Spain's golden visa has ended, what changed

Key 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.
• Existing permits: If you already hold a golden visa permit, you keep it and can renew it.
• Property purchase: You can still buy property in Spain, but it gives no residence rights.

The golden visa is closed to new applicants

The investor residence route stopped accepting new applications on 3 April 2025. If you have not already applied, you cannot get Spanish residence by buying property or making a similar investment. No investor-visa channel remains open.

The repeal came from Ley Orgánica 1/2025. It was published in the official gazette on 3 January 2025 and took effect three months later.

What the golden visa covered

The route gave residence in return for one of these investments:

• Real estate: at least 500,000 euros per property, free of charges.
• Spanish public debt: 2 million euros.
• Shares in Spanish companies: 1 million euros.
• Bank deposits: 1 million euros.
• Investment funds.
• Business projects of general interest.

None of these investments now qualifies for residence.

What holders had that new applicants cannot get

The old route gave a residence visa or permit, first for 2 years and then renewable for 5. It allowed free movement within the Schengen area and did not require you to live in Spain. Your spouse and minor children could be included, and it opened a path to long-term residence.

If you applied before the repeal or already hold a permit

Applications filed before 3 April 2025 continue under the old rules. Existing permits are kept, and holders can renew them.

If your file is still pending or your renewal is coming up, check the details with the Large Businesses Unit (UGE) or a immigration lawyer. The timeline and questions below show the sequence and the common doubts.

If you were planning to buy to get residence

Buying property in Spain no longer gives you a right to live there. If you still want to move, you need another residence route. Look at the other residence options before you commit money to a purchase.

Timeline and deadlines

• The repeal law is published in the official gazette: 3 January 2025

• The repeal takes effect and new investor residence applications stop: 3 April 2025, three months after publication

• Applications filed before the repeal continue under the old rules, and existing permits can be renewed: For any file filed before 3 April 2025

Frequently asked questions

Which investments no longer qualify for the golden visa?

None of the investor routes qualify for new applications any more, including property of at least 500,000 euros, Spanish public debt of 2 million euros, company shares of 1 million euros, bank deposits of 1 million euros, investment funds and business projects of general interest.

Do existing golden visa holders keep their permits?

Yes, existing holders keep their rights and can renew, and applications filed before 3 April 2025 are preserved. The old permit was first granted for 2 years and then renewable for 5. If your file was pending or your renewal is coming up, ask a lawyer or the Large Businesses Unit (UGE) how it is handled.

What did the golden visa give holders that is now gone for new applicants?

New applicants can no longer get a residence visa or permit with free movement within Schengen and no requirement to live in Spain. They also lose the option to include a spouse and minor children, and the path to long-term residence that came with it.