The Spanish Golden Visa — residency through property investment
Spain's Golden Visa (Residencia para Inversores) was introduced in 2013 to attract non-EU investors. The most popular route has been property investment: a single buyer, or two buyers jointly, investing at least €500,000 of unmortgaged equity into Spanish real estate qualifies for a renewable residency permit covering the investor, spouse and dependent children.
Important: the 2025 reform
The Spanish government has announced legislation to remove the property-investment route from the Golden Visa programme. The other routes — €1m in Spanish company shares or bank deposits, €2m in Spanish public debt, or significant business projects of general interest — remain. Confirm the current status with your lawyer before relying on the property route.
What the visa gave you (and existing holders keep)
- Initial residency for one year, then renewable five-year residency permits
- Free movement within the Schengen Area (up to 90 days in any 180-day period in other Schengen countries)
- The right to live, work and study in Spain
- Family inclusion: spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents
- No minimum stay requirement to renew (just one visit per renewal period)
- Eligibility for permanent residency after 5 years and Spanish citizenship after 10
Alternatives if you're priced out or affected by the reform
If the property route closes for new applicants, the most relevant alternatives for property owners are the Non-Lucrative Visa (passive income, no work in Spain) and the Digital Nomad Visa (remote work for non-Spanish employers, with attractive tax treatment under the Beckham regime). Both let you live in Spain and own property here, just without the Golden Visa's Schengen mobility benefits.
Tax considerations
Holding a Golden Visa does not automatically make you a Spanish tax resident — that's triggered by spending more than 183 days a year in Spain or having your main economic interests here. Plan tax residency separately with a Spanish tax adviser before any move.