How stable are Spain's rules for your visa and tax plan?

Key rules

• Golden visa: The residence-by-property-investment route ended on 3 April 2025, so buying property no longer earns a residence permit.
• Nomad income threshold: The digital-nomad income threshold is linked to the minimum wage, so confirm the current figure before you apply.
• Proposed purchase tax: A heavy tax on property purchases by non-EU non-residents has been proposed, so check whether it is in force before you buy.
• Backup plan: Keep a second route ready in case the rule your first choice depends on changes.

Several of these changes are recent or still in parliament, so confirm current thresholds, taxes and permit rules with the Ministry of Inclusion, your consulate or a Spanish adviser before acting.

The short answer

Treat any plan that depends on one rule staying exactly as it is as fragile. Residence, tax and housing rules in Spain have all changed in recent years, and more changes are being discussed. Plan so that your move still works if one rule shifts.

Rules that have already changed

• Property-investment residence. The golden visa ended on 3 April 2025. Applications filed before that date continue under the old rules, and holders can renew existing permits. Other investor routes continue in other forms.
• Digital-nomad and entrepreneur visas. These were created or eased from 2023. The nomad income threshold is tied to the national minimum wage, so it can rise whenever that wage is raised.
• Residence procedures. A reform of the immigration regulation, in force from May 2025, changed the "arraigo" (rooting) routes and several procedures.
• Housing. Rent-control zones for stressed markets and new rules on large landlords have been introduced. Tourist-rental registration was tightened from 2025 with a national registry.
• Wealth tax. The solidarity tax on large fortunes was introduced in 2022-2023 and has been extended.

Changes that may still come

These have been proposed or debated. Their status can change with each parliamentary session, so do not count on them either way.

• A heavy tax on property purchases by non-EU non-residents. The government backed it, but it needed parliament's approval and had not clearly passed.
• Changes to the Beckham regime, the special tax regime for people who move to Spain for work.
• Further tourist-rental and housing changes.
• Immigration reforms, including a popular initiative to regularise undocumented migrants.

How to build resilience into your plan

1. Check the figure the week you apply. Income thresholds and fees move. Confirm the current nomad income threshold with the Ministry of Inclusion or the relevant processing office, not from an old article.
2. Do not buy to qualify for residence. The golden visa route is closed, so a purchase gives you no residence permit.
3. Compare at least two routes. If your first choice changes, a second one should already be on your list.
4. Keep your timeline flexible. Rules usually protect applications filed before a change, so filing earlier can help. Do not rush a purchase or a move only to beat a rumour.
5. Re-check before every big commitment. Do this before you sign a purchase, pay a deposit, give notice on a job or sell your home.
6. Ask an adviser about tax. If your plan relies on a special regime or on a non-resident purchase, ask a Spanish tax adviser what is in force on the day you commit.

The questions in the FAQ below cover the changes most worth checking before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Does the digital-nomad visa income threshold change every year?

Yes, the income threshold is a multiple of the national minimum wage, so it rises whenever the minimum wage is raised. Check the current figure with the Ministry of Inclusion or the large-business processing unit (UGE) before you apply.

Can I still renew a property-investment residence permit that I already hold?

Yes, holders can renew existing permits even though the route closed to new applicants. Applications filed before the closing date continue under the old rules. Other investor routes, such as significant economic interest, continue in other forms.

Is the proposed tax on property purchases by non-EU non-residents in force?

No, it had not clearly passed when last reported, because it needed parliamentary approval. Its status can change with each parliamentary session, so check before you sign a purchase.

Which rule changes should I check before committing to a plan?

Check the rules on rent-control zones, tourist rental registration, the Beckham special expatriate tax regime and the solidarity tax on large fortunes. All were changed or discussed in recent years. Ask a Spanish tax adviser which apply to you.