Golden Visa Spain

Spain’s investor visa, commonly known as the Golden Visa, is no longer available for new applications from 3 April 2025. Organic Law 1/2025 left without content articles 63 to 67 of Law 14/2013, which governed investor visas and residence authorisations.

Transitional rules may still apply to applications submitted before that date and to certain existing visas and authorisations. This page explains those rules; it is not an application route for new investors.

Spain's Golden Visa was introduced under Law 14/2013 to allow eligible non-EU investors to apply for residence based on certain qualifying investments. One of the former options involved purchasing Spanish real estate worth at least €500,000, subject to the legal requirements applicable at the time.

This investment threshold is now historical. Buying property in Spain, regardless of its value, no longer provides access to a new Golden Visa under the former investor scheme. Property ownership and the right to reside in Spain must be considered separately under the legislation currently in force.

Investors and family members who submitted the relevant application before 3 April 2025 may receive a decision under the legislation in force on the date they applied.

For applications submitted before the reform took effect, the filing date is particularly important. Receiving a decision after 3 April 2025 does not, by itself, exclude an application from the transitional framework. The application must be assessed under the legislation applicable when it was submitted, taking into account the requirements of the former investor scheme.

This distinction is also relevant to applications involving family members. However, the transitional provision does not guarantee approval and does not allow new applications to be submitted under the discontinued Golden Visa programme.

The transitional provision for real estate investors states that qualifying visas and authorisations valid when the change took effect remain valid for the period for which they were issued. Renewal is assessed under the rules in force when the initial authorisation was granted. The rules that apply depend on the individual case.

Anyone holding an existing investor visa or residence authorisation should first identify the type of authorisation, the date it was initially granted, its expiry date and the investment on which it was based. These details are relevant when determining how the transitional provisions apply to an individual case.

For qualifying real estate investor authorisations, the closure of the Golden Visa scheme does not automatically cancel the remaining period of validity. However, continued validity should not be confused with an automatic right to renewal. Each renewal application must be examined according to the applicable transitional rules and the requirements of the legislation in force when the initial authorisation was granted.

Although Spain's Golden Visa programme has ended, other immigration routes remain available under Spanish law. These are separate legal categories, each with its own eligibility requirements, and should not be considered automatic replacements for the former investor scheme.

Depending on individual circumstances, potential options may include residence authorisations for entrepreneurs developing qualifying innovative business projects, highly qualified professionals or people undertaking eligible international remote work.

These routes are based on specific professional or economic circumstances rather than simply purchasing property or making an investment in Spain. The appropriate procedure, eligibility requirements and supporting documentation must be assessed individually before submitting an application.

Contact us to discuss an individual review of an application submitted before 3 April 2025 or an existing investor authorisation.