Spain's Golden Visa has already ended for new applicants. Since 3 April 2025, purchasing Spanish real estate does not qualify a new applicant for an investor visa or residence permit. If you are planning a move, start with the residence rules that apply to your nationality, work and family situation.
What changed on 3 April 2025?
Organic Law 1/2025 removed articles 63 to 67 of Law 14/2013. The closure covers the former investor scheme as a whole, including its property and financial-investment routes. Buying company shares, investment funds or public debt under those former routes is therefore not an alternative way to make a new Golden Visa application.
Existing permits and earlier applications
Applications submitted before 3 April 2025 can be considered under the rules in force when they were submitted. Investor visas and permits valid when the change took effect retain their original validity. Renewal applications are processed under the rules applicable when the initial authorization was granted. This is not an automatic extension: holders must still meet the relevant conditions.
Non-lucrative residence: living in Spain without working
The non-lucrative residence route may suit people who can support themselves without carrying out work or professional activity, including remote work. Applicants must meet the applicable financial, health-insurance and other requirements. A home purchase does not replace those requirements or itself establish eligibility. Check the current checklist with the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of residence.
International teleworking: working remotely from Spain
Spain has a separate residence route for eligible non-EU nationals working remotely for companies outside Spain. The type of employment or professional activity, qualifications or experience, resources and social-security arrangements matter. This is a work-based route, not a benefit attached to buying a home. Confirm the current requirements with the immigration authority before planning around it.
Entrepreneurs: a qualifying business project
The entrepreneur route concerns an innovative activity and/or a project of particular economic interest to Spain, with a favourable ENISA report. It is distinct from the former passive-investment scheme: buying an investment property or simply allocating capital does not substitute for an eligible project and the other residence requirements.
Choosing a property and planning your move
Treat the home purchase and residence application as separate decisions. Decide how you want to use the property, compare locations and running costs, and check any rental restrictions. Then establish which residence rules fit your circumstances before committing to a relocation timetable. Spainora can help you compare homes and areas while your immigration adviser handles the residence assessment.
The practical change is clear: a purchase can be part of your plans for life in Spain, but it is no longer a route into the Golden Visa scheme. Existing holders should check their renewal position; new applicants should assess a current residence route on its own terms.
Official sources
BOE — Ley 14/2013
UGE — Inversores
Ministerio de Inclusión — Residencia no lucrativa
UGE — Teletrabajadores
UGE — Emprendedores
