Last Chance! Spain’s Golden Visa is Ending—Here’s What You Need to Do Before April 3, 2025

Spain’s Golden Visa program, which has granted residency to investors since 2013, will officially come to an end on April 3, 2025. This decision, driven by concerns over housing affordability and financial transparency, marks the end of a lucrative residency pathway for non-EU investors. If you’ve been considering applying, time is running out!

The Golden Visa

The visa was designed to attract foreign capital and stimulate economic growth in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. It allowed investors to secure Spanish residency by meeting one of the following investment criteria:

Business Projects: Initiating ventures in Spain that generated employment, contributed to technological or scientific innovation, or had a significant socio-economic impact.

Real Estate Investment: Purchasing property in Spain with a minimum value of €500,000.

Capital Investment: Investing at least €1 million in Spanish companies or bank deposits.

Public Debt: Acquiring €2 million in Spanish government bonds.

These diverse investment avenues provided flexibility for potential residents to choose the option that best aligned with their financial strategies.

Upcoming Termination of the Program

In a significant policy shift, the Spanish government has enacted legislation to terminate the Golden Visa program. According to Organic Law 1/2025, published on January 3, 2025, the program will officially conclude on April 3, 2025. The decision to end the Golden Visa program stems from concerns over its unintended consequences, particularly in the housing market. Critics argue that the influx of foreign capital into real estate has contributed to rising property prices, making housing less affordable for local residents. Additionally, there have been broader European concerns regarding security and financial transparency associated with such investment schemes.

Procedural Requirements for Real Estate Investors

For those considering applying before the program concludes, it’s crucial to understand the procedural requirements. Specifically, if you plan to obtain a Golden Visa through real estate investment, the property must be registered in the Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad) before you can submit your visa application. This registration serves as official proof of ownership, a mandatory document in the application process.

These are the steps you need to take

First, you need to find the right property that meets the minimum investment requirement of €500,000. Once you’ve chosen a property, you must sign a purchase agreement, arrange financing (if needed), and complete due diligence to ensure the property has no legal complications.

The next step is to finalize the purchase at a notary, where the official deed (Escritura Pública) is signed. However, this is not the final step—after signing, the property must be registered with the Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad), which can take several weeks. Only once the registration is complete and you have the official ownership certificate can you submit your application for the Golden Visa.

With the program ending on April 3, 2025, time is extremely limited to complete all these steps. If you haven’t started the process yet, you need to act immediately to ensure everything is finalized before the deadline.

If you’re a non-EU resident (e.g., from the UK, US, etc.) and already own a property in Spain valued at more than €500,000, you can still apply for the Golden Visa before the April 3, 2025 deadline.

Pros of Applying for the Golden Visa Now

Residency Rights – Grants you and your family the right to live, work, and study in Spain. You don’t need to spend 183+ days per year in Spain unless you want to become a tax resident.
Visa-Free Travel in Schengen – With a Spanish residence permit, you can travel freely across the Schengen Zone without needing separate visas.
Path to Permanent Residency & Citizenship – If you maintain your residency for five years, you can apply for permanent residency. After 10 years, you may be eligible for Spanish citizenship (depending on your country of origin and whether you meet the residency requirements).
No Need for a Spanish Work Visa – If you plan to do business, freelance, or find employment in Spain, the Golden Visa makes this process much easier compared to a standard work permit.
Easier Family Reunification – Your spouse and dependent children can also receive residency under the same application.

Cons of Applying for the Golden Visa Now

Short Timeframe – You must act quickly to ensure your application is submitted before April 3, 2025. Since your property is already purchased, this simplifies the process, but you still need to submit all documents in time.
Application Costs & Bureaucracy – Even though you already own the property, there are still legal fees, translation costs, and application processing times to consider.
Tax Implications – If you start spending more than 183 days per year in Spain, you could become a tax resident, meaning you may be liable for worldwide taxation under Spanish law.
Alternative Residency Options – After the Golden Visa ends, Spain will still have other residency options, such as the Non-Lucrative Visa (for retirees or people with passive income) and the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers),and other special expatriate tax regime (the Beckham law). These may be viable alternatives depending on your lifestyle.

Final Verdict: Should You Apply?

If you already own a qualifying property and want residency in Spain, applying for the Golden Visa before it ends is a great opportunity. However, if you’re uncertain about living in Spain long-term or prefer alternative residency routes, it’s worth considering other options.

You can still live in non-EU country while holding a Spanish Golden Visa. The Golden Visa does not require you to become a full-time resident in Spain.

How It Works:

You only need to visit Spain once per year to maintain the visa.
There is no minimum stay requirement (unlike other Spanish visas, such as the Non-Lucrative Visa, which requires 183+ days per year).
You can renew the visa every two years and, after five years, apply for permanent residency (but this does require more time spent in Spain).

Who Benefits Most From This Setup?

✅ Non-Eu residents who want a holiday home in Spain and the freedom to visit anytime without visa restrictions.
✅ Business owners or investors who want Schengen Zone access without needing to relocate permanently.
✅ People planning a future move to Spain, but still need time before committing to full-time residency.

If this flexibility suits your lifestyle, it’s worth applying for the Golden Visa before it ends on April 3, 2025!

Since the deadline is approaching fast, consulting with an immigration lawyer or specialist as soon as possible is highly recommended to ensure your application is submitted correctly and on time.

« previous