The end of the golden visa

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain, including people who were counting on a property purchase to get residence.

Start with "Spain's golden visa has ended, what changed". It explains the repeal, its date and what the visa covered. From there, read on in this order:

• "Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work" if you already applied or invested.
• "Does buying property in Spain get you residency?" if you are weighing a purchase.
• "If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work" if you have money but do not plan to work in Spain.

Key rules

• Visitor stay: A non-EU property owner without a residence permit may stay as a visitor up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, because owning property gives no extra time.
• Repeal date: The investor residence route stopped accepting new applications on 3 April 2025, and only applications filed before that date continue under the old rules.
• Closed route: Buying property, funds, shares or deposits no longer gets you Spanish residence as a new applicant.
• Earlier applications: Applications filed before the cut-off continue under the old rules.
• Property and status: Owning property gives you no residence permit or immigration status.
• Golden visa: The property-based golden visa no longer exists, so any offer of it is a red flag.

The end of the golden visa: the whole process, step by step

• Understand what the repeal removed (read: Spain's golden visa has ended, what changed): First, before you plan anything. No investor-visa channel is open for new applications.

• Check whether you filed an application before the cut-off (read: Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work): Before 3 April 2025. Only a filed application counts, not a signed purchase or an investment made without applying.

• Existing permit holders keep their rights and renew under the old rules (read: Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work): At each renewal date of your current permit.

• Drop the idea that property gives you status (read: Does buying property in Spain get you residency?): Before you buy. Without a permit you may stay as a visitor up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

• Match your profile to a remaining route (read: If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work): Before you apply, and from outside Spain.

• Gather proof of means for your chosen visa (read: If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work): Before you apply. The non-lucrative visa needs 400% of the IPREM per year for you and 100% for each dependant.

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Proof of means for the non-lucrative visa — If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work

Income and work

• Contracts with your employer or clients outside Spain — If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work
• Proof of income of 200% of the Spanish minimum wage per month — If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work

Payments and receipts

• Official filing receipt of your application — Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work

Guarantees

• Health insurance — If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work

Other documents

• A CV or university degree showing your qualifications — If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work
• A clean criminal record certificate — If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work
• Registry entry number of your application — Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work
• Consulate appointment or submission confirmation — Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work

The end of the golden visa: questions that cross several articles

Can I still get residency by investing in Spanish property, funds or shares?

No, no investor-visa channel is open to new applicants, whether property, public debt, shares, deposits, funds or business projects. Only applications filed before 3 April 2025, and existing permits and renewals, are preserved. Read "Spain's golden visa has ended, what changed" and "Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work".

Does owning property help me with any other residence route?

No, owning property is not a requirement in the non-lucrative, work, entrepreneur, family or arraigo routes. It can help only indirectly, for example as proof of housing or means. Read "Does buying property in Spain get you residency?" and "If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work".

Which route fits me if I have savings but will not work in Spain?

The non-lucrative visa fits passive income or savings without work, and you cannot work in Spain on it, including remotely for Spanish clients. If you earn remote income from non-Spanish clients, the digital nomad visa fits better.

How much money do I need to show for the non-lucrative visa?

You need 400% of the IPREM per year for yourself and 100% for each dependant. In 2025 that was about 28,800 euros for the main applicant and about 7,200 euros per dependant. The IPREM is revised yearly, so read "If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work" and check the current figure.

Can I switch from the non-lucrative visa to a work permit later?

Only in limited cases, typically after the first year of residence, and the immigration office decides each case. A change is not automatic. Read "If you have capital, the Spanish routes that still work" before choosing this route if you may want to work later.