Spain Company Formation FAQs

While the use of nominee directors and shareholders is legal in Spain, it is not a recommended practice since it’s only an agreement between the two parties in a contract and third-party authorities can ignore them. 

There is an Entrepreneur Visa that is for non-EU entrepreneurs looking to invest in a business idea in Spain. It has an expedited approval process and the project must be innovative and align with strategic sectors of development in the Spanish economy. There is also an investors visa with the same two-year validity is the Entrepreneur Visa for non-EU citizens that grants residency for those who invest either a minimum of €1 million in shares/equities of firms engaged in real business activity, investment funds or bank deposits, €2 million in public debt in Spain or acquire property that has a net worth of €500,000 after taxes and charges. You can also access the investor visa by starting a venture that creates jobs, has an impact on the region where it will establish itself and has a significant level of innovation in science and technology.  

Foreigners can own 100% of a Spanish company. 

If you held shares in a subsidy for a year and are equal to 5% of a subsidiary’s share capital, you can receive a tax exemption for dividend and capital gains on funds from subsidies. The other condition is that the subsidy does not have its domicile in a tax shelter.

There are non-resident bank accounts available but resident accounts tend to have more benefits and flexibility. Many banks will refuse to open an account for you with merely your passport and instead, will require your proof of residency or implore you to buy insurance.