Golden Visa Spain: Updated Guide for 2026

The Golden Visa Spain program allowed non-EU nationals to get residency through a minimum €500,000 property purchase or other significant investments. The program officially closed on April 3, 2025. However, current permit holders can still renew their status, but new applications are no longer being accepted under the previous rules. Despite its ending, there are still several options for those interested in relocating to Spain, such as the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, as well as other European residency-by-investment programs.

This article will explain how the Spanish Golden Visa worked before its end, the renewal process for current visa holders, the path to permanent residency and citizenship, alternative visas that lead to Spanish residency, and other EU Golden Visas to consider.

Spain Golden Visa Key Takeaways

The Spanish Golden Visa program ended on 3 April 2025, and no new applications are being accepted. 

Investors who applied before the cutoff were allowed to invest €500,000 in real estate, €1 million in Spanish business shares or funds, or €2 million in government bonds. 

Eligible applicants included non-EU/EEA nationals with a clean criminal record. 

While the Spain Golden Visa has ended, there are alternative paths to Spanish residency such as the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, the Non-Lucrative Visa, and other available residency routes, including other golden visa options in Europe. 

Spain Golden Visa Ending: April 2025 Update 

The Spain Golden Visa ended on April 3, 2025, and is no longer accepting applications.
 
Protection for Existing and Pending Applications 

Investors and family members who submitted applications before the April deadline will remain unaffected. They will retain all benefits and renewal rights under the program’s current rules. Existing Golden Visa holders will also maintain their rights. 

Alternative Residency Options 

The Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Malta Golden Visas are great alternatives for investors looking for a European residency permit without a stay requirement.
 
For those seeking to live in Spain, the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa are excellent options. 

Spain’s Golden Visa was launched in 2013 as a residency-by-investment program that allowed non-EU nationals to live, work, and study in Spain in exchange for a qualifying investment. The most common route was the purchase of real estate worth at least €500,000. There were other investment routes like investing €1 million in Spanish company shares or bank deposits, or €2 million in Spanish government bonds. But in 2025, the Spanish government officially closed the program on 3 April. The decision was mainly driven by concerns over rising property prices and housing affordability, particularly in big cities. The end of the program was an attempt by authorities to ease pressure on the housing market.

1. EU citizenship eligibility: The Spain Golden Visa is renewable, and provided that the minimum investment is maintained, EU citizenship is possible after ten years of permanent residency.
2. EU education and healthcare: As a Spanish Golden Visa holder, you and your family gain the right to high-quality education and healthcare in Spain.
3. The right to work and do business in Spain: A Spanish residence visa provides foreigners with unrestricted access to Spain’s job market and entrepreneurial opportunities. This is appealing to investors and entrepreneurs.
4. Tax optimization: Several CBI countries provide numerous tax benefits and incentives. Countries like Vanuatu impose zero taxes on personal and corporate income.
5. Family reunification: The Spanish Golden Visa guarantees residence permits for your spouse and children under 18. Other family members who are your legal dependents can also apply.
6. Plan B: Acquiring citizenship by investment provides indefinite residency in a stable country. A ‘plan B’ puts your mind at ease during economic or political instability or a global crisis.
7. Easy renewal: The Spanish Golden Visa residence permit can be renewed if the conditions for its grant are still met.
8. Fast processing time: After submitting the Spain Golden Visa application, the legal period to reach a decision is 10 days. The residence permit takes about 30 days to be approved.

These are the Golden Visa Spain requirements:

• Be over 18 years of age
• Be a non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss citizen
• Make a significant investment and provide proof of the respective financial investment.
• Have a clean criminal record.
• Applicants can’t be on the nation’s list of undesirable people
• Have valid medical insurance coverage and an official health certificate.
• Applicants must not have previously been refused visas or entry into the Schengen zone.
• Provide proof of having sufficient funds to sustain yourself and your family members while residing in Spain.

Which family members qualify for the Golden Visa in Spain?

You can include your immediate family members in your application for the Golden Visa in Spain, including certain dependents. Those who can qualify are:

• Your spouse or domestic partner if together for over two years
• Your children under the age of 18
• Adult children (over 18 years old) or parents who are economically dependent, on the condition that you present financial proof that they are dependent or have a health condition that makes them unable to provide for themselves.

• Real Estate Investment: Invest at least €500,000 in commercial or residential real estate in Spain. The property must be free of liens, except for amounts exceeding €500,000. If you are married under a community property or separation property regime, one spouse can get the investor visa, and the other can apply as a family member. If you already own the property, it must have been purchased since 2014.
• Spanish Public Debt Securities: Invest at least €2 million in long-term public debt securities (minimum 5 years). These pay annual interest, offering competitive returns.
• Stocks and Shares: Invest at least €1 million in public or private stocks of companies operating in Spain.
• Funds and Venture Capital: Invest at least €1 million in funds or venture capital funds of companies in Spain, with returns paid as dividends.
• Bank Deposits: Invest at least €1 million in a Spanish bank deposit, which pays agreed-upon interest.
• Business Investment: Invest in a business project that benefits Spain, such as job creation, regional socio-economic impact, or innovation. A representative can apply for the visa on behalf of the investor.

These were the general documents needed for the Spain residency-by-investment program, but additional documents are required for the specific investment path chosen. All documents must be formally translated into Spanish and properly apostilled to be accepted.

• A completed and signed National Visa Application Form
  A valid passport
  Criminal record certificate from your country of origin and any country where you have lived in the past five years. It must be issued within the last 90 days.
  Full coverage health insurance with a company that is allowed to operate in Spain, with no co-payments or deductibles.
  Medical certificate, i.e, a doctor’s letter confirming you do not have any diseases that could pose a public health risk under the International Health Regulations 2005.

Step 1: Apply for NIE and get legal representation 

Before applying for the Spain Golden Visa, you had to first obtain your NIE, which is your Spanish tax number called a Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE). You can apply for this at a Spanish consulate or appoint a representative in Spain through a Power of Attorney. 

Step 2: Make a qualifying investment 

Next, you need to complete the full qualifying investment, such as placing €1 million in a Spanish bank or investing €2 million in government bonds, and obtain an official Certificate of Investment issued within the last 60 to 90 days. 

Step 3: Prepare your documents 

The next step is to make sure you have all the documents, such as your criminal record certificates and medical documents, and ensure they are apostilled and officially translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.

Step 4: Application submission option 1: Applying from outside Spain

If you are applying from your home country, you must submit your application through the Spanish consulate. Once approved, you receive a one-year Spain residency-by-investment visa that allows you to enter Spain and activate your residency rights. This residence permit gives you the legal right to live and work in Spain during that initial year. 

Option 2: Applying from within Spain

If you are already legally present in Spain, which could be during a 90-day Schengen stay, you can apply directly for a residence permit without going through the consulate. Applications are submitted to the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) in Madrid, the government authority responsible for large investment cases. If approved, you are granted a three-year residence permit from the start. Processing time takes about 20 days.

Spain’s Golden Visa renewal process in 2026 is protected by a “grandfathering” clause under Organic Law 1/2025. Although the program stopped accepting new applications on April 3, 2025, current residence card holders can still renew under the original rules. Permits can be extended in successive five-year periods and these are the requirements that must be met:

• You must maintain your investment and prove that your qualifying investment is still in place.
• Show you have enough financial means to support yourself and your family.
• You must hold full private health insurance.
• Continue to have no criminal record in Spain or in any country where you have lived during the last five years.
• You must have visited Spain at least once during the validity of your current residence permit. 
• Submit your renewal application to the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas).
• You can apply up to 60 days before your residence card expires.
• You can also apply up to 90 days after it expires.
• Applying late may result in a small administrative fine.

1. Permanent residency 

To qualify for citizenship through the Spanish Golden Visa, you first need to obtain Spanish permanent residency. This means you need to have lived in Spain legally and continuously for five years. You must meet the physical presence requirements, which include:

• You cannot be outside of Spain for more than six consecutive months in any single year.
• Your total time outside Spain over the entire 5-year period cannot exceed 10 months.

2. Citizenship 

Spanish Citizenship is possible after 10 years of continuous and legal residency in the country, but the stay requirements may be shorter for certain nationalities. These are requirements for a Spanish passport

• Standard: 10 years of legal residency is the standard requirement for Spain citizenship by naturalization. 
• Fast-Track 2 Years: If you are a national of an Ibero-American country such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal you can qualify after two years.
• Fast-Track 1 Year: If you are married to a Spanish citizen you can get apply for citizenship after a year.
• Continuous Residence: Just like permanent residence, you must show you have not left Spain for a long period of time. 
• Language (DELE A2): You must pass a basic Spanish language exam unless you are from an Ibero-American country. 
• Civics (CCSE): Pass the multiple-choice test on Spanish culture, law, and history.

Alternative Spain Residency Visas

Spain Digital Nomad Visa

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa allows non-EU remote workers and freelancers to live and work in Spain for one year, with extensions of up to five years. Applicants must earn at least €2,849 per month, work for a company outside Spain or run a remote business with clients outside the country, and hold valid private health insurance.

Spain Non-Lucrative Visa

The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa is for non-EU nationals who want to live in Spain without working. It is best for retirees or people with passive income, such as pensions or rental earnings. Applicants must show a minimum monthly income of €2,400 to prove they can support themselves.

Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa

The Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa is for non-EU specialists hired for executive, managerial, or technical roles in Spain. It is intended for professionals with strong qualifications or extensive experience. 

Spain Self-Employed Visa

The Spain Self-Employed Visa, also known as the Autónomo Visa, allows non-EU citizens to live and work in Spain as independent professionals. Applicants must present a viable business plan, relevant experience, sufficient funds of around €2,763 per month, and a clean criminal record. It is initially granted for one year and can be renewed for up to five years, with registration required under Spain’s tax and social security systems.

Read our expert guide on the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa and get in touch with our team to start your Spanish residency journey.

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How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments. 

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.