Spain’s Golden Visa End Date: Programme Officially Closed on 3 April 2025
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 was the Programme Closed
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.
Currently, Spain offers alternative programmes for obtaining a residence permit in the country: a Digital Nomad residence permit and a Non-lucrative residence visa in Spain. The latter programme, like the golden visa in the past, is directly related to the purchase of real estate in the country. Write to us, and we will select the best property for investment in Spain, help with registration and obtaining a residence permit.
Submit your application
1,433,000 €
Total area 133 m² 2 bedrooms
1,299,000 €
Total area 101 m² 3 bedrooms
1,309,000 €
Total area 78 m² 2 bedrooms
1,839,000 €
Total area 163 m² 3 bedrooms
725,000 €
Total area 113 m² 3 bedrooms
1,809,000 €
Total area 144 m² 3 bedrooms
1,250,000 €
Total area 170 m² 3 bedrooms
1,349,000 €
Total area 120 m² 2 bedrooms
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.
From 710,000 €
Completion in: 2026.IV 41 units in total
From 480,000 €
Built in 2025 5 units in total
398,000 €
Total area 138 m² 3 bedrooms
From 485,000 €
Completion in: 2026.II 10 units in total
2,150,000 €
Total area 275 m² Land area: 1,240 m²
7,000,000 €
Total area 869 m² Land area: 3,035 m²
3,160,000 €
Total area 630 m² Land area: 1,000 m²
8,250,000 €
Total area 1,177 m² Land area: 7,881 m²
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.
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