Updated
GL-S-01
Glossary · Citizenship and residency programs
Spain Golden Visa - Closed in 2025
The Spanish golden visa (residence by investment), closed in 2025; historically it granted residence for an investment in real estate from 500,000 euros.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- Spain’s golden visa — a residence permit by investment, closed in 2025
- How it worked
- A residence permit for investing in real estate from €500,000
- Status now
- The programme has ended; new applications are not accepted
- What instead
- Other Spanish visas and golden visas of other EU countries
- Can you prepare
- Yes: choose a current replacement for your goal
02 / In plain words
What Spain Golden Visa means
The Spain Golden Visa is Spain’s “golden visa”, a residence by investment programme that was for many years one of the popular routes into the EU. The classic option was a residence permit for buying real estate in Spain worth €500,000 or more, with the right to live in the country and move freely within the Schengen area.
It is important to understand: in 2025 the programme was closed. Spain, like a number of other EU countries, wound down investment residence through real estate under pressure from rising housing prices and the European Union’s position against “golden visas”. New applications under this programme are no longer accepted, so it cannot be relied on in planning.
It is a clear example of why being up to date matters in investment migration: conditions and the programmes themselves change, and decisions must be based on the rules in force. For those who were considering Spain, we choose working alternatives — other Spanish visas (for remote workers, for example) or golden visas of other EU countries with a path to PR and citizenship.
A case from practice
A client was planning Spanish residence through a property purchase, but the programme is closed. We examine their goal — life in the EU with Schengen freedom — and choose a working alternative: Spain’s digital nomad visa or the golden visa of another EU country with a path to citizenship.
What is considered instead
- Spain’s digital nomad visa
- Golden visas of other EU countries
- Portugal’s ARI (funds, business)
- Hungary’s Guest Investor programme
- Paths to EU PR and citizenship
- Planning under the current rules
03 / What it covers
What matters about the Spain Golden Visa
Status
- Closed in 2025
- New applications are not accepted
- Not for planning
How it was
- Real estate from €500,000
- Residence by investment
- Schengen freedom
Why it was closed
- Rising housing prices
- The EU’s position
- A course against golden visas
Replacement
- Other Spanish visas
- EU golden visas
- Current routes
04 / How it works
What to do now
Define the goal (EU, Schengen, passport)
Set aside closed programmes
Choose a current alternative
Obtain a status that is in force
Path to permanent residence and citizenship
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
The Spain Golden Visa is Spain’s residence permit by investment
02
The classic threshold was real estate from €500,000
03
The programme was closed in 2025
04
New applications are no longer accepted
05
Planning must be based on current alternatives
Common mistakes
- Planning a move through a closed programme
- Relying on outdated articles and offers
- Assuming the real estate route still works
- Not considering alternatives in Spain and the EU
- Wasting time on options that are no longer current
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Spain’s golden visa is closed, so planning is based on the rules in force: the goal (life in the EU, Schengen, a path to a passport) is defined and a current replacement chosen — Spain’s digital nomad visa or the golden visa of another EU country. That way you do not waste time on an option that does not work and you obtain a real status.
What we do for you. Spain’s golden visa was closed in 2025, and we do not build plans on programmes that no longer work. We examine your goal and choose a current alternative — other Spanish visas or golden visas of EU countries — with a real path to PR and citizenship. Planning under the current rules only.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
No. The programme was closed in 2025, and new applications are no longer accepted. A move cannot be planned through it.
Because of rising housing prices and the EU’s general position against investment residence through real estate. A number of EU countries have wound down such programmes.
The classic option was buying real estate in Spain from €500,000, which gave a residence permit with the right to live in the country and travel in the Schengen area.
The digital nomad visa and other Spanish residence visas for those who want to live in the country. We choose a current route for your situation.
Yes — Portugal’s ARI (through funds and business) or Hungary’s Guest Investor, for example. We choose a programme in force for your goal.
Rely only on the rules in force. We track changes and offer only working programmes, not closed ones.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us what outcome your family needs
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
