Citizenship By Investment (Spain)
Spain launched its golden visa programme in 2013. An investment of €500,000 in real estate will gain family residency. The Spanish investor visa can be renewed every two years. After five years it is possible to gain permanent residency and after ten years citizenship. It is not necessary to live in Spain in order to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
It is possible to apply for permanent residency in Spain after living in the country for five years. Citizenship can be applied for after living full time for ten years. Although the temporary residency permit (the golden visa) can be easily renewed without living in the country, the route to both permanent residency and citizenship requires the investor and their family to reside in Spain. For this reason the Spanish Golden Visa programme is popular with those applicants who either wish to reside full time in Spain or simply maintain a second residency in Europe but without a path to citizenship.
After reaching a low in 2015 Spanish property prices have been rising steadily from around €1450 sqm in 2015 to around €1700 sqm in 2022 achieving growth nationally of around 2% each year. However prices remain below the peak of €2101sqm reached in 2008 and at today’s prices real estate in Spain may offer value going forward. An investment of €500,000 is required to apply for a golden visa.
A minimum of €500,000 (without mortgage finance except for any additional over €500,000) in real estate property
The investor can make multiple property purchases and these properties can be rented out
The property purchase should be fairly recent
Investors have to first buy a property and then apply for residency
Investors can purchase their properties in Spain either directly or indirectly through a registered company, so long as they continue to hold the majority of shares and the company’s address is not located in a tax haven.
Spain offers a strong and stable economic infrastructure
High standard of living and access to world class education and health facilities
High rental income for investors from their property investment
The Permanent Residency Permit allows the investor to work in Spain
Visa-free travel throughout the Schengen area, most countries of Europe and over 120 countries around the world
Stay in Spain is optional and there is no minimum stay requirement
Immediate dependents of the investor can reside in Spain and attend school and university even if the investor does not.