⛔ Program closed — 3 April 2025
The Spain Golden Visa Is Gone —
Here Are the Residency Routes That Still Work
Spain's investor residency program was repealed by Organic Law 1/2025 and stopped accepting applications on 3 April 2025. But Spain's doors haven't closed. Four residency routes remain available for US, UK, and Canadian nationals — no €500,000 property purchase required.
What exactly closed — and what didn't
The Spain Golden Visa (officially: Autorización de Residencia para Inversores — investor residency authorization) was established under Law 14/2013 and granted residency to non-EU nationals who invested at least €500,000 in Spanish real estate, or met alternative capital-placement thresholds. Organic Law 1/2025, of 2 January 2025, repealed Articles 63 through 67 of Law 14/2013. A three-month transitional period closed on 3 April 2025. No new applications have been accepted since that date.
Existing permit holders are not affected. Authorizations granted before the cutoff remain valid until their stated expiry date, and holders may renew under the rules in place when their permit was issued.
Property ownership is entirely unaffected. Non-EU nationals can still purchase, own, and sell real estate in Spain without restriction. What changed is that property investment no longer confers residency rights. You must qualify for a separate residency route on its own merits.
Four routes to Spanish residency that still work in 2026
Each route suits a different profile — remote professional, passive income earner, business founder, or high earner optimizing their tax position. All four are currently open.
Digital Nomad Visa
Best for remote workers & freelancersIntroduced in January 2023 under Spain's Ley de Startups (Law 28/2022), the Digital Nomad Visa (Visa para Teletrabajadores de Carácter Internacional — international telework visa) grants a three-year residency permit to employees and self-employed professionals who work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain. For high-income remote professionals, it is the most practical successor to the Golden Visa.
- Who fits Remote employees of non-Spanish companies; freelancers and contractors serving non-Spanish clients; self-employed (autónomo) professionals
- Income €2,849/month gross (2026 figure — 225% of Spain's SMI; approximately $/£ at current rates, FX-dependent). Each dependent adult adds €949/month; each minor adds €317/month.
- Work Yes — remotely from non-Spanish sources. Up to 20% of income may come from Spanish clients or employers.
- Duration 3 years, renewable for 2-year periods; leads to permanent residency after 5 years of legal residence.
- Tax angle Eligible for the Beckham Law special tax regime (24% flat rate) — see route 4 below.
- Application Via the Spanish consulate in your home country, or directly in Spain if you are already legally present.
Non-Lucrative Visa
Best for retirees & passive income earnersThe Visado de Residencia No Lucrativa (non-lucrative residency visa) allows non-EU nationals to live in Spain without working, provided they demonstrate sufficient passive income. It is the primary route for retirees, FIRE adherents, and those living on investment income, dividends, Social Security, or pensions — the profile that previously drove substantial Golden Visa interest.
- Who fits Retirees, FIRE adherents, pension recipients, dividend earners, rental income earners — anyone with sufficient passive income who does not need to work in Spain.
- Income €2,400/month for the main applicant (400% of Spain's IPREM; approximately $/£ at current rates, FX-dependent). Each additional adult adds €600/month; each minor adds €150/month.
- Work No — the permit explicitly prohibits gainful employment in Spain. This is a key restriction.
- Duration 1 year initial, renewable for 2-year periods; leads to permanent residency after 5 years.
- Key advantage Lower income threshold than the DNV; pension and investment income are accepted income sources.
- Application Must apply at the Spanish consulate in your home country before entering Spain on this permit category.
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Best for founders & innovatorsThe Visado para Emprendedores (entrepreneur visa) is available to founders who want to launch or develop an innovative business project in Spain. Significantly expanded under Spain's Ley de Startups (Law 28/2022), it is assessed on the quality and innovativeness of a business plan rather than a fixed capital investment — making it a genuine alternative for tech founders, startup operators, and innovators who previously might have used the Golden Visa.
- Who fits Tech founders, startup operators, and innovators with a scalable business concept targeting the Spanish or international market.
- Key test A positive assessment from ENISA (Spain's national innovation agency) confirming that your project is genuinely innovative and of general interest.
- Means Sufficient economic resources for yourself and any dependants during residence (broadly similar to Non-Lucrative Visa thresholds).
- Work Yes — you may work in and through your own Spanish business entity.
- Duration 3 years, renewable for 2-year periods.
- Application Via the Spanish consulate in your home country, or directly in Spain if already legally present.
Beckham Law — Tax Optimization
Tax regime, not a visa — pairs with DNVThe Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Desplazados (special regime for relocated workers, Article 93 LIRPF) — universally known as the Beckham Law — is Spain's most powerful tax incentive for inbound professionals. It is not a visa category, but it changes the economics of relocating significantly for high earners and pairs directly with the Digital Nomad Visa.
- Tax rate 24% flat on Spanish-source income up to €600,000 (vs. Spain's standard progressive rate of up to 47%). Income above €600,000 reverts to 47%.
- Foreign income Generally 0% Spanish tax on foreign dividends, interest, and capital gains during the regime period.
- Duration Up to 6 consecutive tax years.
- Eligibility Must not have been a Spanish tax resident in the 5 years prior; relocation must be work-driven. DNV holders (including self-employed) are eligible.
- US applicants Interaction with FEIE and Foreign Tax Credit is complex — specialist US–Spain tax advice is strongly recommended before applying.
- Disclaimer Informational only. This is not tax advice. Seek qualified specialist advice for your situation.
Side-by-side comparison
Income thresholds shown in EUR — the authoritative currency. Approximate $/£ equivalents vary with exchange rates; treat as directional only.
| Route | Income / means (EUR) | Right to work | Initial duration | Beckham Law? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa |
€2,849/month ≈ $/£ at current rates |
Yes (non-Spanish sources) |
3 years | Yes | Remote workers, freelancers, contractors |
| Non-Lucrative Visa |
€2,400/month ≈ $/£ at current rates |
No | 1 year | No | Retirees, FIRE adherents, passive income earners |
| Startup / Entrepreneur Visa | Sufficient means + ENISA approval |
Yes (own business) |
3 years | Case by case | Tech founders, startup operators, innovators |
| Golden Visa | Closed — no new applications accepted since 3 April 2025 (Organic Law 1/2025) | ||||
Thresholds correct as of June 2026. The DNV income threshold is linked to Spain's annual SMI and typically adjusts each January. The Non-Lucrative Visa threshold is linked to IPREM. Always verify current figures with your consulate before applying. This table is informational only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
Notes by country of origin
Your home country determines which documents you need and adds specific planning considerations.
United States
US applicants submit an FBI Identity History Summary as their police clearance, apostilled by the US Department of State — a federal-level apostille only; state-level apostilles are rejected for this document. Because the US applies citizenship-based taxation, the Beckham Law's interaction with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) is nuanced and requires specialist US–Spain cross-border tax advice. The US–Spain Tax Treaty and Totalization Agreement are both relevant for long-term planning.
United Kingdom
Since Brexit, UK nationals are subject to the 90/180-day Schengen rule and need a formal visa to live in Spain. The Digital Nomad Visa and Non-Lucrative Visa are the primary routes. Police clearance: the ACRO Police Certificate, apostilled by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Applicants should review the UK Statutory Residence Test implications and the UK–Spain Double Taxation Agreement before relocating.
Canada
Canadian applicants provide an RCMP certified criminal record check as police clearance. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention in January 2024, so documents are now apostilled by Global Affairs Canada (federal documents) or the relevant provincial authority — a meaningful simplification for the application process. Canada's residence-based tax system is generally less complex than the US citizenship-based model, though the Canada–Spain Tax Treaty still merits review for long-term residents.
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about the Golden Visa closure and what comes next.
Not sure which route fits your profile?
Our team is based in Valencia, Spain and has supported 400+ residency cases since 2022 — including applicants from the US, UK, and Canada navigating the post-Golden Visa landscape. We handle the full process: document preparation, consulate submission, in-Spain steps, and TIE card collection. Initial consultation is free.
Content on this page is informational only and does not constitute legal, immigration, or tax advice. Visa requirements, income thresholds, and procedures are subject to change — verify current requirements with the relevant Spanish consulate or a qualified immigration professional before making any decisions. For US citizens, cross-border tax implications require specialist advice. Re-application is included in our service fee if a case is refused — see service terms for full conditions.