# Autónomo.eus

> A free, plain-English guide for foreigners who want to live and work as a self-employed autónomo in the Basque Country (Euskadi, Spain), covering Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.

The guide goes from the right to work to settling in, registering as an autónomo, running the business and everyday life. In Euskadi, taxes go to the Hacienda Foral of the territory where you live, not to the Spanish tax agency (AEAT), so many pages give separate instructions for Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.

Every page lists its official sources and the date its facts were last checked. It is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice, and not an official government website.

Each page has a Markdown version at the same address plus `.md`. Contact: a@halawa.io.

## Start here

- [Find your path](https://autonomo.eus/steps/find-your-path.md): Answer three questions to see which steps you need and in what order.

## C. Become an autónomo

- [Check the Lanbide start-up grants first](https://autonomo.eus/steps/lanbide-grants.md): Check whether you can get the Lanbide start-up grants for new autónomos, and why you must register as a job seeker first.
- [Get your Social Security number](https://autonomo.eus/steps/social-security-number.md): How to find or request your Social Security number (NUSS), which you need before you can register as an autónomo.
- [Find your Hacienda Foral](https://autonomo.eus/steps/hacienda-foral.md): Find the Hacienda Foral that handles your taxes, which depends on the territory where you live, not where your clients are.
- [Choose your activity codes](https://autonomo.eus/steps/activity-codes.md): How to choose the IAE code for Hacienda and the CNAE code for Social Security that describe your work as an autónomo.
- [Register with your Hacienda Foral](https://autonomo.eus/steps/register-hacienda.md): How to file your census registration with your Hacienda Foral to start as an autónomo, with the form, deadline and office for each territory.
- [Register with Social Security](https://autonomo.eus/steps/register-social-security.md): How to register as an autónomo with Social Security (alta en el RETA) in Import@ss, using the same start date as at Hacienda.
- [Understand your monthly fee](https://autonomo.eus/steps/monthly-fee.md): How your monthly Social Security fee as an autónomo is worked out, including the flat fee for new autónomos and the 2026 brackets.
- [Set up TicketBAI invoicing](https://autonomo.eus/steps/ticketbai.md): How to set up TicketBAI, the system that sends each invoice you issue in Euskadi to your Hacienda, using the free app for your territory.

## D. Run your business

- [Issue your invoices](https://autonomo.eus/steps/invoices.md): What to put on your TicketBAI invoices for clients in Spain, in other EU countries and outside the EU.
- [Record your income and expenses](https://autonomo.eus/steps/records.md): How to record your income, expenses and investments: online in the LROE in Bizkaia, or in your own record books in Gipuzkoa and Álava.
- [File your quarterly returns](https://autonomo.eus/steps/quarterly-returns.md): Which quarterly VAT, income tax and EU sales returns to file in your territory, when they are due, and how much the modelo 130 is.
- [File your annual returns](https://autonomo.eus/steps/annual-returns.md): Each year you file an annual VAT return in January and your income tax return (Renta) in spring.
- [Work with foreign clients and suppliers](https://autonomo.eus/steps/foreign-clients.md): How to invoice clients in other EU countries and outside the EU, handle services you buy from abroad, and save for your taxes.

## Reference

- [Look up a Spanish or Basque term](https://autonomo.eus/steps/glossary.md): Find the plain English meaning of the Spanish and Basque words used on forms, official portals and office signs.
- [Find an office](https://autonomo.eus/steps/offices.md): Addresses, phone numbers, opening hours and booking links for the main public offices in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and Donostia/San Sebastián.
- [Check your 2026 tax deadlines](https://autonomo.eus/steps/tax-deadlines.md): See the 2026 tax filing dates in Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa for a typical autónomo who files VAT every quarter.
- [About this guide](https://autonomo.eus/steps/about.md): Who writes Autónomo.eus and why, how each page is checked against official sources, and how to report a mistake.

## A. Right to work

- [Check your right to work](https://autonomo.eus/steps/right-to-work.md): Find the legal basis that lets you work as an autónomo in Spain, and the page that explains your route.
- [Register as an EU citizen](https://autonomo.eus/steps/eu-citizen.md): How EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than 3 months get the EU registration certificate, which shows their NIE.
- [Get a family residence card](https://autonomo.eus/steps/family-card.md): Spouses, registered partners and some other relatives of EU or Spanish citizens can apply for a residence card that allows work as an autónomo.
- [Apply from abroad as a non-EU citizen](https://autonomo.eus/steps/apply-from-abroad.md): Compare the three permits that let a non-EU citizen living abroad move to Spain and work as an autónomo, and see where to apply.
- [Change your status from inside Spain](https://autonomo.eus/steps/change-status.md): Three routes to a permit that lets a non-EU citizen already living in Spain work as an autónomo.
- [Work under international or temporary protection](https://autonomo.eus/steps/protection.md): When asylum applicants and people under EU temporary protection can work as autónomos in Spain.
- [Get free legal help](https://autonomo.eus/steps/legal-help.md): Where to get free legal advice on immigration in Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa before you apply for a permit.

## B. Settle in

- [Get your TIE card](https://autonomo.eus/steps/tie-card.md): How to apply for your foreigner ID card (TIE), which proves your permit and shows your foreigner ID number (NIE).
- [Rent a flat](https://autonomo.eus/steps/rent-a-flat.md): What to check before you sign a rental contract in Euskadi, and how your landlord must lodge your deposit.
- [Register your address at the town hall](https://autonomo.eus/steps/padron.md): How to register your address in the town hall register (padrón): what to bring, where to go and how long it takes.
- [Open a bank account](https://autonomo.eus/steps/bank-account.md): How to open a basic payment account at a Spanish bank, what it costs, and what to do if the bank refuses.
- [Get your FNMT digital certificate](https://autonomo.eus/steps/fnmt-certificate.md): How to get the free FNMT digital certificate to identify yourself and sign online with Social Security, the Haciendas Forales and state offices.
- [Get your BakQ](https://autonomo.eus/steps/bakq.md): How to get BakQ, the Basque Government's free online ID for the Haciendas Forales, Osakidetza and other Basque services.
- [Register for Cl@ve](https://autonomo.eus/steps/clave.md): How to register for Cl@ve, the Spanish state's online ID for Social Security and other state services.

## E. Life in Euskadi

- [Get your health card](https://autonomo.eus/steps/health-card.md): Get your Basque health card (TIS) at your health centre once Social Security has recognised your right to public healthcare.
- [Learn Spanish and Basque](https://autonomo.eus/steps/languages.md): Find Spanish classes at public adult education centres, and Basque courses from A1 to B1 for a single €120 payment in 2026-2027.
- [Enrol your children in school](https://autonomo.eus/steps/school.md): Enrol your children in school or a public nursery in Euskadi, including when you arrive during the school year.
- [Use or exchange your driving licence](https://autonomo.eus/steps/driving-licence.md): Check whether your foreign driving licence is valid in Spain, and how to exchange a non-EU licence.
- [Get help with your business](https://autonomo.eus/steps/business-help.md): Find the free public services in your territory that help new autónomos with advice, training and workspace.

## Optional

- [Home page](https://autonomo.eus/): the five parts of the guide and common questions
- [Start here](https://autonomo.eus/parts/start): Answer three questions to see which steps you need, and in what order.
- [Part A: Right to work](https://autonomo.eus/parts/a): The legal routes that let you work as an autónomo, and where to get free legal help.
- [Part B: Settle in](https://autonomo.eus/parts/b): Your ID card, a flat, your address registration, a bank account and your digital ID.
- [Part C: Become an autónomo](https://autonomo.eus/parts/c): Grants, your Social Security number, your Hacienda, and the two registrations that make you self-employed.
- [Part D: Run your business](https://autonomo.eus/parts/d): Invoices, records, and your quarterly and annual returns.
- [Part E: Life in Euskadi](https://autonomo.eus/parts/e): Health card, languages, school, driving licence and business support.
- [Reference](https://autonomo.eus/parts/reference): Spanish and Basque terms, office addresses and the 2026 tax calendar.
- [The whole guide in one file](https://autonomo.eus/llms-full.txt): every page in Markdown, in route order