed, de-registering from autonomo is a very simple process. The process requires you to complete forms stating that you no longer wish to hold autonomo status and you will also be required to visit the social security office to have your name removed from RETA so you will no longer be required to pay the social security monthly contributions.
Setting Up as Autonomo in Spain with us
Are you interested in finding out more about benefits of autonomo in Spain and how you can obtain your self-employed visa Spain status? Lusa Legal is an international legal firm, located in Spain and we specialize in assisting foreign entrepreneurs, especially those looking to gain self-employed status. We would be pleased to assist you in filing for Spain autonomo and aiding you in completing the required forms and documentation to achieve this. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today with any questions that you may have.
Service Price*
€ 480
* Estimated service price, total amount will depend on the particular case and additional services required.
VAT is not included in the price.
