Spain's golden visa is closed — what works instead
Spain stopped accepting new golden visa applications on 3 April 2025 (Ley Orgánica 1/2025). Buying property, funds or deposits no longer opens an investor residence permit. Investors and wealthy families now use non-lucrative residence, the digital nomad visa, entrepreneur residence — or another EU programme.
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🇪🇸 Spain · Golden Visa — closedclosed
| Min investment | — closed |
|---|---|
| Routes | Golden visa abolished 03.04.2025 (LO 1/2025, DF 21). Alternatives: non-lucrative residence, digital nomad visa, entrepreneur |
| Time to citizenship | n/a |
| RU/BY passports | n/a |
| Official source | |
| Last checked |
Last checked:
Not legal advice. Rules change — verify with the official source.
What works instead
Non-lucrative residence
Passive income or savings, no work in Spain. The first application goes through a Spanish consulate.
Read (RU)Digital nomad visa
Remote work for a foreign employer or clients; filed with UGE and/or a consulate.
Read (RU)Entrepreneur / startup residence
An innovative business project under the startup law (Ley 14/2013 / 28/2022) with an ENISA report.
Read (RU)Portugal fund route as EU alternative
ARI from €500,000 in qualifying funds — the nearest open investment programme on the peninsula.
OpenWho it suits
- You want to live in Spain and can show passive income (non-lucrative).
- You work remotely for foreign clients or an employer (digital nomad visa).
- You plan an innovative business in Spain (entrepreneur residence).
Who it doesn't suit
- You want residence by buying property — that route is closed.
- You do not want to live in Spain — the alternatives require real residence.
Russian and Belarusian passports
Not applicable to the closed golden visa. For the alternatives, RU and BY citizens usually start at a Spanish consulate in their country of legal residence; non-lucrative residence is not converted from a tourist stay.
Steps
- Pick the alternative that matches your income: passive (non-lucrative), remote work (nomad) or business (entrepreneur).
- Check the income threshold and documents for that route.
- File at the consulate (non-lucrative) or via UGE / the consulate (nomad, entrepreneur).
- Register in Spain and get your TIE card after arrival.
FAQ
Is Spain golden visa closed?
Yes. Ley Orgánica 1/2025 (BOE-A-2025-76) ended new golden visa applications from 3 April 2025. Property, funds and deposits no longer open an investor residence permit.
What is the minimum investment now?
There is none — the investor route is closed. The historical threshold was €500,000 in property; it no longer applies to new applications.
Can Russian or Belarusian citizens get Spanish residence another way?
They can apply for non-lucrative, digital nomad or entrepreneur residence if they meet the conditions, usually starting at a consulate where they legally reside.
How long until Spanish citizenship?
Generally 10 years of legal residence for RU/BY/UA/KZ nationals (2 years applies only to Ibero-American and a few other nationalities), plus DELE A2 and CCSE exams.
What is the closest EU alternative to Spain's golden visa?
Portugal's ARI fund route from €500,000 is the closest investment-only option in Iberia, though it no longer accepts property and the citizenship clock is now 10 years for most non-EU nationals.
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