Buyer's Guide
The Spain Golden Visa: what happened and what is left
The Spain Golden Visa for buying a home worth €500,000 or more stopped being granted on 3 April 2025, under Organic Law 1/2025. Complete applications filed before that date were decided under the old rules, and visas already granted remain valid until they expire. Today, buying a home does not give you the right to live in Spain: you need another route, such as non-lucrative residency.
What the Spain Golden Visa was
The so-called Golden Visa was an investor residence permit created in 2013. By far the most popular route was buying property worth €500,000 or more, free of charges.
It gave residency to the investor and their family with no minimum number of days in Spain. That is why it was very popular with non-EU buyers in Marbella, Madrid and Barcelona.
Why and when it ended
Organic Law 1/2025, published in the Official Gazette on 3 January 2025, repealed the articles governing this visa. The change took effect three months later, on 3 April 2025.
The government justified it by the pressure on house prices in urban and tourist areas.
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Complete application before 3 April 2025 | Decided under the previous rules |
| Visa or permit already granted | Valid until its expiry date |
| New application after that date | This property route no longer exists |
Alternatives to the Spain Golden Visa
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: no visa needed. If they stay more than three months, they register as EU citizens.
- Non-lucrative residency: for people living on income or savings without working in Spain. You must show sufficient funds and health insurance.
- Digital nomad visa: for people working remotely for companies outside Spain.
- Short stays: without a residence visa, citizens of many countries can spend up to 90 days in every 180 in the Schengen area.
If you come from outside the EU: how to plan your stays
Without the Golden Visa, most non-EU buyers use their home as a second residence. You need no permit for that, just to keep track of your days.
- Count your days across the whole Schengen area, not just Spain.
- Spread your stays: for example, 45 days in winter and 45 in spring.
- If you want to stay longer, apply for non-lucrative residency at least 3 months in advance.
- Check your health insurance too: residency requires cover with no co-payments.
Is it still worth buying?
For many buyers the Golden Visa was a bonus, not the main reason. If you want to spend winters or summers on the coast, you can buy just as before and organise your stays according to your nationality.
If you are British, see how Brexit affects your purchase. And if your budget was around the old €500,000 minimum, in Marbella you have options such as MedBlue Marbella or the already finished Be Aloha.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Spain Golden Visa still exist?
Not through buying property. It stopped being granted on 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025.
What happens if I already have a Golden Visa?
Visas and permits already granted remain valid for the period they were issued for, under the law's transitional provision.
Does buying a house in Spain give you residency?
No. Buying a home does not by itself give you the right to live here; you need another route, such as non-lucrative residency or the digital nomad visa.
How long can I stay without a residence visa?
Citizens of many non-EU countries can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area.
Official sources
- Organic Law 1/2025 (Official State Gazette)
- Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visas
- Ministry of Inclusion: non-lucrative residency
General information checked on the date shown; it does not replace advice from a lawyer or tax adviser for your case.
