Spanish Govt. Mulls Whether to Raise Golden Visa Real Estate Minimums or Disqualify Property Investments Altogether
Sources say the government is considering two options: Higher real estate investment minimums, or no real estate option at all.
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.
Program page sponsor
Program Type | Golden Visa Program |
Time to citizenship | 10 years (in some cases 2 years) |
Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
Minimum investment | EUR 500,000 |
Physical presence requirement | None at temporary residency stage |
Application processing time | 1-2 months |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 189 destinations, including Schengen countries and the United States |
Contribution types available | Property Investment, Bank Deposit, Business Investment, Bond Investment |
General program requirements
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
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
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 of Spain’s former colonies.
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
See more statistics on this and other programs in the IMI Data Center.
No. The program is only focused on non-EU citizens.
It is not applicable to EU members or to any other foreigner under the EU law umbrella who are beneficiaries of free residence and movement rights.
If the applicant is outside Spanish territory, the application may be filed before the Spanish Consulate of the applicant residence country and will grant the right to reside and work in Spain for 1 year (“Residence visa”).
If the applicant is in Spain legally, the application may be filed before the Unit of Large Companies and Strategic Economic Sectors of the General Immigration Subdirectorate, belonging to the General Directorate of Migration, within the General Secretariat of Immigration and Emigration of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security. In that case, the authorisation will grant the right to reside and work in Spain for 2 years.
The general and specific requirements established in accordance with the provisions of Law 14/2013.
Main applicant husband/spouse or person with an analogous affective relationship.
Children under the age of 18.
Children of legal age who, depending economically on the main applicant, have not constituted a family unit.
Main applicant ascendants in first grade (grandparents etc) depending economically on the main applicant.
How many residence renewals are possible?
There is no legal limit for the number of renewals to be granted by the Spanish Administration if the applicant has evidenced the investment maintenance and personal requirements as well as fulfillment obligations before the Spanish Tax and Social Security System.
Children of legal age or over should evidence in each renewal their economical dependance on the main applicant.
The residence visa will be renewed initially for a 2-year term. The residence authorization will be renewed initially for a 5-year term.
No. No additional investment is required for additional family members.
As an example, a main applicant’s acquisition of a villa with a value equal to or greater than EUR 500,000 will enable the residence authorization for further family members, i.e.spouse, 2 minor children, 2 children over 18 years old, and 2 grandparents, all economically dependant on the main applicant.
Any kind of real estate assets such as rustic land, urban plots, buildings, houses, commercial premises, offices, parking spaces, and so on.
Foreigners holding a long-stay visa or a residence permit issued by one of the Member States may, under that permit and with a valid travel document, circulate freely for no more than 3 months in any 6-month period, within the territory of the other Member States, provided that they comply with the conditions for (Schengen Borders Code), and they do not appear in the national refused entry list of the Member State in question.
The entrance conditions are:
To be in possession of a valid travel document giving the holder the right to cross the border;
Must have been issued within the previous 10 years;
To be in possession of documents justifying the object and the conditions of the intended stay and having sufficient means of subsistence, both for the period of stay envisaged and for the return to the country of origin or transit to a third country in which their admission is guaranteed, or be in a position to legally obtain said means.
Not be registered as not admissible in the SIS;
Not to pose a threat to the public order, internal security, public health or international relations of any of the Member States or, in particular, be listed as inadmissible in the national databases of any Member State for the same reasons.
Do I have any obligation to reside in Spain?
The acquisition of a residence visa or authorization does not demand effective residence in Spain (to reside in Spain for more than 183 days per year).
Law 14/2013 requires to visit Spain at least once during the residence permit.
Yes. Law 14/2013 authorizes main applicant and family members to reside and work in Spain during the residence permit following the requirements of the Spanish labor legislation.
To have resided legally, effectively and continuously in Spanish territory for 5 years.
The residence will not be affected by absences from the Spanish territory ofup to 6 continuous months, provided that the sum of these does not exceed a total of 10 months within 5 years, except if the applicant left the Spanish territory in an irregular manner.
. | Name | Expert based in | Areas of expertise | Program you'd like help with | Service language(s) | Get Started |
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Adriano Vieira | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Portugal Golden Visa Portugal D7 Visa Portugal HQA Visa | English, Spanish, French, Portuguese | |||
Alex Ingrim | 🇮🇹 Florence | Residence and Citizenship by Investment, International Tax and Wealth Planning | Greece Golden Visa Italy Elective Residency Visa Italy Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Spain Non-Lucrative Visa United States EB-5 | English | ||
André Gonçalves | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Portuguese | ||
Ariane Real | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Portugal Golden Visa Portugal D7 Visa Portugal HQA Visa | English, Spanish, Portuguese | |||
Calvin Mazlumyan | 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Canada Startup Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Philippines Special Investor Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Singapore Entrepass Spain Golden Visa Thailand Elite Residence Program Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States E2 Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, French, Spanish, Turkish | |||
Christina Georgaki | 🇬🇷 Thessaloniki | Greece Golden Visa; Greece FIP | English, Greek | |||
David Lesperance | 🇵🇱 Gdynia | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment, US Expatriation, International Tax and Wealth Planning, Family Office Advisory | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence Cayman Islands Investor Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Latvia Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Austria Independent Means Visa Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence Greece FIP Visa Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0) Italy Elective Residency Visa Jersey High Value Residency Portugal D7 Visa Canada Startup Visa Panama Business Investor Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Irish Citizenship by Descent Italian Citizenship by Descent Latvian Citizenship by Descent Polish Citizenship by Descent | English | ||
Ekaterina Mavrenkova | 🇨🇭 Zürich | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa United States EB-5 | English, Russian | |||
Elena Ruda | 🇦🇹 Vienna | Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Russian, German | |||
Eric G. Major | 🇬🇧 London | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Anguilla Permanent Residency Program Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Colombia Investor Visas M and R Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Germany Self-Employment Visa Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency United States EB-5 | English, French | ||
Geoffrey DuBoulay | 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Saint Lucia CIP | English | ||
George Ganey | 🇺🇸 Washington DC | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | United States EB-5 United States E2 Visa | English, Spanish, Catalan | ||
Güvenç Ketenci | 🇹🇷 Istanbul | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 United States E2 UAE Golden Visa Austria Independent Means Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Turkish | ||
Hakan Cortelek | 🇹🇷 Istanbul | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa United States EB-5 | English, Turkish | ||
Hannah Ma | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Australia BIIP Investor Streams Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malaysia M2H Visa Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal D7 Visa Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Singapore Entrepass South Korea Investor Visa Spain Golden Visa Spain Non-Lucrative Visa Thailand Elite Residence Program Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States E2 Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Chinese | ||
Imad Elbitar | 🇹🇷 Istanbul | Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Nicaragua Investor PR Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Uruguay Independent Means Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Arabic, German | |||
Jasmin Lopez | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Nicaragua Investor PR Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Uruguay Independent Means Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Spanish | |||
Kemal Nicholson | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa | English | |||
Kevin Hosam | 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Anguilla Permanent Residency Program Australia BIIP Investor Streams Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence Barbados SERP Program Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program Cayman Islands Investor Visa Colombia Investor Visas M and R Greece Golden Visa Latvia Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Barbados Welcome Stamp Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Uruguay Independent Means Visa Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Cambodia My 2nd Home Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Malaysia M2H Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English | ||
Laszlo Kiss | 🇲🇹 Malta | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 United States E2 UAE Golden Visa Austria Independent Means Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Hungarian | |||
Matías Apparcel | 🇨🇱 Santiago | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Portugal Golden Visa Portugal D7 Visa Portugal HQA Visa | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese | ||
Melvin Warshaw | 🇺🇸 Boston | Residence and Citizenship by Investment, International Tax and Wealth Planning, US Expatriation | United States EB-5 United States E2 | English | ||
Mona Shah | 🇺🇸 New York | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Grenada CIP Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Turkey CIP UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 | English | ||
Natalie Fridlender | 🇻🇳 Saigon (HCMC) | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Russia Golden Visa | English, Russian | ||
Nicolas Salerno | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Monaco Carte de Séjour Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 | English, French, Spanish | ||
Paul Williams | 🇬🇧 London | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 Spain Golden Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP Canada Startup Visa | English | |||
Peter Dunn | 🇿🇦 Johannesburg | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English | ||
Philippe May | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment, International Tax and Wealth Planning | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Anguilla Permanent Residency Program Australia BIIP Investor Streams Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence Barbados SERP Program Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program Cayman Islands Investor Visa Colombia Investor Visas M and R Greece Golden Visa Latvia Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Barbados Welcome Stamp Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Uruguay Independent Means Visa Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Cambodia My 2nd Home Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Malaysia M2H Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, German, Chinese | ||
Rogelio Caceres | 🇺🇸 Miami | Bahamas Economic PR Canada Startup Visa Cayman Islands Investor Visa Costa Rica Investor Visa Czech Citizenship by Descent Hungary Citizenship by Descent Ireland Citizenship by Descent Italy Citizenship by Descent Latvia Citizenship by Descent Panama Qualified Investor Visa Poland Citizenship by Descent Portugal D7 Visa Singapore Entrepass Slovak Citizenship by Descent Spain Golden Visa Spain Non-Lucrative Visa UAE Golden Visa UAE Golden Visa United States E2 Visa United States EB-5 | English, Spanish | |||
Sam Bayat | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Canada Startup Visa United States EB-5 | English, French, Farsi | ||
Slava Apel | 🇨🇦 Toronto | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Canada Startup Visa | English, Russian, Romanian | ||
Troy Neel | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English | ||
Vito Magagnino | 🇨🇭 Zürich | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Germany Self-Employment Visa Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP UAE Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, German, Italian | ||
Zaid Aldayriyeh | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Arabic | ||
Name | Expert based in | Areas of expertise | Program you'd like help with | Service language(s) |
As the hub for investment migration professionals, IMI is regularly in touch with program specialists in every corner of the globe.
Tell us a little about your situation and what you need so that we may put you in touch with the right advisors.
Sources say the government is considering two options: Higher real estate investment minimums, or no real estate option at all.
Más País proposes a reform that “guarantees an effect on the real economy without distorting the real estate market in Spain.”
Many Spanish speakers in Latin America assume their European foothold should start in Spain. For most, however, Portugal is a better option.
In an interview with IMI, Orience’s Krista Victorio says she thinks application volume for the Spanish golden visa is poised to take off.
Spain’s new Startups Law, slated to take effect in January, will bring improvements for more than just digital nomads, writes Oriol Molas.
In 2019, the ex-president denied reports he had plans to leave Mexico for Spain. Records show he had changed his mind 18 months later.
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.