Spain does not currently offer a direct citizenship-by-investment program through which a foreign investor can obtain Spanish citizenship or a passport simply by making a qualifying investment.

Spain previously operated a Golden Visa, which provided residence permits to certain non-EU investors, including those who purchased qualifying real estate. However, the real-estate investment route was eliminated in 2025, and the Golden Visa framework was subsequently closed to new qualifying applications.

This does not mean that foreign investors, entrepreneurs, financially independent individuals, or remote professionals cannot move to Spain. Several residence routes remain available. In some circumstances, a person who establishes legal and continuous residence in Spain can eventually apply for Spanish nationality by residence, provided all applicable requirements are satisfied.

The important distinction is therefore:

Investment → Residence route → Required period of legal residence → Citizenship application

rather than:

Investment → Spanish citizenship

1. Does Spain Have Citizenship by Investment?

No. Spain does not have a citizenship-by-investment scheme comparable to programs that directly exchange a qualifying investment for nationality.

The former Golden Visa was a residence-by-investment mechanism rather than a citizenship program. It could provide residence rights to eligible investors, but it did not automatically lead to Spanish nationality.

The Spanish government ended the real-estate investment route in 2025. As a result, purchasing a property in Spain should no longer be presented as a standalone route to obtaining Spanish residency under the former Golden Visa system.

This distinction is particularly important for international investors researching European residence and citizenship options.

2. Spain Residency Options for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals may still qualify for several Spanish residence permits depending on their circumstances.

The most relevant options include:

Non-Lucrative Residence
Entrepreneur Residence
Digital Nomad / International Teleworker Residence
Employment-based residence
Self-employed residence
Family-based residence
Other specialized immigration categories

The appropriate route depends on factors such as employment, income, business activities, nationality, family circumstances and intended length of stay.

3. Non-Lucrative Residence Visa

The Non-Lucrative Visa is designed primarily for people who want to reside in Spain without carrying out gainful employment in Spain.

It can be relevant to:

Retirees
Financially independent individuals
People living from investments or other permitted sources of income
Individuals with sufficient savings
Certain families seeking long-term residence in Spain

Applicants generally need to demonstrate sufficient financial means and obtain appropriate health insurance.

A criminal-record certificate and medical documentation are also normally part of the application process.

Financial Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate that they have adequate financial resources to support themselves and any accompanying family members without relying on unauthorized employment in Spain.

The precise financial threshold is linked to Spain’s IPREM indicator and can change over time.

For this reason, applicants should verify the applicable amount for the year in which they apply rather than relying on figures published for previous years.

Important Limitation

The Non-Lucrative Residence route is not intended to function as an ordinary employment visa.

A person intending to work remotely from Spain should examine the Digital Nomad Visa / International Teleworker framework instead.

4. Spain Entrepreneur Visa

Spain also provides immigration routes for foreign entrepreneurs establishing qualifying business projects.

The entrepreneur route is intended for projects considered to be of particular economic interest to Spain.

Applications generally require a detailed description of the proposed project and evidence concerning matters such as:

Innovation
Economic value
Business viability
Investment
Job creation
Contribution to the Spanish economy

The assessment of the business project is an important part of the process.

Entrepreneurs should therefore understand that simply registering a company or investing money into an ordinary business does not automatically guarantee approval under the entrepreneur residence framework.

5. Spain Digital Nomad Visa

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, formally associated with international teleworking, provides a residence option for certain remote workers and self-employed professionals working primarily for companies or clients outside Spain.

It is particularly relevant to:

Remote employees
Freelancers
Technology professionals
Consultants
Online business owners
Other qualifying internationally based professionals

Applicants generally need to demonstrate an appropriate professional relationship, sufficient financial resources, professional qualifications or experience, and other immigration requirements.

There are also specific rules concerning the extent to which work can be performed for Spanish companies or clients.

Because the detailed requirements can change, applicants should verify the current rules before applying.

6. Employment-Based Residence

Foreign nationals who obtain qualifying employment in Spain may be able to obtain residence and work authorization through an employment-based immigration route.

This can be relevant to individuals who:

Have received a qualifying job offer
Meet professional requirements
Work in occupations covered by applicable immigration rules
Have an employer able to satisfy the relevant requirements

Employment-based immigration can provide another route toward long-term residence and, eventually, nationality by residence.

7. Self-Employment and Business Activity

Foreign entrepreneurs and business owners may also qualify for residence through self-employment or other business-related immigration categories.

The applicant may need to provide evidence concerning:

Business qualifications
Business plan
Available capital
Economic viability
Professional experience
Licensing requirements
Expected employment or economic contribution

The correct route depends on the nature of the proposed activity.

8. From Spanish Residence to Long-Term Residence

Obtaining an initial residence permit does not automatically result in permanent residence or citizenship.

A foreign resident normally progresses through different stages.

Initial Residence

The first residence authorization depends on the immigration category.

Renewal

The permit may need to be renewed periodically, subject to the requirements of the particular residence category.

Long-Term Residence

After five years of qualifying continuous legal residence, a foreign national may generally become eligible for Spanish long-term residence, provided the relevant requirements are satisfied.

Long-term residence is different from citizenship.

A person with Spanish long-term residence remains a foreign national and normally retains the nationality of their country of origin.

9. Spanish Citizenship by Residence

Spanish nationality can, in many circumstances, be acquired through nationality by residence.

The standard residence period is generally 10 years of legal, continuous residence immediately before the application.

However, Spanish nationality law provides shorter periods for certain categories of applicants.

The applicable period depends on the individual’s circumstances and nationality.

10. Reduced Citizenship Residence Periods

Spanish nationality law contains important exceptions to the standard 10-year period.

Five Years

A five-year period applies to individuals who have obtained and maintained refugee status in Spain.

Two Years

A two-year period can apply to nationals of certain countries and territories with historical or linguistic ties to Spain, including:

Ibero-American countries
Andorra
The Philippines
Equatorial Guinea
Portugal

The precise legal definition and eligibility requirements should be checked for the applicant’s nationality and circumstances.

One Year

A one-year period can apply in certain specific circumstances, including some cases involving:

People born in Spanish territory
People married to a Spanish citizen for the legally required period
Widows or widowers of Spanish citizens under specified conditions
Individuals who were previously subject to Spanish parental authority
Certain descendants of Spanish nationals

These exceptions are important because the citizenship timeline can vary dramatically between applicants.

11. Continuous Residence Matters

Meeting the required number of calendar years is not the only consideration.

For nationality by residence, the residence generally needs to be:

Legal
Continuous
Immediately prior to the application
Supported by the appropriate documentation

Long periods outside Spain can therefore have consequences.

People planning to pursue Spanish citizenship should carefully monitor their travel and absences from Spain.

The rules concerning absences can differ between immigration procedures, so applicants should not assume that the residence requirements for one type of permit are identical to those used for nationality.

12. Language and Cultural Knowledge Requirements

Many applicants for Spanish nationality by residence must demonstrate a degree of integration into Spanish society.

This commonly includes two examinations administered by the Instituto Cervantes.

DELE A2

The DELE A2 examination demonstrates basic knowledge of the Spanish language.

Certain applicants are exempt or may be able to satisfy the language requirement through legally recognized alternatives.

CCSE

The CCSE examination evaluates knowledge concerning:

Spanish constitutional principles
Government institutions
Geography
History
Culture
Social organization

The precise examination requirements depend on the applicant’s circumstances.

13. Good Civic Conduct

Applicants must generally demonstrate good civic conduct.

Authorities may examine relevant criminal-record information and other circumstances when evaluating an application.

Applicants should therefore obtain the required criminal-record documentation and ensure that information submitted to Spanish authorities is complete and accurate.

14. The Citizenship Application Process

Although the exact procedure varies by individual circumstances, a nationality-by-residence application generally involves several stages.

Step 1: Establish Legal Residence

The applicant first obtains an appropriate Spanish residence permit.

Step 2: Maintain Qualifying Residence

The applicant must maintain the required period of legal and continuous residence.

Step 3: Meet Integration Requirements

Where applicable, the applicant completes the DELE and CCSE examinations.

Step 4: Gather Documentation

Documents can include:

Passport
Residence documentation
Birth certificate
Criminal-record certificates
Examination certificates
Proof of residence
Other documents required for the applicant’s circumstances

Foreign documents may require legalization or apostille and, where applicable, an official Spanish translation.

Step 5: Submit the Application

The nationality application is submitted through the appropriate Spanish administrative procedure.

Step 6: Administrative Review

Spanish authorities examine the application and supporting documentation.

Step 7: Approval and Final Formalities

If nationality is granted, the applicant must complete the legally required final formalities before Spanish nationality is fully registered.

15. Dual Citizenship and Spain

Spain’s nationality rules concerning dual citizenship are more complicated than simply saying that Spain either “allows” or “does not allow” dual nationality.

Spanish law contains special provisions for nationals of certain countries with which Spain has particular historical and legal relationships.

These include nationals of:

Ibero-American countries
Andorra
Portugal
The Philippines
Equatorial Guinea

For many applicants from these countries, Spanish law provides a route to retain their original nationality when acquiring Spanish nationality, subject to the applicable rules.

For other nationalities, the acquisition process can involve a formal declaration concerning renunciation of the previous nationality under Spanish law.

However, this does not necessarily mean that the person’s original country automatically cancels their nationality. The nationality law of the person’s country of origin must also be examined.

Therefore, anyone concerned about dual citizenship should obtain advice based on both Spanish law and the law of their existing nationality.

16. Benefits of Spanish Citizenship

Spanish citizenship provides rights that are significantly broader than those associated with ordinary residence.

A Spanish citizen can generally obtain:

Spanish Passport

Spanish nationality provides eligibility for a Spanish passport, subject to the normal passport issuance procedures.

EU Citizenship

Spanish nationality also makes the individual a citizen of the European Union.

This provides important rights under EU law, including rights concerning movement and residence within the EU subject to applicable conditions.

Living and Working in Other EU Countries

EU citizens generally have the right to move to another EU member state to live, work, study or establish a business, subject to the applicable EU rules.

Political Rights

Spanish citizens acquire political rights associated with Spanish nationality, including voting rights under the applicable Spanish electoral rules.

Consular Protection

Spanish citizens can benefit from Spanish diplomatic and consular services abroad and, under EU rules, certain forms of consular assistance from other EU member states where Spain is not represented.

17. Citizenship Is Different from Permanent Residence

It is important to distinguish between Spanish long-term residence and Spanish citizenship.

Feature	Long-Term Residence	Spanish Citizenship
Spanish residence	Yes	Yes
Spanish nationality	No	Yes
Spanish passport	No	Yes
EU citizenship	No	Yes
Right to work in Spain	Yes	Yes
EU free-movement rights as an EU citizen	No	Yes
Spanish national voting rights	No	Yes, subject to electoral law
Nationality rights	No	Yes

Long-term residence can provide considerable security, but it does not make the individual a Spanish citizen.

18. Is Buying Property Still a Route to Spanish Residence?

This is one of the most important changes for investors.

Under the former Golden Visa framework, qualifying real-estate investment was historically one of the best-known routes for non-EU investors seeking Spanish residence.

That route has now been discontinued.

Consequently, purchasing an apartment, house, villa or other property in Spain should not be presented as an independent investment-residence route for new applicants.

Foreigners can still buy property in Spain, subject to the applicable laws and transaction requirements, but property ownership itself does not automatically provide a Spanish residence permit.

An investor who wants to live in Spain should therefore examine another qualifying immigration route.

19. Can Investors Still Move to Spain?

Yes.

The end of the Golden Visa does not mean that Spain has closed its doors to foreign investors.

An investor might, depending on their circumstances, consider:

Entrepreneur residence
Self-employment residence
Non-lucrative residence
Digital Nomad / international teleworker residence
Employment-based residence
Family-based residence
Other specialized immigration routes

The key issue is that the investment itself is no longer the central qualification for a Golden Visa-style residence permit.

Instead, the applicant must qualify under the specific residence category.

20. Spain Citizenship by Investment vs. Residency by Investment

The distinction can be summarized as follows:

Program Type	Spain
Direct citizenship for investment	No
Former Golden Visa	Closed to new qualifying investment applications
Real-estate investment as a new Golden Visa route	No
Non-lucrative residence	Available subject to requirements
Entrepreneur route	Available subject to requirements
Digital Nomad / international teleworker route	Available subject to requirements
Employment-based residence	Available subject to requirements
Long-term residence	Generally possible after qualifying 5-year residence
Standard nationality-by-residence period	Generally 10 years
Reduced nationality periods	Available for specified categories

21. Tax Considerations

Immigration status and tax residence are not necessarily the same thing.

Someone who moves to Spain may become a Spanish tax resident depending on their circumstances and the applicable tax rules.

Potential tax considerations include:

Personal income tax
Wealth-related taxation
Capital gains
Property taxation
Investment income
Business taxation
Inheritance and gift taxation
Tax obligations in the person’s previous country

Spain’s tax rules can also vary according to autonomous community, particularly in areas involving regional taxation.

Therefore, prospective residents should obtain independent Spanish tax advice before moving significant assets or changing their tax residence.

22. Choosing the Appropriate Spanish Residence Route

The appropriate immigration route depends largely on the applicant’s circumstances.

Applicant Profile	Potential Route
Retiree with sufficient financial resources	Non-Lucrative Residence
Financially independent individual	Non-Lucrative Residence
Remote employee working internationally	Digital Nomad / International Teleworker
International freelancer	Digital Nomad or other applicable self-employment route
Innovative business founder	Entrepreneur Residence
Spanish employer’s employee	Employment-based residence
Business owner operating in Spain	Self-employment/business route
Family member of qualifying resident/citizen	Family-based route

This table is a general orientation rather than a determination of eligibility.

23. Planning the Route to Spanish Citizenship

For someone whose ultimate objective is Spanish citizenship, immigration planning should begin with the nationality rules rather than simply choosing the most convenient residence permit.

A typical long-term strategy might look like:

1. Choose a qualifying residence route

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2. Obtain Spanish residence

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3. Maintain legal and qualifying residence

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4. Renew residence permits when necessary

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5. Track absences from Spain

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6. Complete language and civic examinations where required

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7. Reach the applicable nationality residence period

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8. Prepare and submit the nationality application

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9. Complete the final nationality formalities if approved

This is why the applicant’s nationality is particularly important: the applicable citizenship residence period may be 10 years, 5 years, 2 years or 1 year, depending on the legal circumstances.

24. Important Mistakes to Avoid

Anyone researching Spanish residency and citizenship should be careful about several common misconceptions.

Buying Property Automatically Gives Residency

It does not. The former real-estate Golden Visa route is no longer available to new qualifying investors.

Residency Automatically Becomes Citizenship

It does not. Citizenship requires a separate application and satisfaction of nationality requirements.

Five Years of Residence Automatically Gives Citizenship

It does not. Five years generally relates to eligibility for long-term residence, while the nationality period depends on the applicant’s circumstances.

Ten Years Always Applies

Not necessarily. Spanish nationality law contains important exceptions that reduce the required period for certain applicants.

Owning a Spanish Company Guarantees Residency

It does not. The business and immigration requirements must be satisfied under the relevant residence category.

Residence Means Tax Residence

Not automatically. Immigration residence and tax residence are separate legal concepts.

Spain does not currently offer citizenship by investment, and the country’s former Golden Visa investment framework is no longer available to new qualifying investors through the real-estate route.

Nevertheless, Spain continues to offer several residence pathways for foreigners, including non-lucrative residence, entrepreneur residence, digital nomad/international teleworker residence, employment-based immigration and other specialized categories.

For someone ultimately seeking Spanish nationality, the important consideration is not simply how much money they can invest. The key questions are which residence route they qualify for, how long they must legally and continuously reside in Spain, whether they meet the integration requirements, and whether their nationality gives them access to a reduced citizenship residence period.

For most applicants, the journey is therefore a long-term immigration process rather than a citizenship purchase:

Qualifying residence → continuous legal stay → long-term residence where applicable → nationality by residence → Spanish citizenship.

Because Spanish immigration, nationality and tax rules can change, prospective applicants should verify the current requirements with the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the relevant Spanish consulate, or a qualified Spanish immigration and nationality lawyer before making an investment or relocating.

Spain Citizenship by Investment: Residency Options and Path to Naturalization