Spain’s Golden Visa End Date: Programme Officially Closes on 3 April 2025

With less than two months until Spain’s Investment Residency programme closes, time is running out to secure your Golden Visa before the 3rd April 2025 deadline. Submit your application today — Tranio’s experts will secure properties, manage transactions, and fast-track your residency process before the scheme ends.
Submit your application
As of 3rd April 2025, Spain will no longer accept Golden Visa applications from non-EU residents.
The Spanish Congress of Deputies has voted to abolish the programme permanently, with 177 deputies in favour and 170 against. The full legislation, published in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE) on 3rd January 2025, will take effect three months after publication.
Existing visas issued prior to the law’s enactment will remain valid. Renewals will follow the rules applicable at the time of the original application (pre-ban).
Why Spain’s Golden Visa is Ending
Introduced during the 2013 financial crisis to attract foreign capital and stimulate growth, Spain’s Golden Visa scheme has issued over 22,430 residencies.
The majority of recipients were non-EU Europeans (39%) and Asian nationals, primarily Chinese citizens (37%).
Calls for reform began in 2019 when the European Commission criticised such programmes as security risks, urging member states to either terminate or heavily restrict them.
In February 2023, Spain’s Más País party proposed tightening or scrapping property-linked Golden Visas. Lawmaker Iñigo Errejón argued the scheme artificially inflated housing demand from non-resident investors, pricing out lower-income locals.
Data from Idealista shows average property prices surged by 31% over five years (€1,730 to €2,271 per m²), with hotspots like Madrid and Valencia seeing annual increases of up to 17.5%.
After parliamentary debates and amendments in 2024, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez endorsed the ban, pledging to restore housing as «a right, not a speculative business». During the legislative process, the bill underwent revisions twice: first in September 2024, following opposition pushback, and again in December 2024, after the Senate imposed a veto.
At the end of December 2024, Congress voted to terminate the programme in 2025, with the final text approved and adopted by the Senate on 2nd January 2025. It was published the following day in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), the official gazette of the Kingdom of Spain.
The law will come into force three months after its publication in the gazette, on 3rd April 2025.
Until this date, foreign investors can still obtain Spanish residency by purchasing property (one or multiple units) valued at €500,000 or more. Eligible investments include land, residential, or commercial properties, provided they are fully constructed and ready for use at the time of application.
There’s still time to secure your investment and submit your application before the programme closes. Get in touch with Tranio’s experts to start the process today.
Submit your application
The Golden Visa is valid for 2 years and can be extended for a further 3 years. However, if the property is sold during this time, the visa will be automatically cancelled.
How to Secure Your Golden Visa Before 3rd April 2025
Foreign investors can still qualify by:
- Purchasing property (residential, commercial, or land) valued at €500,000+ (fully constructed).
- Depositing €1 million in a Spanish bank.
- Investing €1 million in Spanish company shares.
- Buying €2 million in government bonds.
- Proposing a job-creating business/innovation project.
Applications submitted by late February 2025 stand a strong chance of approval. Read more in a detailed guide to Spain’s Investment Residency.
Property Investment Criteria
Investors are entitled to purchase residential or commercial property, land, or assemble a portfolio of multiple properties, provided the total value meets the €500,000 threshold.
A key requirement is that the minimum investment amount must come from the applicant’s own funds (from their personal account). Any amount exceeding this threshold can be financed through a mortgage.
The property being purchased must be fully constructed and ready for use.
To obtain a Golden Visa through investment, applicants must submit their documents within Spain, having first entered the country on a tourist visa. It is not possible to apply for the investor visa while residing in another country.
Many stages of property purchase and residency preparation can be done simultaneously. Submit your application now to complete the purchase and file your documents before 3rd April 2025.
Submit your application
Purchasing Property for Residency in Spain
- Obtaining a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE): The most efficient option is to apply at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.
- Preparing documents for bank compliance, including certified translations by a sworn translator.
- Opening a personal bank account with a Spanish bank.
- Selecting a property and conducting legal due diligence.
Final steps include reserving the property and completing the notarised sale:
- Reservation deposit of 1% of the property value.
- Down payment of additional 9%.
- Signing the purchase agreement at the notary as 80% of the value.
Spain will accept residency applications under the current rules until 2nd April 2025, inclusive. Typically, the property purchase and residency process takes 2–3 months, so there is still a window of opportunity for investors.
After purchasing the property and entering Spain, applicants must provide biometric data, complete government forms, and pay applicable taxes and fees.
Tranio’s legal experts are ready to handle your residency application. Submit your application for step-by-step assistance in obtaining your Golden Visa.
Submit your application
Alternative Golden Visa Programmes
By the end of 2024, the most popular residency programmes were in Greece, France, Spain, and Cyprus.
Country | Share of Demand (2024) | Minimum Investment | Renewal Cycle |
29.64% | €250,000 | Every 5 years | |
15.31% | €300,000 | Every 1 or 4 years | |
14.98% | €500,000 | Every 2 years | |
13.36% | €300,000 | Permanent |
The need for external capital in European countries remains strong. At the same time, demand persists — investors critically value stable financial infrastructure, payment processing hubs, and the ability to travel freely.
Greece Golden Visa
In 2025, Greece is expected to remain a top choice for investors seeking European property. In 2024, it was the most sought-after programme.
Greece’s Golden Visa retains a €250,000 threshold for properties converted from commercial to residential use, as well as for buildings of historical or cultural significance.
However, from 1st September 2024, the investment threshold increased to €800,000 in popular areas like Athens (including Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with over 3,100 residents. For other regions, the threshold is €400,000.
France Residency for Financially Independent Individuals
This programme remains one of the most accessible in Europe, with France residency boasting one of the highest approval rates for long-term visas in the EU.
Requirements:
- Proof of accommodation in France (purchased or rented).
- Passive income earned outside France.
- No employment or business activities within France.
Financial Criteria:
- Savings exceeding €30,000.
- Stable monthly income of 2–3 times France’s SMIC (€1,810).
Cyprus Permanent Residency
Cyprus grants permanent residency to foreigners who purchase property worth €300,000 or more (plus VAT). Multiple properties can be combined to meet the threshold.
Cyprus’s permanent residency is one of the last remaining EU programmes available for property-based residency.
To maintain residency status, applicants must spend 2 days every 2 years in Cyprus.
VAT on property purchases is 19%, but if the buyer has no other property in Cyprus, a reduced rate of 5% applies.
Submit your application for a consultation on current European residency programmes.
Enquire more
We will send you a content digest not more than once a week