Visa and residence permit for real estate investment
4 Noviembre, 2025
Acquiring a home in Spain being a foreigner, can be achieved through a Spanish residence permit by investment in real estate.
Introduction
Last 2020, despite the adversities caused by Covid19, Spain beat for the seventh consecutive year, granting investment visas to foreign citizens. In total, 681 foreigners obtained a golden visa in Spain for real estate investment.
By nationalities, China has one more year the majority of permits granted. So much so, that real estate investment was the third most repeated cause to achieve this milestone only surpassed by the business transfer -1,361 visas. The attraction of enjoying aresidence permit with which to move throughout the Schengen Zone, without having to reside in Spain, and also bringing the family has undoubtedly been the turning point for the choice of this visa.
Visa ratio granted updated 2020.
Such visas are requested by foreigners directly or through a duly accredited authorised third party, including foreigners, those who are not citizens of the European Union and foreigners who are not subject to European Union law because they are beneficiaries of free movement and residence rights.
But, let's see what requirements we must meet:
Amount of investment in real estate
The minimum amount of the investment must be EUR 500,000 for each applicant and may be in a single property of equal or greater value, or the investment in pro-individual (a marriage, for example) for that same amount of one of higher value. The minimum amount must always be free of any charge or levy. The part of the investment exceeding that amount may be subject to cargo or levy.
How can we credit this investment for the visa?
There are several different but simple modes:
- By certification with continuous domain information and property Registry charges corresponding to the property or real estate. If, at the time of the application for the visa, the acquisition of the properties is in the process of registration in the Land Registry, it will be sufficient to submit the aforementioned certification in which the presentation seat of the acquisition document is in force, accompanied by documentation accreditation of the payment of the corresponding taxes.
- If the purchase of the property or properties has not been formalized, they may submit:
- Pre-contract with guarantee in its compliance by means of arras or other means admitted in law formalized in public deed
- Certificate of a financial institution established in Spain that the applicant holds an unavailable bank deposit with the amount necessary for the acquisition of the property or real estate, charges and taxes included.
Once the investment has been made, there are two distinct formalities, the first, the application and obtaining a residence visa as an investor (for the investor himself) and, where appropriate, the application and obtaining a residence visa for each of the accompanying relatives. This procedure is carried out at the Consulate of Spain of the country of origin or origin of the investor and his family.
Which family members can benefit from it?
The following family members are listed when they meet or accompany the investor (without this implying that an additional investment must be made for each of them):
- Spouse or person with a similar relationship of affectivity (you can prove this circumstance by accreditation by means of the birth certificate that they have common offspring, for example).
- Children under the age of 18.
- Children of legal age depending financially on the holder, have not constituted by themselves a family unit (such circumstances must be documented).
- Ascendants in charge (documents must be provided proving that the ancestor is in charge).
Duration of residence for investment in Spain.
The residence permit for purchase of housing or investment in Spain, for a non-EU foreigner, is valid for one year. Subsequently, it can be extended over a period of two years, which will be extended for another two years.
Being a total of 5 years valid for people who have obtained the residence visa for real estate or monetary investment in Spain.
Application for residence authorization: It can be applied for from the time of the residence visa, and up to 90 days after its expiry.
