Note

Alternatives to the Spain golden visa

§ 1What remains

With the property route gone, a non-EU national who wants to live in Spain must use a route that exists on its own terms. They differ by purpose. The outline below sits within how the golden visa works, and each route has its own page.

§ 2The non-lucrative visa

This route is for people who want to live in Spain without working, supporting themselves from means they already have. The consulate information we read states a means requirement of 400% of the IPREM for the main applicant, plus 100% of the IPREM for each family member, health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, and that the visa is not a work permit. The details are in the section on residency and property.

§ 3Work routes

Residence for work depends on an offer, a qualification or an activity, and each category has its own conditions. They are not about property, and an employer or a business usually leads the process. We do not describe them in detail here. A lawyer who handles immigration can tell you which category fits.

§ 4Study and family routes

A student can obtain a stay for study, and relatives of residents or citizens can obtain residence through family routes. The conditions are specific. If you are in one of these situations, the foreigners’ office and the consulate publish information sheets, and a lawyer can check your case.

§ 5EU citizens

Citizens of EU states do not need a visa to live in Spain. They register their residence after arriving, as explained in the chapter on registering in Spain. The distinction matters for buyers, because advice written for non-EU buyers does not apply to them.

§ 6Choosing

Start from what you want to do in Spain: live without working, work, study or join family. Then ask which route fits, what it costs and how long it takes. Consider the effect on your tax position as well, since the tax rules depend on residence, as the tax residency chapter explains. Do not buy a home in the hope that it will unlock a route that does not exist.

§ 7Time and cost

Routes differ in processing time, fees and the paperwork needed. Consular visas take weeks or months, and documents from abroad need apostilles and sworn translations, as the legal-process section explains. Budget for the time before you plan a move, and avoid selling a home abroad before the visa is granted.

§ 8Property still has a place

Owning a home in Spain is useful for anyone who intends to spend time there, whatever their permit. The purchase process is the same. The relation between property and residence is the subject of the section on residency and property, and the short-stay limits that apply without a permit are in the Schengen chapter.

§ 9More on this topic

How the abolition works explains what the repeal did and how the old property route works explains how the property-based route worked.

Existing Spain golden visa holders renewal explains what holders should do now.

Legal note. How the process works in general. It is not legal advice, and it never replaces an independent Spanish lawyer acting for you.