Buyer guide · July 2026
Spain’s Golden Visa: what happened and the alternatives
Spain’s Golden Visa through real-estate investment ended on 3 April 2025: buying a €500,000 home no longer grants residency. Any foreigner can still buy property freely, but to live in Spain a non-EU buyer must now use the Non-Lucrative Visa or the Digital Nomad Visa.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Golden Visa through property investment was repealed and ceased to exist on 3 April 2025.
- Buying a home in Spain remains open to any foreigner: what changed is that it no longer grants residency.
- Alternative 1: the Non-Lucrative Visa, for those who can show sufficient income without working in Spain.
- Alternative 2: the Digital Nomad Visa, for those working remotely for companies outside Spain.
- EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa to live in Spain.
What the Golden Visa was and why it ended
The Golden Visa was a residence permit Spain granted to anyone investing €500,000 or more in property (among other routes). It allowed you to reside and travel across the Schengen area without living permanently in the country.
The government scrapped it as a measure against housing-price pressure. The repeal was approved in 2024 and took effect on 3 April 2025. From that date, no new applications through real-estate investment are accepted.
Buying is still open to everyone
It helps to separate two things: buying and residing. Any foreigner, resident or not, can buy property with no restrictions. You only need an NIE and, in practice, a Spanish bank account.
What changed is that a purchase is no longer a route to residency. For a second-home buyer who does not plan to move, nothing changes: you buy your Costa Blanca home as normal.
Alternatives to reside as a non-EU buyer
If you are from outside the EU and want to live in Spain, these are the two most common routes in 2026.
The Non-Lucrative Visa is for those who can support themselves on their own income or savings without working in Spain (retirees, people of independent means). It requires proof of annual income above a threshold linked to the IPREM, plus health insurance.
The Digital Nomad Visa is for those working remotely for companies outside Spain, or as freelancers with mostly foreign clients. It lets you work legally while residing in the country.
| Route | Who it is for | Grants residency? |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa (purchase) | No longer available | No (ended 3 Apr 2025) |
| Non-Lucrative Visa | Income/savings, no work in Spain | Yes |
| Digital Nomad Visa | Remote work for outside Spain | Yes |
| EU/EEA citizen | No visa needed | Yes (registration) |
Frequently asked questions
- Does Spain still have a Golden Visa?
- No. The Golden Visa through real-estate investment ended on 3 April 2025 and no new applications are accepted through that route.
- Can I still buy a home in Spain even though the Golden Visa is gone?
- Yes. Buying property remains open to any foreigner; the only change is that a purchase no longer grants residency.
- What are the alternatives to live in Spain as a non-EU buyer?
- The two most common routes are the Non-Lucrative Visa (income without working in Spain) and the Digital Nomad Visa (remote work for companies abroad).
TN · COSTA BLANCA
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