Spain's golden visa abolished: the alternatives
27/09/2024 
Reading time: 5 min Spain’s golden visa is abolished: what to do instead
The question in this article's old title has been answered: yes — Spain's golden visa is gone. The residence-by-investment programme (the €500,000 property route and the other investment options) was abolished by Ley Orgánica 1/2025, in force 3 April 2025. You can no longer buy Spanish residency. The good news: several active permits give you the same residence and Schengen mobility on real, and often cheaper, grounds. Here's what replaced it.
- Statusabolished 3 April 2025Ley Orgánica 1/2025. No new applications accepted.
- Already held onestays validThe change isn't retroactive; existing permits continue.
- Buying property nowno residencyA purchase alone no longer grants any permit.
- Live on passive incomeNon-Lucrative≈ €28,800/year — the closest replacement for investors.
- Work remotely / run a businessnomad / startup permitBoth cheaper than the old golden visa.
What exactly was abolished
The golden visa granted residence for a qualifying investment — most visibly property from €500,000, but also public debt, shares, bank deposits and business projects. Ley Orgánica 1/2025 removed all of these routes; the public debate focused on housing, but the repeal is comprehensive. It is not retroactive: permits already granted remain valid, and holders can renew under the prior terms. What's gone is the ability to obtain residency by investment going forward.
What replaces it: active residence permits
The golden visa's appeal was residence plus free movement in Schengen without living in Spain full-time. Today you reach residence through a genuine basis — and most cost far less than €500,000:
| Permit | Who it suits | Financial requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative | Live on passive income, no work | ≈ €28,800/year on account |
| Digital nomad | Work remotely for foreign firms | Income ≈ €2,849/month |
| Startup | Launch an innovative business | ≈ €7,200/year + ENISA-approved plan |
Unlike the old golden visa, most of these require some genuine tie — income, remote work or a business — but they cost a fraction of a €500,000 investment and lead to the same permanent residence after 5 years. A full comparison is in the residence permit guide.
Closest fit for former golden-visa applicants
For investors and financially independent people who don't intend to work, the Non-Lucrative permit is the natural successor: prove stable passive income (a pension, rent, dividends, investments) of ≈ €28,800/year, hold private health insurance, and live in Spain 183+ days a year. You can still own property — it just no longer, on its own, grants residence. If you'd rather keep working remotely, the digital nomad permit is the other main route.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources:
• Ley Orgánica 1/2025 — abolition of the golden visa
• La Moncloa — Government of Spain
• Ministry of Inclusion — residence permits
