Country guide · Spain
Form a US LLC as a Spanish citizen
Last updated: August 2026
Bottom line
Form a US LLC as a Spanish citizen is straightforward once the Spain paperwork is in order. As a Hague Convention member, Spain issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization. Tax treaty: US-Spain treaty (revised 2019 protocol) reduces dividend withholding to 5% for substantial holders and zero on most royalties.
Spain’s autónomo regime + IRPF brackets often push consultants into a US LLC for non-Spanish-source revenue. Talk to a Spanish gestor before relocating tax residency. This is the country-specific guide for Spanish citizens to form a us llc, apostille, banking, and treaty notes that change by jurisdiction. For the canonical procedural sequence (the steps everyone follows regardless of citizenship), see the main US LLC formation page.
A Wyoming or Delaware LLC is the cleanest holding entity for a non-resident founder. No state income tax, no minimum capital, no resident director requirement. The whole setup runs remote: file Articles online, fax Form SS-4 for the EIN, open Mercury for banking. The catch is the annual Form 5472 filing, miss it and the penalty is USD 25,000.
What Spanish citizens need to form a US LLC
Apostille
Ministerio de Justicia or notary
~1·3 weeks, ~USD 15. As a Hague Convention member, Spain issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
Banking flow
Spanish residents open Mercury remotely; SEPA outbound from Mercury to BBVA/Santander runs same-day. Wise multi-currency is the common bridge.
Timezone
UTC+1 (CET), 6 hours ahead of IRS Austin. IRS Austin is on UTC-6 / Asunción Migración on UTC-3.
Country-specific note
Common: Spanish freelancers billing US clients via Upwork or direct contracts who get hit with 30% US backup withholding and need an ITIN + W-8BEN to reduce it under treaty.
Tax treaty: US-Spain treaty (revised 2019 protocol) reduces dividend withholding to 5% for substantial holders and zero on most royalties.
Questions Spanish citizens ask about us llc formation
How long does the apostille take for Spanish citizens? +
1·3 weeks through Ministerio de Justicia or notary, at roughly USD 15. As a Hague Convention member, Spain issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
How do Spanish-resident clients usually handle banking with their US LLC? +
Spanish residents open Mercury remotely; SEPA outbound from Mercury to BBVA/Santander runs same-day. Wise multi-currency is the common bridge.
Do Spanish citizens get US tax treaty benefits on an LLC? +
US-Spain treaty (revised 2019 protocol) reduces dividend withholding to 5% for substantial holders and zero on most royalties.
Form your LLC, Spanish citizen
See the full procedural sequence on the canonical US LLC formation page, or jump straight to the apply form.
Form your LLCKeep going
The rest of the playbook
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Residency
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US Credit
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Stay Compliant
Stay compliant with Form 5472, BOI, and annual filings
The annual cadence that keeps your non-resident LLC out of USD 25,000 IRS penalties and in good standing.
Banking
Open bank accounts in Georgia and Panama, 100% remotely
Official SOLO (Bank of Georgia) and Towerbank partner. Passport to start, video call to activate, tax ID added later, no flights required.