French Startup & Talent Residence (Passeport Talent)

To apply for a startup visa, you'll need to prepare several documents and show sufficient funds. The financial requirement starts at €33,152 for a single applicant, €45,584 for a couple,  and increases by €4,144 for each additional family member. The funds can be in any currency and don't require a minimum holding period. Essential documents include your passport, criminal record certificate, health insurance without copayment, bank statements, business plan, professional CV, and Spanish translations of all documents. For family applications, you'll also need marriage and birth certificates.

The process begins with business plan development and document preparation, which typically takes 2-3 weeks. After documents are ready, there are two parallel submissions: your business plan goes to ENISA for review, while immigration documents are submitted to UGE. ENISA takes 1-2 months to review the business plan, and once they approve, UGE processes the immigration application within 20 working days. After approval, you'll schedule a police appointment for fingerprints, and your residency card (TIE) will be ready in about 2-4 weeks. The entire process usually takes 2-4 months from initial submission to receiving your residency card.

Startups should demonstrate innovation, economic value, and potential for job creation in Spain. Preference is given to technology projects in IT, environmental technologies, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence sectors.

You only need to be physically present in Spain twice during the process: first for the initial document submission (which takes 3-5 days) and later for the fingerprint appointment after approval. You can enter Spain using a Schengen visa for the submission. If you have a multiple-entry visa, you're free to travel during the process. Even if your visa expires while the application is being processed, you can legally remain in Spain until receiving a decision.

The most critical factor is your business plan's approval by ENISA. They evaluate the innovation potential and viability of your project. Beyond that, approval is largely technical - ensuring you meet the financial requirements, have a clean criminal record, and maintain valid health insurance. There's no requirement for prior business experience, and no interview is needed. As long as all documents are correctly prepared and submitted, the approval rate is very high.

For the initial application, you don't need a long-term rental contract. You can use temporary accommodation bookings (Booking, Airbnb) while waiting for approval. After receiving your NIE (tax number), you can then arrange long-term accommodation.

No, it's not mandatory. While Spain provides this opportunity, you're not required to open a company or operate a startup. After 3 years, you can modify your residence permit to a different category. The 3-year period will still count toward permanent residency and future citizenship.