Golden Visa Spain (Investor Visa Program)
Spain’s Golden Visa programme officially ended in April 2025 and is no longer available for property investment or any other qualifying investment routes. Individuals seeking residency in Spain may instead wish to consider alternative immigration options, including the Entrepreneur Visa, EU Blue Card, Highly Qualified Professional Visa or Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa. Retirees and financially independent applicants may also explore the Non-Lucrative Visa route. Details of which can be found below.
For those still interested in residency by investment, alternative programmes remain available in other jurisdictions, including the Portugal Golden Visa and selected Citizenship by Investment schemes worldwide. To discuss your circumstances and explore potential immigration options, contact our team of specialist immigration lawyers online or call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or contact us on online.
What Is a Golden Visa in Spain?
The Golden visa in Spain was officially terminated in April 2025 and new applicants can no longer apply.
A Spain Golden Visa holder and their eligible family members can get residence permits in Spain, which will allow them to live, work and study in the country, and will also lead to permanent residency in Spain or even Spanish citizenship eventually. This is only available to those already on the Golden visa route, as it is closed to new applicants.
Alternatives to the Spain Golden Visa
Spain’s Golden Visa programme officially closed in April 2025 and is no longer available under any investment category, including property investment routes. Individuals seeking to relocate to Spain may instead consider alternative residence options, depending on their personal and professional circumstances.
Available Spanish visa routes may include the:
- Entrepreneur Visa for business founders and start-ups
- EU Blue Card for eligible skilled workers
- Highly Qualified Professional Visa for senior employees and specialists
- Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers and freelancers
- Non-Lucrative Visa for retirees and financially independent individuals.
Applicants interested in residency by investment may also wish to explore overseas alternatives, including the Portugal Golden Visa and selected Citizenship by Investment programmes in other jurisdictions.
To discuss your circumstances and assess your eligibility for a Spanish visa or international investment migration programme, contact our team of specialist immigration lawyers online or call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
Golden Visa Validity and Renewal in Spain
Please note that renewal advice only applies to those already on the Golden visa route.
If your Spain Golden Visa application is successful, you will be issued a work permit valid for a year. For applicants who have purchased real estate through a deposit contract, the validity of the initial permit is six months. After this period, you will be eligible to apply for a resident permit.
The resident permit is valid for three years and renewable thereafter provided you continue to maintain your respective qualifying investment. You will also need to travel to Spain at least once every year. After five years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Spain.
Golden Visa to Permanent Residency and Citizenship in Spain
After five years of temporary residence in Spain, Golden Visa holders and their family members can apply for a permanent residence permit. A permanent residence is issued indefinitely, so they will not need to renew it unlike a temporary residence permit.
After living in Spain continuously for ten years as a permanent resident, you may apply for citizenship by naturalisation provided you have no criminal record and have successfully passed relevant language and cultural exams. If you are from any of the Ibero-American countries or from the Philippines, you may be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship after two years.
How Can Total Law Help?
The Spain Golden Visa or Investor Visa is a viable route to residency in Spain for foreign investors and entrepreneurs. However, please ensure that you have completed all investment/business related formalities and have the required supporting documentation in place before applying for a Golden Visa.
Even if you meet the eligibility criteria for a Golden Visa for Spain, you must pay due diligence while filling up the relevant application form and arranging for all supporting documents.
Appealing a Golden Visa refusal is not only a lengthy but also an expensive process. It is, therefore, advisable that you focus on getting the application right the first time. As such, please consider consulting an immigration lawyer before and during your Spain Golden Visa application.
Speak to Total Law.
Our team of sympathetic immigration lawyers come with the required expertise and legal knowledge to assist you, even if your circumstances are complex.
If you are seeking overall advice with your Golden Visa application or you would like an immigration expert to complete your application on your behalf, we are happy to help. We offer a document and application checking service, in case you just need us to conduct a final check to confirm that your documents and application adhere to Spanish immigration regulations.
Total Law also has an appeal package if you would need to appeal your visa refusal. To discuss further about how we can help you, reach out to our legal team today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online.
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