Spain route
Opening an SL in Spain on your own: a route sheet for a resident and a non-resident
SL (sociedad de responsabilidad limitada, limited liability society) can be opened without intermediary: the need for the NIE founders and administrators, name, charter, capital from 1 euro, notary and registration. Below are 15 steps from NIE to annual reporting and foreign investment declarations.

Short
- Capital
- From 1 I
So far, capital is less than 3,000 y: 20% of the net gain and joint liability in liquidation (article 4 LSC) - Name
- 6 months
Reserve in Registro Mercantil Central; certificate valid 3 months for escritura - Through CIRCE
- 12 hours
workers before notary recording at estatutus tipo, registration in 6 working hours (art. 15 Ley 14/2013) - Tax on creation
- Release
The establishment of a society is exempt from the tax on public operations (art. 45.I.B.11 ITPAJD) - Income tax
- Modelo 200
in a year corresponding to the calendar: 1-25 July of the following year - Foreign Founder
- D-1A
within a month after the investment if the non-resident ’s share of 10%
Whose route is it?
The list is designed for those who want to register ordinary SL with money and one or more of the founding members of the public: whether you live in Spain or open a society from another country; the procedure is national: the law is one for Spain, only the provincial register (for Barcelona Registro Mercantil de Barcelona) and the regional tax authority (for Catalonia ATC, Agéncia Tributa de la Libaria de la Cordivia). Catalunya.
It is easier to walk the route by itself if the money is deposited, the creators of the physical, the standard regulations, and all participants already have a NIE and a digital certificate. It is more difficult if the founder of a foreign company, the deposit is made by property, there is a partnership agreement with special rights or you plan to have a business-based residence permit. autónomo or SL, features for foreigners: How to open SL by a non-resident.
The opening of SL does not in itself confer the right of residence in Spain. If a society is required to have a residence permit, the grounds are selected separately: see also the "S" Act. cuenta propia and Business visa.
Open SL in Spain: 15-step scheme
Get the Nie founders and the administrator.
An alien without NIE would not have an escritura and a tax officer would not have a NIF. NIE needed every founder and administrator; the non-resident received it on economic grounds through the consulate or the Spanish police.
When assistance is needed: the founder or administrator is a citizen or resident of Russia or Belarus, the EU's restrictive measures may affect the individual steps of this route, so their applicability to your case should be checked with a lawyer before the start.
Select a path: online via CIRCE and PAE or by a notary
Articles 15 and 16 Ley 14/2013 in Ley 18/2022 describe the application through the CIRCE system: Documento ~nico Elettrónico (DUE) is filled in with PAE (Punto de Atención al Emprededor) or online, notary appoints signature no later than 12 working hours, record keeper makes a record of 6 working hours under the model charter. Without a model statute, final entry is made within 5 days. The documents are in the register.
When assistance is needed: the contribution is made by property; the full online agency under article 22 bis LSC does not allow non-monetary deposits.
Get certificación negativa de denominación
The name checks and reserves Registro Mercantil Central. One application can contain up to five versions of the name given, and the applicant can be assigned six months.
When you need help, the name looks like a brand or a trademark.
Select the charter: standard or your own
Estatutus tipo gives the fastest way through CIRCE but does not allow individual rules. Its statutes are necessary if share restrictions, special quorums or several administrators with different powers are important.
When you need help, a few participants with different shares and plans, the agreement between partners is better discussed with the lawyer before signing the statute.
Bring in the capital and get certificado de déposito
For Ley 18/2022, the minimum capital of SL 1 is 1 Euro. As long as capital is less than 3,000 euros, at least 20% of the profits go to the reserve fund, and when the assets are disposed of without sufficient assets, the participants are jointly responsible for the difference up to 3,000 euros.
When assistance is needed: the bank refuses to pay or requests many documents on the origin of the funds; for Russian and Belarusian citizens and residents, EU restrictions check with a lawyer before transferring money.
Prepare a declaration on titurar real
The notary is obliged to establish a real owner (titular real) by Ley 10/2010: a physical person who directly or indirectly owns more than 25% of capital or votes or otherwise controls the community; if such person does not exist, he is considered to be the administrator.
When help is needed: the founder of a foreign company, trust or nominal possession.
Sign escritura de constitución
Escritura de constitución, a constituent notary act, contains the constitution, shares, capital and appointment of the administrator. Foreign documents for a notary are usually required with apostol and translation.
When you need help, you sign off on a foreign proxy or a non-model charter.
Get NIF PROVISATIONAL
Until a society is registered, the tax officer assigns a temporary NIF. Without NIF, the company cannot receive payments, pay, buy or hire personnel.
When you need help, the administrator is not a resident and there is no digital certificate to file.
Public transaction tax: release
The establishment of society is subject to a social transaction tax (art. 19 ITPAJD) but is exempted from it (art. 45.I.B.11).
When you need help, you invest in real estate or other assets, tax issues are broader.
Register the society in Registro Mercantil Province
Escritura is served at Registro Mercantil at the legal address within two months of signature (article 32 LSC). Through CIRCE, the application is made electronically by a notary.
When help is needed: the registrar refused or made comments on the statute.
Get NIF definitivo
Once registered, the temporary NIF is changed to final: it is supplied with a modelo 036 with a copy of the registered escritura.
When you need help, the deadline is over, and the NIF is still temporary.
Give alta consal to modulo 036
Before the first operation, the society registers activities in the tax register: activity, VAT (IVA), retention, address, same modulo 036, but with starting marks.
When you need help, you can sell inside the EU, you can get employees or you can do a few countries.
Administrator and RETA: Check mandatory
The administrator who manages and controls the society generally takes account of the RETA self-employed regime (article 305 LGSS), which specifies the threshold of participation and exceptions by law for your situation.
When you need help, the administrator lives in another country or is already insured in Spain.
Get accounting and annual reporting
The Society maintains bookkeeping and electronic books, legalizes them in Registro Mercantil within four months after the year's closure. The Assembly approves the accounts within six months, depositing them in the register within a month of approval. The income tax, modelo 200, is filed 25 days after the end of the tax period.
When you need help, almost always, the SL account is rarely done: accounting errors and taxes are more expensive than the work of a hestor.
Charge foreign investment (D-1A)
The non-resident who receives 10% or more of capital or votes in the SL establishment applies the D-1A declaration to Registro de Inversions within a month of the date of the investment. Investments from jurisdictions that Spain considers to be non-cooperative are declared irrespective of the share and in some cases in advance.
When you need help, the founder of a foreign company, the investment comes from a non-cooperative jurisdiction or a strategic sector.
Typical errors on this route
- The capital is 1 euro, excluding the reserve and personal responsibility of the participants up to 3,000 euros.
- The certificate period is missing: the name is valid for escritura for three months, and the certificate of deposit is valid for two months.
- The online route is chosen for the asset deposit, although the entire online agency only allows for cash deposits.
- They start working with the time NIF and forget to move to the final.
- They do not check the administration's responsibility for RETA and learn about it from assessed contributions.
- Forget about D-1A: the investor himself is filing the application, the notary doesn't make it for him.
- Open SL for residence permits without checking if it's a good reason.
Frequent issues
Can a non-resident open an SL in Spain?
What's the minimum SL capital after Ley 18/2022?
Do you have to open a bank account to a notary?
How long does it take to open SL?
Should the administrator pay autono contributions?
Does SL grant a residence in Spain?
To deal with your situation.
If the founders of non-residents are a foreign company in the chain of ownership or need a non-standard charter, the review should be done before the notary. First consultation: 30 minutes free. Full individual consultation: 121 I in 45 minutes. Maintenance costs are estimated on the basis of the cost, fees, notary fees and the register and transfers are paid separately. The deadline for the response of the agencies is not controlled. The legal unit is headed by a team lawyer, and the tax and administrative officer (gradoada social) is responsible for tax and administrative matters · NEXO
Contribution on the theme
Sources
- BOE: Ley de Sociedades de Capital, articles 4, 22 bis, 32, 40 ter, 40 quater, 62, 164, 279 (open 03.10.2026)
- BOE: Ley 18/2022 de creación y crecimiento de empresas (open 03.10.2026)
- BOE: Ley 14/2013 de apoyo a los enprendedores, articles 13, 15, 16, 18 (open 03.10.2026)
- Gobierno de España, ONE: Start your business (CIRCE, PAE, NIE) (open 03.10.2026)
- Registro Mercantil Central: certificación de denominación, información y normas (open 03.10.2026)
- BOE: texto refunddo ITPAJD, articles 19 and 45 (open 03.10.2026)
- BOE: Ley 10/2010 de prevención del blanqueo de capitales, articles 2 and 4 (open 03.10.2026)
- Agencia Tributaria: declaración censal y solicitud de NIF (open 03.10.2026)
- Agencia Tributaria: plazo de presentación del modelo 200 (open 03.10.2026)
- Ministerio de Comercio: guía del régimen de declaración de inversiones exteriores (D-1A) (open 03.10.2026)
Sources are checked on 3 October 2026. Notary, register and RMC tariffs are changed, check them on the pages of the agencies and the information material is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer or tax and administrative specialist.
How does this apply to your situation?
Choose a first step in the short quiz or discuss your questions with the NEXO team.
