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Updated on July 6, 2024

Spain Golden Visa

Enjoy warm climate, rich culture and visa-free travel within Europe

Spain Golden Visa

The Spain Golden Visa Program allows wealthy individuals to obtain residency in Spain in exchange for contributing to the country’s economy. Launched in 2013, the program aims to attract foreign investments in real estate, businesses, and securities.

Investors have six investment options: purchasing real estate, opening a bank deposit, making a business investment, acquiring government bonds, investing in units of investment funds, or purchasing shares in Spanish companies.

The residence permit is issued for 3 years with an opportunity to extend it for another 5 years. After 10 years of living in Spain — initially with a residence permit and subsequently with permanent residency — a foreigner can apply for citizenship.

With a Spanish residence permit, investors benefit from the right to live, work, or run a business in Spain, travel visa-free throughout the Schengen Area, and access the Spanish education and healthcare systems.

€500,000

Minimum investment

5+ months

Processing time

3 years with renewal

Validity period

9 Key Benefits of the Spain Golden Visa

  • 1

    Right to reside in Spain

    The Golden Visa grants holders and their family members the right to live in Spain. Importantly, maintaining Spanish residency through investment does not require living in the country to retain their status.

  • 2

    Freedom to travel

    Investors can travel without visas within the Schengen Zone, which includes 29 European countries.

  • 3

    Path to permanent residency and citizenship

    After living in Spain for five years, Golden Visa holders can apply for permanent residency. After ten years of legal residence, they may be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship.

  • 4

    Access to healthcare and education

    The investor and their family have access to public healthcare and education in Spain under the same conditions as Spanish citizens.

  • 5

    Right to work or run a business

    A Golden Visa holder is allowed to work in Spain.

  • 6

    No worldwide tax liability

    Spain taxes its residents who live in the country for 183 or more days. However, you are exempt from this tax if you do not plan to live in Spain.

  • 7

    Family reunification

    The investor can apply for family members, such as a spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents, to get residence permits in Spain.

  • 8

    Diverse investment options

    There are multiple ways to qualify for the Golden Visa, including real estate purchases, opening a bank deposit, and initiating business projects.

  • 9

    Cultural and lifestyle benefits

    Living in Spain offers a rich cultural experience, a pleasant climate, beautiful landscapes, and a high quality of life.

Who Can Get a Residence Permit in Spain

Investor

Over 18

No criminal record or prosecution

No debts in Spain

Investment money is earned outside of Spain

Able to confirm the legality of the income

Health insurance

Spouse

In an officially registered marriage or unregistered partnership

Same-sex couples included

Children of any age

If under 18: No specific conditions

If over 18: Must be unmarried, have no children of their own, and be financially dependent on the investor

Parents of any age

Financially dependent on the investor or their spouse

Investment Options under the Spanish Golden Visa Program

Spain offers six investment options under the Golden Visa Program, with the most popular being the purchase of real estate.

1. Purchase of residential or commercial real estate

The minimum investment is €500,000, and this sum does not change if additional family members are included.

2. Opening a bank deposit in a Spanish bank

The investor must deposit at least €1,000,000.

3. Purchase of shares of Spanish companies

The minimum investment is €1,000,000.

4. Purchase of units in investment funds

The required sum of money is €1,000,000+.

5. Purchase of government bonds

The investor must contribute at least €2,000,000.

6. Business investment

The minimum investment sum is unspecified.

complete guideComparing Spain Golden Visa to 8 Others

Explore the benefits and drawbacks of the Spain investment program versus other Golden Visas

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Step-by-Step Process: How to Become a Spanish Resident by Purchasing Real Estate

The process of obtaining a Spain Golden Visa takes at least 5 months and requires at least one visit to Spain.

01.

Turning to immigration experts

2—3 weeks
Turning to immigration experts

We guide our clients through all available investment options and help them choose the one that suits them best. Once the desired status and investment option are selected, we sign a contract.

02.

Purchasing a property

1—4 months
Purchasing a property

Real estate agents assist the investor in finding a property. The process can be conducted remotely — specialists visit properties, take photos and videos, and send them to the investor.

The agent also obtains a taxpayer number for the investor, checks the terms, and signs a sales and purchase agreement. Then, they submit it to the Land Registry.

03.

Collection of documents

3 weeks
Collection of documents

While purchasing real estate, the investor can start gathering documents. They receive a list of required papers, usually including copies of passports, birth certificates, and police clearance certificates. The investor must also submit the real estate ownership certificate they received at the previous step.

Lawyers translate and notarize documents and fill out government forms.

04.

Application

2 weeks
Application

The investor and their family members visit Spain to apply for the Golden Visa and submit their fingerprints at the police office.

05.

Getting residence permit cards

Up to 20 days
Getting residence permit cards

Spanish authorities process the application, check all the documents, and make a decision. Once the residency is approved, the investor and their family collect their cards at the police station.

The residence permit is issued for three years and can be extended for five years.

How to Obtain Permanent Residence and Citizenship in Spain

Foreigners cannot obtain permanent residency or citizenship solely by investment. Initially, they receive a residence permit, followed by permanent residency, and only thereafter can they apply for citizenship.

Permanent residency is granted to individuals who have lived in Spain with a residence permit for five years and have not left the country for more than 10 months in total. Additionally, it is prohibited to stay outside of Spain for 3 consecutive months.

When applying for permanent residency, applicants must confirm their financial solvency, possession of housing, and health insurance coverage. The authorities responsible for granting permanent residency (PR) verify whether the resident has abided by the law and has paid taxes in full.

The status of a permanent resident is granted for life, but the document itself must be renewed every five years.

Citizenship is obtainable through naturalization only. It is granted to residents who have lived in Spain for at least 10 years. Applicants must demonstrate their integration into Spanish society and pass exams on the Spanish language, culture, and laws.

Discover other Golden Visas

pt-flag

Portugal Golden Visa

Investment amount — €250,000+

  • Visa-free entry to the Schengen countries

  • Prospect of citizenship in 5 years after obtaining and maintaining the residence permit

  • Safe haven in a European country by the ocean

Learn more
it-flag

Italy Golden Visa

Investment amount — €250,000+

  • Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries

  • Creating of a safe haven or moving to Italy

  • Special tax regime

Learn more
hu-flag

Hungary Golden Visa

Investment amount — €250,000+

  • Visa-free entry to the Schengen Area

  • Relocation to a European country with an affordable cost of living

  • Tax optimisation with low rates

Learn more
gr-flag

Greece Golden Visa

Investment amount — €250,000+

  • Visa-free entry to the Schengen countries

  • Possibility to live, study, and start a business in Greece

  • Prospect of citizenship in 7 years

Learn more
mt-flag

Malta Golden Visa

Investment amount — €150,000+

  • Visa-free entry to the Schengen countries

  • Ability to live, study, start a business, and work in Malta

  • New family members can be added after the investor has received permanent residence

Learn more
cy-flag

Cyprus Golden Visa

Investment amount — €300,000+

  • Tax optimisation

  • Property investment income

  • Prospect of obtaining citizenship in 5 years

Learn more
ad-flag

Andorra Golden Visa

Investment amount — €600,000+

  • Visa-free entry to France and Spain

  • Simplified US and Schengen visas processing

  • Only 3-month residing a year to keep the residence permit

Learn more
us-flag

USA Golden Visa

Investment amount — $870,000+

  • Moving to the USA or creating a safe haven

  • Opportunity to obtain US citizenship

  • Opening bank accounts in the USA

Learn more
ae-flag

UAE Golden Visa

Investment amount — AED 2,000,000+

  • Residency for 10 years

  • Moving to the UAE or creating a “safe haven”

  • Tax optimisation

  • Opening a bank account in the UAE

Learn more
tr-flag

Turkey Citizenship by Investment

Investment amount — $400,000+

  • Visa-free entry to Japan, Singapore, and other 100+ countries

  • Opportunity to obtain a US E‑2 business visa

  • A safe haven in a warm country by the sea

Learn more
dm-flag

Dominica Citizenship by Investment

Investment amount — $200,000+

  • Global mobility with 140+ visa-free destinations

  • Opportunity to get a 10-year visitor visa to the USA

  • No taxes on dividends, interest, royalties, and capital gains for Dominica tax residents

Learn more
ag-flag

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment

Investment amount — $230,000+

  • Visa-free entry to the Schengen countries and the UK

  • Opportunity to get a 10-year visitor visa to the USA

  • Favorable investment conditions for families

Learn more
lc-flag

St Lucia Citizenship by Investment

Investment amount — $240,000+

  • Global mobility with 140+ visa-free destinations

  • Opportunity to get a 10-year visitor visa to the USA

  • No taxes on foreign income, dividends, and capital gains in St Lucia

Learn more
gd-flag

Grenada Citizenship by Investment

Investment amount — $235,000+

  • Visa-free entry to the Schengen countries, the UK, and China

  • Eligibility for the US E‑2 business visa

  • No taxes on foreign income, dividends, interest, and royalties in Grenada

Learn more
kn-flag

St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment

Investment amount — $250,000+

  • Global mobility with 150+ visa-free destinations

  • Opportunity to get a 10-year visitor visa to the USA

  • Possibility to become a tax resident and pay 0% personal income tax

Learn more
th-flag

Thailand Golden Visa

Investment amount — $25,500+

  • Long-term visa to live in Thailand or create a safe haven for up to 15 years

  • Bonuses and privileges for visa holders

  • Tax optimisation

Learn more
vu-flag

Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment

Investment amount — $130,000+

  • Fastest citizenship program in the world, with application processing within 1—4 months

  • Opportunity to get a 5-year visitor visa to the USA

  • Beneficial tax regime for companies for 20 years

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Spain have a Golden Visa?

    Yes, Spain has a Golden Visa program, which allows wealthy foreigners to obtain residence in the country by investment.

  • Who qualifies for a Golden Visa in Spain?

    To participate in the program, the investor must be over 18, have legal income and be able to prove it, have no criminal record or pending prosecutions, purchase health insurance, have no debts in Spain, and earn the investment money outside the country.

    The investor can also add their close family members to the application, including a spouse, children, and parents.

  • How much money do you need to get a Golden Visa in Spain?

    The minimum investment required for obtaining a Spanish Golden Visa is €500,000. This amount applies to investors who purchase real estate.

  • Can you get residency in Spain if you buy a property?

    Yes, you can get residency in Spain if you invest in residential or commercial property. The minimum required investment is €500,000. It is permissible to buy more than one property as long as their combined cost is at least €500,000.

    Real estate can be owned by the investor or their company, provided that the investor owns the majority of shares and is a controlling shareholder.

    The investor is not required to live in the purchased property. They may rent it out and sell it after obtaining permanent residency

  • How long can you live in Spain with a Golden Visa?

    Initially, a Golden Visa is issued for 3 years. Then, it can be extended for another 5 years. After the 5-year visa expires, you can apply for permanent residence or another residency permit for an additional 5 years.

  • Do you pay tax on global income in Spain with a Golden Visa?

    If you spend less than 183 days a year in Spain, you’re not required to pay taxes on worldwide income.

  • Is the Spanish Golden Visa still available?

    Yes, wealthy investors can apply for a Spanish Golden Visa in 2024.

  • Can you bring your parents to Spain with a Golden Visa?

    Yes, the investor can add their parents of any age to the application for the Spain Golden Visa, provided they are financially dependent on the investor or the spouse.

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