Spain’s Golden Visa program was providing an investor a great chance for residency, healthcare, and travel across the EU. With the legal changes and subsequent termination deadlines slipping into the past, a possible candidate would thus be advised to completely understand the benefits, requirements, and timeline of the route.
Golden Visa Highlights and Eligibility
- The Golden Visa thus enables investors (and their families) to obtain temporary residence in Spain quite often within one month, and after five years of uninterrupted residence, they have the option to apply for permanent residency, while after ten years, application for citizenship can be made. Certain classes of people (those from Ibero-American countries, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, and descendants of Sephardic Jews) actually enjoy an accelerated process, being eligible for citizenship after two years.
- Investment avenues may be: acquiring property situated in Spain and worth half a million euros or above; investing circa one million euros in Spanish banks or funds or listed shares of companies; and government bonds–in a sum of not less than two million euros.
- The visa is for the main investor and spouse or partner, dependent children, and in the case of standalone investors, the persons of parental age or above. It confers public healthcare access, opportunity for public education, or school enrollment under an international-level or English-medium school.
Important Deadlines & Caveats
- The Golden Visa scheme has been officially discontinued as of April 1, 2025. This means no further applications could be submitted under the Golden Visa scheme.
- Applicants who filed full submissions before the cutoff will be allowed to have their applications processed under the old regime, keeping their eligibility and benefits intact.
First Step with Abhinav Immigration Services
Once Spain’s Golden Visa was indeed an attractive gateway to European residency, but with the closure of the scheme, timing and other routes are of utmost importance.
Abhinav Immigration Services will assist you in finding other residency-by-investment programs in Europe, evaluating which fits you best, and making sure that your plans are compliant and future-proof.