Investment alternatives

You must make one of the following investments out of your own funds / cash / equity:

• €500,000 on Spanish real estate
• €2 million on Spanish Treasury bonds
• €1 million on Spanish company shares
• €1 million in investment funds constituted
• €1 million in bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions
• A ‘major’ business investment which fulfils at least one of the following conditions: i) Meaningful job creation, ii) significant socioeconomic impact in the area where the investment takes place, iii) technological or scientific impact

How to get a Golden Visa with a property investment

Search for property for sale in Spain with a price of €500,000 or more but make sure you don’t just focus on the price. Even though you are buying to get a Golden Visa you should also try to buy a property that makes sense as an investment on its own. Search for an attractive property in good condition and surroundings that will be easy to sell when the time comes. Barcelona and Madrid a good options for Golden Visa investor because the price point is right and the market is liquid in Spain’s two biggest cities. And be sure to compare prices before you buy. A lot of properties being promoted as ‘golden visa’ investments are overpriced. The best way to avoid overpaying is to get a good idea of the market price by researching comparables.

Once you have found a suitable property worth €500,000 or more you need to complete the purchase by signing the title deeds before a notary. For the purposes of Residence applications, the investment value that counts is the purchase price recorded on the deeds.

The purchase may be done in person, or through a POA arranged before a notary in Spain or any member-state of the Hague Conference. Alternatively, a POA may be arranged through a Spanish consulate or embassy anywhere in the world. If the purchase is made in person, the subject needs be legally in Spain (under a temporary/tourist visa or any other legal status according to the requirements established for each nationality).

Once the property has been acquired, you can apply for the Residence Permit, which lasts 2 years before the Unit for Large Companies and Strategic Economic Sectors, and you must be legally in Spain in the moment of the application.

This permit may be renewed for unlimited additional 5 years periods, as long as the investment still in place.

Spanish Golden Visa FAQ

The investment

How much do I have to invest to get a Golden Visa in Spain?
At least €500,000 of your own money, net of any mortgage financing.

Can I use a mortgage?
Yes, but only for the excess above €500,000 that must be financed out of your own pocket.

Are transaction costs like taxes included in the investment threshold of €500,000?
The short answer is no, meaning you have to spend €500,000 not including tax and expenses.

What taxes and transactions costs will I have to pay?
It depends on the type of property and where it is located. Generally speaking you pay VAT on new properties and a transfer tax (ITP) on resale properties. You will also have to pay stamp duty, notary, and registry fees. See our guide to transaction costs for more information.

Do I have to buy one property worth €500,000 or more, or can I buy several properties with a combined value of €500,000 or more ?
You can buy several properties costing less than €500,000, so long as their combined value is €500,000 or more.

Can I rent out the property I buy?
Yes, this new law places no restrictions on legal property use.

What kind of property do I need to buy?
You can buy commercial property, residential property, or land. In other words, any type of property investment is valid.

Can I sell the property?
Yes, you can sell the property, but you have to re-invest €500,000 in another Spanish property if you want to renew your Residence Permit.

What property should I invest in?
It depends on your needs, and the state of the market. You should subscribed to our news bulletin to get all the latest market analysis, and find a good real estate professional to advise  ou on what to buy based on your particular needs and circumstances. You can find real estate professionals to help you buy and apply for a Golden Visa in our professional service directory. Don’t let the Golden Visa Residence Permit distract you from investing wisely. Focus on quality investments offered by professionals with good reputations.

Is the Spanish Golden Visa scheme retroactive?

Yes, the Spanish Golden Visa scheme is retroactive, which means you can use a past investment to apply for a Spanish Golden Visa even if you didn’t do so at the time of the investment. However, the Spanish Golden Visa is only retrospective to the 28th of September 2013, so property purchases before that date (the date of the signing of the public deeds of sale before notary – the escritura) cannot be used to apply for a Golden Visa in Spain.

The Golden Visa Residence Permit in Spain

How long is the Residence Permit granted for?
The initial Residence Permit is granted for 2 years. After that, assuming the investor still complies with all other requirements, a 5-year permit can be obtained, and renewed indefinitely every 5 years. The investor only has to visit Spain once before each permit expires to request a renewal.

Can I lose the Residence Permit?
Yes, if you liquidate your investment in Spain, or fail to meet one of the investor requirements.

How long do I have to spend in Spain to retain my Golden Visa?
You only have to visit Spain once to get or renew the Residence Permit. There is no minimum stay requirement, and you do not have to become a fiscal resident.

Can I get a Spanish passport?
Although they can be renewed indefinitely, these 2-year and subsequent 5-year Residence Permits are not the same as a right to permanent Residence or a Spanish passport. However, these Permits can lead to long-term Spanish Residence status after 5 years of continuous residence, and citizenship after 10 years of continuous residence, assuming all the other conditions of applying for long-term residence status or citizenship are fulfilled.

Does this replace other ways to get Residence in Spain?
No, it does not. Existing permits and procedures are still valid. This law is specifically tailored to attract affluent non-EU investors, and helps cut red tape.

Can I include my family in my Spanish Golden Visa application?
Yes, you can get additional permits for your spouse or person with an analogous relationship and children under 18 years or those of legal age who, being financially dependent on the holder, have not formed a family unit for themselves. You can also get additional permits for your parents in your charge.

Can I travel visa-free in Europe?
You can travel without a visa for 90 days out of every 180 days within the Schengen area, but you will still need a visa to enter EU countries outside the Schengen area like the UK.

Can I work in Spain with this type of residency permit?
Yes, you can reside and work in Spain during the validity of the permit.

Do I need health insurance cover for Spain even if I’m never there?
Yes, it does not matter how little time you plan to spend in Spain, you must have health insurance cover valid in Spain.

What kind of health insurance should I have in Spain?
If you are a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland and entitled to coverage under the social security system of your country, then you can apply to the European health Insurance Card (EHIC), which can be obtained from the public health authorities of your home country.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland, then you must find out whether there exists a mutual health provision agreement between the Social Security system of your country and Spain.

If you do not fall into any of the above categories or cannot give proof of the document issued by the relevant national authority of your country, then prior to departure, you must take out private medical insurance to cover the whole stay in Spain.

However, if you have a labor contract in Spain, you will have the national health cover automatically.

Can my children go to a state school in Spain if I have a Spanish Golden Visa?
Yes, in fact in Spain it is mandatory the scholarship for children under 16.

Tax implications

Once I have a Spanish Golden Visa Residence Permit, what are my tax obligations in Spain?
If you spend less than 183 days a year in Spain, you can avoid fiscal Residence, meaning you do not have to pay income tax in Spain, or declare your worldwide assets. The option to avoid fiscal Residence is one of the big attractions of this new law. However, you still have to pay certain taxes related to owning property in Spain, such as rental income tax and municipal taxes.

The Golden Visa application process in Spain

How long does it take to get a Spanish Golden Visa?
20 working days for Residence Permits.

Do I need an NIE number (Spanish Identity Number for Foreigners)?
Yes, you need an Spanish NIE number to buy a property in Spain. You can get this in person in Spain, or your lawyer can get it for you with a POA.

Can I purchase property through a company registered outside Spain?
Yes, so long as the company is not based in a tax haven, and you can demonstrate control of the company.

Do I have to come to Spain to apply?
The real estate property can be acquired without visiting Spain though a POA. However, in order to apply for the Residence Permit, you have to visit Spain.