Non-EU/non-British work visa question

[El Jardinero Zurdo]

I'm yet another person considering a possible move to Spain (and have been slowly informing myself about the tax and other issues). I've searched the forums here but didn't see an answer to my question -- sorry in advance if I missed it!

Anyhow, does anyone know your options are if you come to Spain (from Canada or the U.S. -- not from a Schengen country or the U.K.) on a non-work visa and later decide you want to work? Is it possible? Does it require leaving Spain and applying from your country of origin, through the Spanish consulate? After a certain number of years in Spain can you "upgrade" your non-work visa status, to something that would allow you to work?

What about self-employment? If you do contract work, for example computer programming/web design/magazine writing, does this require a work visa in Spain? (When you are physically located in Spain but the work you are doing is entirely over the Internet for clients in other countries.) How is this type of situation handled by the Spanish tax authorities?

Sorry for the rambling and multi-faceted questions...and thanks! (Possibly your answers will be "go to an immigration expert" -- in that case, any advice on how to choose one?)

[Brian]

Lefty,

Check out the discussion on this thread:

http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512

[El Jardinero Zurdo]

Thanks Brian, that's helpful and got me on to the information I needed (and indeed I had listened to that podcast in the summer). It seems that after you've renewed your (non-working) residence visa a couple of times, it's at least possible to get "full privileges" -- typically after around 3-5 years.

By the way, the Canadian equivalent of that Chicago link you sent is: http://www.cgspaintoronto.com/toronto/visadosenglish.html

[Marina]

Catavino once told us that you can set up a business in Spain without having the residence permit. That can be an option if you expect to do freelance work.