Legislative Proposal Seeks to Remove Real Estate Option for Spain’s Golden Visa
Más País proposes a reform that “guarantees an effect on the real economy without distorting the real estate market in Spain.”
Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa offers third-country nationals who can demonstrate sufficient personal savings to maintain themselves without working the opportunity to reside in Spain together with their families.
The program offers a five-year path to permanent residency in Spain and a ten-year (two years for certain nationalities) path to EU citizenship.
No investments or donations are required for the Non-Lucrative Visa. Applicants must merely show a certain minimum bank account balance (currently about EUR 28,000 a year) to qualify.
Program Type | Independent Means Visa |
Time to citizenship | 10 years (2 years for certain nationalities) |
Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
Minimum investment | None. Proof of sufficient savings |
Physical presence requirement | 183 days per year |
Application processing time | 2-3 months |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 189 destinations, including Schengen countries and the US |
Contribution types available | No contribution required |
General program requirements
Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa grants residence permits to individuals who have sufficient savings to maintain themselves without working in Spain. In Year 1, the applicant is issued a one-year residence permit. In Year 2, the applicant is issued a two-year residence permit. In Year 4, the applicant is issued another two-year residence permit. In year five, the applicant becomes eligible for permanent residency.
In the first year, the applicant must prove that they have a balance equal to at least 400% of IPREM, an economic indicator used as a reference for the granting of public benefits. In 2022, 400% of IPREM equates to just under EUR 28,000. An additional annual bank balance of EUR 6,950 is required for each dependent included in the application.
For a renewal in Year 2, the applicant must show proof of funds sufficient to maintain themselves and their families for two years to renew their residence permits for two years, i.e., a balance of at least EUR 56,000 (and an additional EUR 13,900 per family member). Similarly, in Year 4, the applicant must show the same balance as in Year 2 in order to receive another two-year residence permit.
An application fee of EUR 550 applies, though this price may vary between consulates.
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa is first issued for one year of residency. Applicants who maintain a physical presence of more than 183 in the first year are able to renew the visa for a further two years every second year.
After five years of continuous residency, applicants are eligible for permanent residency, provided they have not spent more than 10 months outside of Spain during the preceding five years.
After ten years of continuous residency, the applicant may apply for citizenship. However, if the applicant is from a country of Ibero-American Community – Latin-American countries as well as Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, and Equatorial Guinea – he may apply for citizenship after just two years of residency.
Additionally, the applicant must pass the DELE test, indicating European Spanish language proficiency, and a cultural and historical knowledge exam called the CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España).
Legislation upon which this program is based:
Organic Law 8/2000 Chapter 1 Article 30 to 31: Royal Decree 557/2011 of April 20th Articles 45 to 49
No statistics available yet for this program.
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Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
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