Spain’s Golden Visa Is Dead. Here Are Three Ways You Can Still Move There
March 6, 2026
Spain killed its golden visa in April 2025, but three residency routes remain open. Here’s how other programs fit in.
This program closed in 2025. This page is for archival information purposes only.
Spain Golden Visa
This Page is Sponsored by:
Program Type:
Residence by Investment
Processing Time:
2 months
Citizenship Timeline:
10 years (2 years if citizen of former Spanish colony)
Permanent Residency Timeline:
5 years
Physical Presence Required:
None
Citizenship Visa-Free Access:
189 countries
Minimum Contribution:
€500,000
Contribution Options:
Bank Deposit, Bond Investment, Business Investment, Fund Investment
On This Page
Program Overview
Spain Golden Visa
NOTE: Spain has closed its Golden Visa program.
One of the world’s most visited countries, Spain sports a first-rate standard of living, a Mediterranean climate, and a wide array of cultural attractions.
Through the country’s golden visa, applicants are eligible for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after ten years. Some nationalities and ethnic groups, however, are eligible for citizenship after only two years.
Investors can qualify by purchasing real estate, capitalizing or creating a business, making a bank deposit, or purchasing government bonds.
Spain Golden Visa
How to Qualify
Applicants must make one of the below investment types to qualify:
- €500,000 in real estate (on the open market)
- €1 million investment in company shares
- €1 million deposited with a Spanish bank or other financial institution
- €2 million in government bonds
Spain Golden Visa
Salient Benefits
- Increased visa-free travel
- Freedom of movement (but not settlement) within Schengen
- Ability to include three or more generations of family members in the application
- Safety and security
- Warm climate
- Enhanced education opportunities
- Enhanced business access to large economies
- Short processing time
Spain Golden Visa
Citizenship Timeline and Requirements
Following ten years of de facto residency, and also being a tax-payer in Spain, applicants are eligible for citizenship.
This timeframe may be reduced to just two years for citizens of Spain’s former colonies.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Spain Golden Visa
Program Authority and Legal Basis
Applications for this program may be directed to: Directorate-General for International Trade and Investments
Legislation upon which this program is based: Spanish Law 14/2013 of September 27
Spain Golden Visa
IMI Pros Who Can Help You
[wpdatatable id=114]
Spain Golden Visa
Qualifying Real Estate
As noted in the program qualifications above, an investor can qualify for this program with a local property purchase above the minimum investment threshold. View eligible properties curated by IMI and our real estate partners:
Spain Golden Visa
Recent Stories About This Destination
How to Increase Visa-Free Travel Without Getting a New Passport
February 26, 2026
A second passport is not the only way to expand your global mobility. The right residence permit can unlock dozens of additional destinations without the time, cost, or complexity of acquiring citizenship.
11 Digital Nomad Visas That Actually Lead to Citizenship
December 30, 2025
Most digital nomad visas function as long-stay tourist visas. These 11 programs offer something different: codified paths to PR and citizenship in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Spain Golden Visa
Program Statistics
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.