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Spain residency through investment in 2026: Golden Visa gone, but Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad, and business fund routes remain. Complete comparison.
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Since 3 April 2025, property investment in Spain doesn't qualify for residency. The options that remain are income-based, employment-based, or business investment-based.
every current route to Spanish residency that's relevant to international investors.
| Route | Key requirement | Property needed? | Can work in Spain? | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative | Income ~€28,800/yr | No (helps) | No | 1yr + renewals | Retirees, passive income |
| Digital Nomad | Remote work, €2,400/mo | No | Yes (foreign employer only) | Up to 5yr | Remote workers |
| Investment Fund | €500K in Spanish business | No (business only) | Yes | 2yr + renewals | HNW investors |
| Entrepreneur | Viable business plan | No | Yes (own business) | 1yr + renewals | Business founders |
| Highly Qualified | Job offer, high salary | No | Yes | 1yr + renewals | Executives, specialists |
| Intra-company transfer | Transfer from foreign HQ | No | Yes (same company) | 2yr | Corporate transfers |
| Standard work visa | Job offer | No | Yes | 1yr + renewals | Employees |
The natural combination for most property investors. Your rental income from Costa del Sol property contributes to the income proof. Your property provides the accommodation proof. And you get to enjoy the lifestyle.
Ideal for younger investors who are still working. Live in your investment property, work remotely, and benefit from the flat 24% tax rate under the Beckham Law.
For high-net-worth investors who want to split their capital between business investment (for the visa) and property (for the yield). €500K in a qualifying fund plus a property purchase gives you both residency and rental income.
Property investment and residency are now separate decisions. Neither depends on the other. This is actually simpler than the Golden Visa era, where buyers often conflated the residency benefit with the investment case.
Buy property because the numbers work. Apply for a visa because you want to live here. Evaluate each independently.
BlancaReal handles the property side. We refer you to immigration lawyers for the visa side. Book a consultation to start with the investment case.
Why local customers trust BlancaReal
Questions answered
The Non-Lucrative Visa has no investment requirement, only proof of passive income (~€28,800/year). Application costs are minimal (consulate fees, health insurance).
Yes, but they're separate routes. Buy property for investment returns. Apply for a Non-Lucrative or Digital Nomad Visa for residency.
It was abolished on 3 April 2025. Property purchases at any price no longer qualify for residency.
No. The €500K must go into qualifying Spanish businesses (equity funds), not property. It's a separate residency pathway.
The Digital Nomad Visa is typically processed in 1 to 2 months. Non-Lucrative takes 1 to 3 months.
In many cases, yes. You can change visa categories within Spain without returning to your home country, depending on the specific routes.
Highly recommended. Immigration processes are document-heavy and errors cause delays. BlancaReal refers clients to specialist immigration lawyers.
Most non-EU nationals can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. Sufficient for regular property visits.
Absolutely. The investment case (yields, appreciation, lifestyle) was never about the visa. Removing the Golden Visa hasn't reduced property demand on the western Costa del Sol.
Yes, through any of the routes above. UAE nationals typically use the Non-Lucrative Visa or Digital Nomad Visa.
10 years of continuous legal residency for most nationalities. Some Latin American and former Spanish colony nationals qualify after 2 years.
No. We focus on property investment and refer visa matters to specialist immigration lawyers.
Still have questions?
Book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp. We give practical guidance, not sales pitches.