Alicante Lawyers

Golden Visa in Spain: Residency by investment

Residency through investment, renovation, and legal advice for investors

Spain introduced the Golden Visa program in 2013 with the aim of attracting foreign investment, boosting the economy, creating jobs, and promoting internationalization. This investor visa allowed individuals to obtain residency in the country, particularly through real estate investment, making it an attractive option for establishing permanent residence in Spain.

The program officially ended on April 3, 2025, so new applications are no longer being accepted. However, those who obtained the visa before its repeal may continue to renew it. While the visa is valid, you must continue to meet the conditions that led to its issuance and report any changes to the Large Enterprises Unit within 30 days; otherwise, the authorization may be revoked. If the investment changes, you must continue to meet one of the legal requirements and provide the documentation corresponding to the new investment.

Do you want to obtain or renew your Golden Visa in Spain with complete legal certainty?

We will review your investment and your administrative status, advise you on the current requirements following the program’s completion, and guide you through the process of renewing or adjusting your residency, ensuring legal compliance and maximum security at every step.

In which country do you currently reside?

Residing in Spain through foreign investment

To obtain a Golden Visa in Spain, various types of investments are accepted:

Invest a minimum of €500,000 in Spanish real estate (without a mortgage). This program focuses on promoting real estate investment.

Invest €2 million in Spanish government bonds.

Invest €1 million in shares of Spanish companies.

Deposit €1 million into a Spanish bank account.

Applicant Profile

To obtain the Spanish Golden Visa, in addition to your investment (whether property-related or not) and other general requirements, you must demonstrate that you meet one of the following criteria:

Investor

Entrepreneur

Highly qualified professional.

Researcher

Executive or specialist transferred within a corporate group

Employee transferred within the same company.

Requirements for the Gold Visa in Spain for Investors

There are some requirements for the Golden Visa in Spain that have nothing to do with the investment itself:

Be at least 18 years old.

Have public or private health insurance through a company authorized to operate in Spain.

Have sufficient financial resources to cover personal and family living expenses while residing in Spain.

Not having been denied entry to any Schengen country.

Not to have entered or remained in Spanish territory illegally.

Have no criminal record in Spain or in the country of residence for the past 5 years.

How did you obtain the Golden Visa in Spain?

The Golden Visa was processed under the Entrepreneurs Act, with the aim of attracting international investment and talent. Applications were not handled by the Immigration Office, but rather through the Unit for Large Companies and Strategic Groups (UGE-CE). If the application was submitted from within Spain, it was filed directly with this agency; if submitted from abroad, it had to be processed at the relevant Spanish consulate.

Key requirements: provide proof of investment

The key requirement was to provide proof of the investment through official documentation, depending on the type chosen:

Real estate investment

A certificate from the Land Registry confirming a minimum investment of €500,000.

Stocks or securities

Certificate issued by an authorized financial intermediary or the Foreign Investment Registry.

Public debt

A certificate from the Bank of Spain or a financial institution confirming ownership for at least 5 years.

Investment funds

A certificate from the authorized management company confirming a minimum investment of 1 million euros.

Bank deposits

A certificate from the financial institution confirming ownership of the deposit.

Proof of ownership and legal compliance

In all cases, it had to be demonstrated that the applicant was the owner of the investment and that the minimum requirements and amounts stipulated by the regulations were met.

How long is the Golden Visa valid for?

The validity period of the Golden Visa for Spain varies depending on whether the application is filed in Spain—in which case you must be legally present in the country—or abroad.
The VISA will be valid for 1 year if applied for from abroad, and the residence permit will be valid for 3 years if applied for in Spain. Once this period has elapsed, the beneficiary may apply for renewal of the Golden Visa, which, once granted, will result in a new 5-year residence permit. For the renewal to be approved, two main requirements must be met:

  • Proof that the investment used to obtain residency in Spain is still valid.
  • To have been in Spain at least once during that year.

Which family members are eligible for the Spain Golden Visa?

The Spanish Golden Visa allows you to obtain residence permits for your spouse or civil partner, as well as for children under 18 who are dependent on you. You may also apply for residence permits for individuals over 18 who are still financially dependent on the applicant and do not have their own household. If the applicant’s parents are dependent on him or her, they may also be included.

What taxes do I have to pay if I obtain residency in Spain through investment?

Obtaining a residence permit through the Golden Visa program in Spain does not require you to pay any taxes; this depends on the total length of your stay in the country. If you stay for more than 183 days a year, you are required to report your total income. However, what you will need to report to the Spanish authorities are the returns on your investment.

Benefits of the Spanish Golden Visa

It grants access to the EU and the Schengen Area.

You may also apply for your spouse, children, and direct financial dependents.

All you need to do is visit Spain once a year, without staying for an extended period.

The initial permit is valid for two years and may be renewed for successive five-year periods.

It allows you to work as an employee or employer after the initial permit is granted.

After five years, permanent residency; after ten years, eligibility for Spanish citizenship.

What will happen to the Golden Visa in Spain after Brexit?

Before Brexit, residing in Spain was a fairly straightforward matter for any British national, as this was done under EU regulations, which meant the process involved few difficulties. With Brexit, British citizens have been forced to seek alternatives, with the investor residence visa and the non-lucrative visa being the most popular options, as they pose fewer difficulties than, for example, applying for a regular work permit.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Golden Visa in Spain

How much money do I need to invest to obtain a Golden Visa for Spain?

This depends on the investment option you choose. If you choose to invest in assets and property, the minimum contribution will be €500,000. If you decide to invest in bank deposits or shares in Spanish companies, the minimum outlay must be €1,000,000. Finally, if the investment is made in government bonds, it must be at least €2,000,000.

Requirements

  • Applicants for the Golden Visa must hold the majority of the voting rights in the company.
  • The applicant must have the power to appoint or remove members of the board of directors.

Condition

  • The company must be registered in a country that is not considered a tax haven.

The deadline for a decision to be made is 20 days from the date on which all the documentation is submitted.

Once the decision has been made and communicated to the applicant, they have one month to submit their application for residency in Spain through investment at the Spanish Consulate in their country of origin. They will then need to visit Spain to submit the application, accompanied by the approval they have previously obtained.

Yes, with this permit you can both work and live in Spain.

Yes, it is possible to lose your Golden Visa rights in Spain. This may be due to the liquidation of the investment made to obtain it, or because one of the mandatory requirements for obtaining it has not been met.

With a Gold visa, there is no obligation to remain in the country. You will simply need to travel to Spain to renew your permit.

This changes if you wish to apply for permanent residence. To do so, you need to have lived in Spain for at least five years, spending a minimum of six months there each year. In the case of citizenship, the minimum period of residence in the country is 10 years.

Yes, this is one of the benefits of obtaining a Golden Visa in Spain: you’ll be able to travel throughout the Eurozone under the same conditions as a Spanish citizen.

You will be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship after ten years of residence.

If the property was the investment put forward for the permit, you will not be able to sell it until you have obtained permanent residency, because if you do, your application will be rejected when you renew your Golden Visa for Spain.

Yes, this is one of the benefits of obtaining a Golden Visa in Spain: you’ll be able to travel throughout the Eurozone under the same conditions as a Spanish citizen.

Just as with a loan, you cannot obtain a Golden Visa for Spain if you use a mortgage to make the investment. As mentioned earlier, the initial investment must always be made using your own funds.

Yes, this is one of the benefits of obtaining a Golden Visa in Spain: you’ll be able to travel throughout the Eurozone under the same conditions as a Spanish citizen.

Just as with a loan, you cannot obtain a Golden Visa for Spain if you use a mortgage to make the investment. As mentioned earlier, the initial investment must always be made using your own funds.

No, you are allowed to rent out the property without it affecting the status of your investor residence visa.

You can purchase any type of property as an investment to qualify for a residence permit as an investor in Spain.

No, obtaining that permit does not entitle you to apply for a Spanish passport.

Yes, if you are buying a property in Spain, you will need a NIE, which is the identification number for foreign nationals in Spain