- Choice determines permission:: Employment (cuenta ajena) requires employer and authorization under article 74 Real Decreto 1155/2024, self-employment (cuenta propia) requires own project and authorization under article 84 [1].
- Legal boundary between regimes: employment in an organization and under the direction of another person, autono is at its own risk and outside the leadership of others (art. 1 Estatututo de los Trabajadores and art. 1 Ley 20/2007) [2][3].
- The initial authorization of both regimes is granted for one year with a regional limitation, the decision is taken within three months, silence means waiver. [1].
- The initial authorization for employment also permits self-employment during the period of employment if the main employment activity (art. 73.5). [1].
- The contributions autónomo depend on net income from the Seguriidad Social tables, and the terms of employment from the collective agreement: the figures must be checked as of the date [4].
How is the employment different from the autono?
The employment (trabajo por cuenta ajena) is paid and performed in the organizational and managerial sphere of another person, and autono (trabajador autono, who works on his own account, Trabajo por cuenta propia) acts in person, at his risk and outside the management of others. Estatututo de los Trabajadores treats as a worker those who voluntarily provide paid services on behalf and under the direction of another person and assumes employment. The contract between the person who works and the recipient of the service [2]. Ley 20/2007 defines autónomo as a natural person who performs economic activities personally, continuously, at his own expense and outside the control of others. [3].
| Criterion | Employment | Autónomo |
|---|---|---|
| What a foreigner Needs | Authorization under articles 73 to 74: contract, collective agreement, labour market situation, employer ’s funds [1] | Authorization under articles 83 to 84: admission to activities, qualifications, sufficient investment [1] |
| Who's serving | employer [1] | The complainant himself through a visa at the consulate (art. 85) [1] |
| Time limit for judgement | 3 months, silence: refusal [1] | 3 months, silence: refusal [1] |
| First authorization | 1 year, 1 region and 1 profession [1] | 1 year, 1 region and 1 sector [1] |
| Extension | 4 years, country total [1] | 4 years, country total [1] |
| Alta in Seguridad Social | within 3 months of entry [1] | within 3 months of entry, otherwise the country must be left [1] |
What does a foreigner need to do for employment?
Article 74 of the Regulation requires a signed contract for continuous work, conditions under the law and collective agreement, the tax and social integrity of the employer, his means, qualifications of the employee, and compliance with the national labour market situation, unless an exception is made. [1]The labour market situation is assessed by a catalogue of difficult-covering occupations which SEPE updates once a quarter. If there is no occupation in the catalogue, the job is held for eight days by the employment service and the employer proves that it is difficult to find a worker in Spain. [1]I'm going to go to the police station. as an employer to employ an alien and Residence permit on a work contract.
What does a foreigner need to work like autono?
Article 84 requires the fulfilment of the conditions that Spanish law imposes on the opening and employment of the selected activity, qualifications or experience, as well as sufficient investment in the project and the accounting of the impact on employment, including self-employment. [1]From abroad, application is submitted through a visa to the consulate, the time limit of the decision is three months, and the effectiveness of the permit is related to the alta in the Seguridd Social within three months of entry [1]In the extension, the agency shall verify the continuation and fulfilment of tax and liability obligations to the Seguridad Social Council. [1]I'll give you more details: cuenta propia.
Can you be autonomo with DNV or no lucrativa?
DNV is available, but only for remote work for foreign companies, and no lucrativa is not allowed. Teletrabajo's permit for Ley 14/2013 allows for long-distance professional activities for companies outside Spain and for a company in Spain not more than 20% of its professional activity. [5]No lucrativa is defined as living without work and professional activity. [1]III. Comparison: DNV or autonomo.
Can you move from hiring to autono or combine?
The law also describes both options: initial authorization for employment allows for the duration of its activity and self-employment if the main activity remains in employment and the obligation to report within three days if the employment has ceased for reasons beyond the employee ’s control [1]The holder of an employment permit may be authorized to self-employment on application, but does not extend the previous period. [1]B. Unable to work, e.g. no lucrativa, may be employed or self-employed under article 191 after a year of residence [1]See communication No. Can you change the basis of the residence permit?.
What depends on your case?
Three things are case-specific, no universal figures for them. [4]. Second, the terms of employment are determined by Estatuto and the collective agreement: 40 hours a week on average per year, at least 30 calendar days of leave, two additional payments that the collective agreement can distribute for 12 months. [2]Third: taxes and accounting for both regimes, take them to the hestor: contributions, volonomo 2026You cannot make work "for yourself" where you are in fact subordinate to the employer: the presumption of employment relations does not depend on the name of the contract [2]III. Steps and time frames collected at Worksheet, the service is described on the page work permitA general overview is available on the page Residence permit in Barcelona.
Frequent issues
What is better for a foreigner: an employment or autónomo?
Can self-employment be granted without an employer?
Can you work for one client as autono?
How much does autono pay per month?
Can employment and self-employment be combined?
Based on source
- BOE · Real Decreto 1155/2024, articles 73 - 75, 80 - 87, 191 - 192 .
- BOE · Estatututo de los Trabajadores, articles 1, 8, 31, 34, 38 .
- BOE · Ley 20/2007 del Estatutu del Trabajo autónomo, articles 1 and 11 ♪
- Seguridad Social · Cotización 2026, RETA tables ♪
- BOE · Ley 14/2013, article 74 bis ♪
Sources are viewed on 02.10.2026. Consolidated texts and departmental reference pages are informative: legal application takes into account official publications, changes and specific circumstances. Material has not been personally checked by counsel.
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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.