Spain Golden Visa programme in 2026

Golden Visa is an unofficial name for a special government programme that provides foreigners with a residence permit or permanent residence for investment in the country's economy.

The end of Spain’s Golden Visa programme in 2025

In 2024, it became known that Spain’s Golden Visa programme might be discontinued in the near future. The issue was discussed throughout the year, and a final decision was made by the Spanish Congress in December 2024.

Timeline of Events:

• April 2024: The Spanish government announced the potential discontinuation of the programme.
• September 2024: The government, led by the ruling party, failed to pass amendments on residency by investment into Spain’s land legislation due to opposition resistance.
• November 2024: The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party proposed new amendments to the Golden Visa programme in the Justice Act.
• December 2, 2024: The Spanish Senate vetoed the bill to abolish the Golden Visa programme. The bill was returned to Congress for further revisions.
• Late December 2024: Congress voted to terminate the programme in 2025.
• The final text was adopted on January 2, 2025 and published in the official newspaper of the Kingdom of Boletín Oficial del Estado.
• On April 3, 2025, the law on the abolition of the Golden Visa programme in Spain officially entered into force.

Currently, alternative programmes for obtaining a Spanish residence permit are operating in the country: the Digital Nomad Visa and the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. The Tranio team will advise on the choice of a Spanish residence permit and select the best investment properties for any request.

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Advantages of obtaining a residence permit in Spain

Freedom of travel. Spanish residence permit holders can travel freely in the Schengen Area.

Possibility to open bank accounts in Spain and the EU. Upon obtaining residency, the investor has the right to open an account in local banks and use all available financial offers of the selected bank.

Residency for the entire family. National residence permits are issued to the investor, their spouse, and minor children (under 18). The investor’s parents and children over the age of 18 can also be included in the application if physically/financially dependent on the main applicant.

The possibility of obtaining Spanish citizenship. After 10-years-long residency in Spain, the investor has the right to apply for a passport of this country.

Medical treatment. Under Spain’s “Cuadro médico sin copago” health insurance scheme, services including doctor’s appointments, ambulance call-outs, hospitalisation, treatment, and surgical service are available for free.

EU driving licence. The investor can buy and register an automobile.

School and university education for children. The investor’s children can study in the country’s public and private schools, as well as receive higher education.

No tax residency in Spain. The investor has no obligation to submit tax returns if they stay no longer than 183 days a year in the country.

No need to pass exams. It is not compulsory to speak Spanish or take an exam about the country’s history.

How to apply for the Golden Visa programme in Spain?

Application requirements

The applicant must be over 18 years old, also necessary to confirm financial well-being, the applicant’s own income sufficient to live in the country.

The applicant will also need:

• to confirm that the funding sources are legal;
• to have no criminal record in the last five years;
• to have no debts to the tax service in Spain;
• to have no visa violations and restrictions on entry into the EU;
• to be not included in the EU sanctions lists;
• to pose no threat to national security;
• to have no infectious diseases.

Documents required  

• valid international passport with a validity period at least one year from the end of the intended period of residence permit;
• personal ID;
• application for a residence permit;
• two colour photos of 3.5×4.5 mm;
• contract for the purchase of property in Spain or a document confirming a different type of investment;
• bank account statements, documents on the availability of deposits;
• Spanish TIN;
• marriage certificate;
• certificate of no criminal record with notarized translation;
• medical certificate proving absence of infectious diseases;
• medical insurance that covers the entire validity period of the visa and is concluded with a Spanish company;
• documents confirming the legal sources of income: certificates, bank statements, lease or sale agreements of overseas property;
• receipt of payment of fees and taxes.

All documents received outside Spain require an apostille and legal translation to Spanish.

Nine steps to obtain residence permit in Spain

1. Risk assessment. Consult with Tranio’s immigration specialist, assess all potential risks and investment prospects.
2. Property selection. It is possible to view the property remotely with an online demo or attend a property shower in person if the investor has an open Schengen visa.
3. Reservation of the property. Here the buyer is expected to make a deposit of 10% of the property value and sign an initial contract for reservation.
4. Obtaining a Spanish TIN and preparing documents. On behalf of the investor, this part of the transaction in Spain is handled by a trusted lawyer from among the company's partners.
5. Signing of the final contract. On this step, the remaining amount is paid and the final documents are signed.
6. Obtaining a Spanish tourist visa or a non-lucrative visa. The necessary documents are collected and sent to the Spanish Consulate in the country of residence, biometrics are provided, and air tickets are purchased if necessary.
7. Applying for a residence permit. The proceedings on the residence permit begin when the investor comes to Spain. It is necessary to submit biometric data, fill out government forms, pay taxes and fees. The later administrative proceedings can be trusted to an attorney chosen among the company's partners, or investors may choose to complete the process personally.
8. Obtaining residence permit. The investor receives a ready-made permit for a long-term stay in Spain. The ID issue takes 20 days or more. The issued card can be collected from the police office.
9. Extension of residence permit. It is necessary to contact the migration service for extending the status of a Spanish resident at least 60 days before the expiration of the current permit. The main condition is the preservation of the ownership for initial investment property in its entirety.

The costs of obtaining a residence permit

Main expenses of the investor in addition to the costs of purchasing property:

Legal expenses. Depending on the number of applicants, the total amount may vary from 1,000 to 4,000 euros. This includes professional consultations, legal support, documentation preparation, apostille and translation of all documents by sworn translators.

Medical insurance. It can cost from 50 to 100 euros per person.

Expenses when buying property. They make up 10–15% of the property value.

State fees for applying for a residence permit. They amount to 100 euros per person for issuing a plastic residence permit card.

Permanent residency in Spain

Immigrants who have lived in Spain for five years are eligible for permanent residency. Applicants must prove that they have not left the country for more than 10 months within those five years. Permanent Spanish residency gives holders the same rights as full citizens, apart from the right to vote and be elected into the political system.

Spanish citizenship

Spanish citizenship can be obtained on regular grounds. It is possible to apply for Spanish citizenship after 10 years of residency in the country. Applicants need to obtain a temporary residence permit first and become a permanent resident five years later. Five years after receiving the status of a permanent resident it is possible to apply for Spanish nationality. To be granted this, applicants need to first pass Spanish language and history exams.

Spain prohibits dual nationality so applicants are required to renounce their birth citizenship before being issued a Spanish passport. There are only a few exceptions that mostly apply to citizens of Latin American countries.

The Tranio team will choose the optimal property for the Golden Visa of Spain according to your requests.

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The Tranio team will select the optimal property in Spain for your investment goals and will help you obtain a Non-Lucrative Residence Visa.

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