What Changed
Organic Law 1/2025 repealed the investor residency provisions, citing housing affordability. Investors who already held a Golden Visa keep their rights and can renew under the original rules. For everyone else, residency now comes through routes tied to income or activity rather than a property purchase. You can still buy a home in Spain freely, and owning one strengthens a residency application by satisfying the accommodation requirement.
The Two Main Routes in 2026
- Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV): For those with sufficient passive income or savings who do not intend to work in Spain. It now requires you to spend at least 183 days per year in the country, which also makes you a Spanish tax resident.
- Digital Nomad Visa (DNV): For remote workers and self-employed professionals serving clients largely outside Spain. It requires income of roughly 200 percent of the Spanish minimum wage (around EUR 2,800 per month) and allows you to work. It can also unlock the Beckham Law, a special regime with a flat 24 percent tax on Spanish-source income up to EUR 600,000.
An Entrepreneur or Startup Visa is also available for innovative business projects.
The Long-Term Picture
Both routes can lead to permanent residence after five years and citizenship after ten years. For nationals of Ibero-American countries and a few others with historical ties to Spain, the citizenship timeline can be as short as two years. The Digital Nomad and Non-Lucrative permits both count toward these milestones.
Key Benefits
- The right to live in Spain and travel visa-free across the Schengen Area
- Full freehold property ownership for foreign buyers, with no restrictions
- Favourable tax treatment under the Beckham Law for eligible Digital Nomad applicants
- A clear, lawful path to permanent residence and citizenship
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Spain Golden Visa still available?No. It ended on April 3, 2025, and no new applications are accepted. Existing holders can still renew.
Can I get residency by buying a house in Spain?Not anymore. A purchase no longer grants residency, though it supports an application under the Non-Lucrative or Digital Nomad route.
This page is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Program rules change frequently. Qualified professional advice should be obtained before making any investment or application.
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