Invest in Catalonia
Legal entities
In Catalonia, there are several different options to help an investor carry out their operations:
Setting up a company
The Company is the most usual form of investment. Spanish legislation establishes the different legal forms of a company, which include the Public Limited Company (S.A.) and the Private Limited Company (S.L.).
Establishing a Branch or Representative Office
In contrast to the Public Limited Company or the Private Limited Company, the Branch or Representative Office is not legally independent from the parent company. It is a permanent representative, with a certain degree of administrative autonomy, through which the parent company operates in Catalonia.
Setting up as self-employed
A self-employed worker is the ideal way of working for an individual who pursues a for-profit economic activity on a regular basis, without being subject to a contract of employment. The law requires that they are of legal age (18 or over) and have sufficient legal capacity to carry out the activity. If a foreigner wishes to carry out an activity on a self-employed basis, they must obtain a residence and work permit.
The main legal forms that a company may take in Catalonia.
| Public Limited Company | Private Limited Company | Branch Office | Representative Office | Self-employed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Status | Own Legal Status | Own Legal Status | Parent Company | Parent Company | None |
| Incorporation Procedures | Notarised Deed. Registry of Companies | Notarised Deed. Registry of Companies | Notarised Deed. Registry of Companies and documents accrediting the existence of the parent company, valid articles of incorporation, administrators and agreement for the creation of the branch. | Notarised Deed. Registry of Companies | Not required |
| Minimum Capital | 60,102 Euros, 25% paid up at incorporation | 3,005 Euros paid up at incorporation | Allotted Funds, with no minimum amount requirements | Own resources Does not qualify as foreign investment | Unlimited |
| Divided Capital | Stake Holdings | Shares | No share capital of its own | No share capital of its own | Enough to carry out the activity |
| Parent Company | Notarised Deed. Registry of Companies | Unlimited for Parent Company | Own resources Does not qualify as foreign investment | No share capital of its own | None |
Legal equivalents in different countries
| Country | Public Limited Company (plc) | Private Limited Company | Branch Office | Representative Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalonia | Sociedad anónima | Sociedad limitada | Sucursal | Oficina de representación |
| France | Societé Anonyme (SA) | Societé Limitée (SL) | Succursale | Bureau de Represéntation |
| United Kingdom | Public Limited Company (plc) | Private Limited Company | Branch Office | Representative Office |
| USA | Incorporated Company (Inc) | Limited Liability Company (L.L.C.) | Branch Office (or Dependency) | Representative Office |
| Portugal | Sociedade Anónima (SA) | Sociedade Limitada (Lda) | Sucursal | Delegação |
| Germany | Aktiengesellschaft (AG) | Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH)) | Niederlassung | Repräsentanzbüro |
| The Netherlands | Naamloze Vennootschap (NV) | Besloten Vennootschap (BV) | Bijkantoor | Vertegenwoordigingskantoor |
| Japan | Kabushiki Gaisha | Yugen Gaisha | Shiten | Chuzai-in-jimusho |
| Italy | Società per Azioni (SpA) | Società a Responsabilità Limitata (SrL) | Succursale | Ufficio Rappresentanza |
