Spain

Overview

Spain closed its Golden Visa to new applicants on 3 April 2025. The non-lucrative residence permit is now the principal route for private clients: a one-year permit for those with sufficient income from outside Spain who will not work locally, renewed for two years at a time. It leads to permanent residence after five years and citizenship eligibility after ten, and unlike Greece or Cyprus it requires you to actually live in Spain.

Key benefits

• Residence in a Schengen state with free travel across the area
• No investment, property purchase, or capital transfer required
• Spouse, minor children, and dependent parents included in the same application
• Children attend Spanish state schools and universities on domestic terms
• Permanent residence at five years; citizenship eligibility at ten

Requirements

• Passive income of at least EUR 28,800 a year for the main applicant, plus roughly EUR 7,200 for each dependant, evidenced by bank statements and asset records
• Private Spanish health insurance with full cover and no co-payments or waiting periods
• Clean criminal record certificate from every country of residence in the past five years, legalized and translated
• Medical certificate confirming no diseases of public health concern
• Application filed in person at the Spanish consulate for your place of residence
• Residence in Spain for more than 183 days a year to renew the permit

Frequently asked