Buy Golden Visa in Spain

Foreigners who want to buy a golden visa in Spain must know the program was abolished with effect from 3 April 2025.

Our golden visa specialists are at your service with information about alternatives to this program in Spain. You can also rely on us if you want to obtain golden passports in another country.

The former Spain golden visa requirements

The Golden Visa Scheme was a program that has been developed by many countries around the world. In Spain, it was enabled in 2013 and targeted non-EU citizens seeking to make a significant contribution to the Spanish economy in the form of investment. The main requirement applicable to all candidates was to be at least 18 years old at the time the dossier is submitted to the Spanish authorities.

If you want to buy a golden visa in another country, our agents are at your service for guidance in preparing the necessary documents. We also invite you to read our infographic on this subject:

Investment options for buying a golden visa in Spain

Non-EU citizens seeking to relocate to Spain based on a golden visa program had several options to choose from in terms of investments. These were:

1. real estate purchase, where the value of the property must be at least 500,000 euros, an option no longer available since 3 April 2025;
2. capital investment by depositing 1 million euros in a Spanish bank account;
3. capital investment of 1 million euros by purchasing shares in one or more Spanish companies;
4. capital investment of at least 2 million euros in the form of Treasury bond purchases.

For those interested in entrepreneurship options, the following were available:

• starting a business or engaging in an entrepreneurial project of general interest;
• investment in education and research and development projects;
• intra-company transfers are also available for those interested in buying a golden visa in Spain;
• experts and highly qualified professionals can also apply for golden visas in Spain.

The Spanish Golden Visa Scheme offered some of the largest number of options to those interested in acquiring economic citizenship in Europe.

If you are interested in relocating to other golden visa countries, our agents can help you apply for golden visas in countries like Italy, Portugal, and Malta.

What other investment options did non-EU investors have?

Ever since the launch of the program, Spain did not want to be one of the citizenship by investment countries that enabled non-EU applicants to access options that grant them Spanish passports. As such it provided several investment options. These were:

• acquisition of government bonds;
• investment in Spanish companies.

Specifically:

• investments in financial instruments required a minimum amount of EUR 2 million;
• investments in Spanish companies required a minimum amount of EUR 1 million.

If you are still interested in an alternative to the golden visa program, our Spanish agents can assist you.

The Spanish wealth visa

The non-lucrative residence visa (sometimes called a wealth visa) is a suitable alternative to the former Spanish golden visa. This option is available for people who have sufficient money to ensure their stay in Spain without working. They can use savings in the form of cash or investments that ensure meeting the non-employment condition, as well as a guaranteed income. In order
to apply for a wealth visa in Spain, applicants must provide proof of fixed income. This way, they will demonstrate that they have enough money to support themselves in Spain without working. A bank account statement can be used for this purpose. Specifically, one must provide evidence that, for the 12 months prior to the application, they have means of at least 400% of the IPREM (plus 100% for each family member). At the level of 2026, the IPREM is EUR 600 per month, so the main applicant needs about EUR 2,400 per month (EUR 28,800 per year).

What are the conditions that still apply for moving to Spain in 2026?

The following requirements should be in the attention of foreign investors who have decided to relocate to Spain through investments and golden visa passport alternatives in 2026:

• a clear criminal record is necessary at the time of applying for a residence permit in Spain;
• medical insurance plus sufficient funds to sustain living in Spain are also conditions for obtaining the desired visa. 

Document requirements for applying for a residence visa in Spain

Even if the Spanish golden visa required different documents that needed to be prepared for the type of investment option, there are some papers that must be filed by applicants no matter their choice. These are:

• the application form (there is a different form for each type of investment);
• two recent passport-size photos;
• a passport copy (minimum validity of 6 months is required when the application is filed);
• medical insurance is also required;
• a clear criminal record for the past 5 years is necessary;
• proof of payment of the visa fee;
• proof of self-sustenance before the residence permit is issued.

Given the fact that most golden visa countries allow applicants to move here with their family members, documents attesting to their identities (passports) and proof of financial means to support them must also be provided.

All documents must be filed with the immigration authorities which fall under the governance of the Spanish Ministry of Interior.

Our visa specialists can offer detailed information on citizenship by investment countries of each type of investment and can help applicants decide on the best option for them.

The advantages of moving to Spain

There are many benefits for foreign investors from non-EU and non-EEA countries who already obtained a golden visa for Spain. Among these, obtaining permanent residence for the family members is the most important one. Investors living in Spain for more than 183 days in a calendar year become Spanish tax residents and are taxed in Spain on their worldwide income (subject to tax treaties). It is good to know that the owner of the golden visa plus the family members who have permanent residency in Spain can access public services, including education. Also, the golden visa/citizenship by investment allows investors to travel within the Schengen Zone without any restrictions.

Access to Spanish citizenship

No matter the investment made by buying a golden visa in Spain, citizenship will remain available through naturalization only. This means the visa holder will need to obtain permanent residency followed by citizenship after 10 years of living in the country.

Data on immigrants in Spain

Spain’s population grew in the second quarter of 2025.  The majority of immigrants were Colombian, Moroccan, and Venezuelan. The highest population growth was in Aragon (0.91%), Valencia (0.28%), and the Balearic Islands (0.28%). As of
July 1^st, 2025, there were 49,315,949 residents in Spain, up 119,811 from the first quarter.  In the second quarter of the year, there were 36,100 immigrants from Colombia, 25,000 from Morocco, and 21,600 from Venezuela. However, the most common nationalities of emigration were Moroccans (9,200), Spanish (9,700), and Colombians (9,800).  In annual terms, estimated population growth was 508,475 persons.

We kindly invite you to contact our team of lawyers in Spain and ask for details about citizenship by investment countries and similar alternatives in Spain.