If you are a non-EU national with €500,000 or more to invest in property in Spain you can receive a Spanish residence permit known as the Spanish Golden Visa.

If you haven’t already, read our previous posts about the 14/2013 law to find out if you meet the Spanish Golden Visa requirements and what applying for the one-year golden residence visa entails:

Golden Visa: Introduction to the Golden Residence Permit in Spain
Spanish Golden Visa: 1 year

How do I apply for the Spanish Golden Visa?

Our conveyancing solicitors at Andalucía Lawyers can do this for you through a power of attorney. Processing and granting the residency will be done by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applications will be responded to within 20 working days from the submission of the application. If there is no answer following this period, the application shall be considered to have been accepted.

What rights does the Spanish Golden Visa grant me?

The two-year investment visa allows you to spend two years in Spain, and travel freely in the Schengen area for 90 out of every 180 days. There is no limit to the amount of times this two-year residency can be renewed.

Am I obliged to stay in Spain with the two-year golden residence visa?

There is no obligation to spend a minimum amount of time in Spain. You can remain a tax resident outside of Spain, whilst benefiting from Spanish residency and freedom of travel in the EU.

What are the conditions for receiving the two-year golden visa in Spain?

• You must be able to show that you have travelled to Spain at least once in the previous twelve months, while in possession of the one-year investor visa.
• The investment threshold of €500,000 must be maintained. Properties can be bought and sold during this period, so long as the investment threshold is maintained. Our team of property solicitors and tax advisors at Andalucía Lawyers can manage your Golden Visa investments for you.

The Final Step (Optional)

The Spanish Golden Residence Visa for Investors: Years 5 – 10+

If you are a non-EU national with €500,000 or more to invest in property in Spain you can receive a Spanish residence permit known as the Spanish Golden Visa.

If you haven’t already, read our introduction to the Spanish Golden Visa to find out if you meet the requirements:

Golden Visa: Spanish Residence Permit for Non-EU Investors

As a foreign investor, how do I begin the process of buying property in Spain?

First of all, you are granted a 90-day visa to come to Spain to search for property. Once you have found a suitable investment, you sign a power of attorney granting our conveyancing solicitors at Andalucía Lawyers the right to act on your behalf in the property conveyancing and residency processes.

Is it necessary for me to visit Spain personally to find a property?

No, if you find a property you are prepared to buy without having seen it yourself, you can authorise our property solicitors at Andalucía Lawyers to purchase the investment on your behalf with a power of attorney from your home country. However, it’s worth noting that not all countries allow this, so it’s a good idea to check with us first.

How do I apply for the Spanish Golden Visa?

Once you have bought a property that meets the investment criteria, you apply for your one-year Spanish golden visa which can be issued for one, two or multiple entries into Spain; our conveyancing solicitors can do this for you. In the vast majority of cases, the visa application is processed and notification sent within 10 working days.

What rights does the one-year Spanish Golden Visa grant me?

The one-year investor visa allows you to spend one year in Spain, and travel freely in the Schengen area for 90 out of every 180 days.

Am I obliged to stay in Spain with the one-year golden residence visa?

You are not obliged to spend a minimum amount of time in Spain. However, to get a residency permit at the end of the first year, you must have visited Spain at least once during that year. Therefore, it is very important that you only apply for the one-year investor visa when you are sure that you will be coming to Spain in the following twelve months.

What happens after the first year?

You can apply for authorisation to live in Spain for two more years, renewable for another two years after that, indefinitely.

The Next Step

Spanish Golden Visa for Investors (Years 2 to 5+)

If you are a non-EU national with €500,000 or more to invest in property in Spain you can receive a Spanish residence permit known as the Spanish Golden Visa.

What is the 14/2013 law?

The 14/2013 law, known as the Spanish Golden Visa, came into force on 27 September 2013. It enables non-EU nationals who invest €500,000 or more in property in Spain to receive a Spanish residence permit. So far it has proven most popular with Russian and Chinese investors, as well as residents of Egypt, Qatar, Iran, Lebanon and Ecuador.

What types of residence permits are granted under Spain’s Golden Visa law?

1. One-year residence visa for investors (year 1)
2. Two-year residence visa for investors (years 2 to 5+)
3. Long-term residence and Spanish nationality (year 5 onwards)

Am I eligible for a Spanish residency permit under Spain’s Golden Visa law?

If your answer to these questions is yes:

• Are you 18 years old or older?
• Do you possess public or private health insurance valid in Spain?
• Can you demonstrate you have economic resources to support yourself, the applicant, as well
• as any dependents?
• Can you prove you are able to pay the visa processing fee and applicable taxes?

And your answer to these is no:

• Have you ever entered or stayed illegally in Spain, or been refused entry into any Schengen countries?
• Do you have a criminal record?
• Are you listed as undesirable in Spain?

Then you are eligible! Read on to find out more.

Is my family included in the Spanish investor visa?

Yes, your spouse and any children under 18 (or any older disabled children) may also apply for golden residence permits under your investment.

What is the investment threshold for the Spanish Golden Visa?

The property investment threshold is €500,000 or more per investor.

What are the investment criteria for the Spanish Golden Visa?

The investment can be comprised of one or more properties, which may be of a residential, touristic, rural, commercial or industrial nature; rural land, developed land, buildings under construction or decrepit buildings.

Are there any restrictions on property use?

There are no restrictions on property use; investors can use the property in any way that is legal.

What are the financing criteria for Spanish Golden Visa?

Investors must use at least €500,000 of their own funds, which must come from transparent sources that comply with existing legislation. Above that threshold there is no limit to debt financing, for instance with a mortgage in Spain.

Can I make the investment through a company?

Yes, you may make the investment through a company so long as you have control of it and it is not based in a tax haven.

The First Step

The Spanish Golden Visa for Investors: Year 1