⚠️ Important: Spain’s Golden Visa programme ended on 3 April 2025. New applications are no longer accepted. If you already hold a Golden Visa, you can still renew it under the original rules — scroll down for the renewal checklist and insurance requirements. If you’re looking for a new route to Spanish residency in 2026, see the alternative visas section below.
Spain’s Golden Visa: What Happened in April 2025
For over a decade, Spain’s Golden Visa — officially the Investor Residency Visa — was one of the fastest routes to Spanish residency for non-EU nationals. A €500,000 property purchase was enough to secure a renewable residence permit for you and your family, without a minimum-stay requirement.
That changed in 2025.
Under Organic Law 1/2025, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on 3 January 2025, Spain’s Golden Visa programme was formally terminated. The law gave a three-month grace period, and the programme closed to new applications on 3 April 2025.
Between 2013 and early 2025, Spain issued around 22,430 Golden Visas, with 93% of demand concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante, the Balearic Islands, Girona and Valencia. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez framed the decision as a response to housing-market pressure in those areas, arguing that the programme had turned housing into “a speculative business instead of treating it as a basic right.”
What This Means for Existing Golden Visa Holders
Good news: your residence permit is not affected. The 2025 law includes a transitional clause that protects every Golden Visa issued before 3 April 2025. You can continue to renew your permit indefinitely, under the rules that applied when you first obtained the visa.
To renew your Golden Visa in 2026 and beyond, you must:
- Maintain your original investment — the property, shares, bonds, or deposits you originally invested in must still be held
- Visit Spain at least once during the validity of your current permit (no minimum-stay requirement)
- Keep a clean criminal record in Spain and in any country where you have lived in the last five years
- Hold valid private health insurance with full Spanish coverage and no co-payments
- Submit your renewal application before your current permit expires (or within 90 days after expiration) to the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas)
Renewal permits are typically granted for five years at a time. After five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residency, and after ten years you become eligible for Spanish citizenship — both pathways remain unchanged.
Health Insurance for Golden Visa Renewals
Private health insurance is a non-negotiable part of every Golden Visa renewal. Your policy must:
- Be issued by an insurer authorised by Spain’s DGSFP (Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones)
- Cover the entire Spanish territory
- Provide no-copayment, full coverage equivalent to the Spanish public healthcare system
- Be valid for the full duration of your renewed permit
International-only policies (including Cigna Global) are routinely rejected because they are not DGSFP-registered. Travel insurance does not qualify either — only comprehensive private health insurance from a Spanish-authorised insurer.
At Insbrok we broker visa-compliant plans from Sanitas, DKV, Adeslas, Asisa and Salus — all DGSFP-authorised and all offering no-copayment tiers that meet Golden Visa renewal requirements. Typical costs range from €50 to €350 per month depending on age and provider. For a full breakdown, see our Complete 2026 Guide to Private Health Insurance in Spain.
Alternatives to the Golden Visa in 2026
If you’re a non-EU national looking to move to Spain now that the Golden Visa is closed, several other residency routes are available. The right option depends on whether you plan to work, live on passive income, or build a business.
Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)
Best for: remote workers, freelancers with non-Spanish clients, tech and consulting professionals.
- Income requirement: approximately €2,850 per month (200% of Spain’s 2026 minimum wage)
- Initial permit: 1 year from a consulate, or 3 years if applying from within Spain
- Renewable up to 5 years total
- Mandatory private health insurance (same requirements as above)
The DNV has become the most popular route for Americans, Brits and Canadians working in tech, consulting and creative industries. For the full requirements, costs and how to avoid rejection, read our Digital Nomad Visa Spain Insurance Guide.
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Best for: retirees, financially independent applicants, and anyone with reliable passive income who does not plan to work in Spain.
- Income requirement: approximately €2,400 per month for the main applicant, plus around €600 per month for each dependent (based on IPREM 2026)
- Must demonstrate savings or passive income — pensions, investments, rental income
- Cannot legally work in Spain (passive income from abroad is fine)
- Initial permit: 1 year, renewable
- Mandatory private health insurance
Entrepreneur Visa (Startup Law)
Best for: founders launching an innovative business in Spain.
- No minimum investment amount — unlike the former Golden Visa
- Business must be classified as “innovative” or provide economic value
- Initial permit: 3 years, renewable for 2 more
- Possible tax benefits under Spain’s Startup Law
Other EU Golden Visa Programmes
If residency-by-investment is what you need and you’re flexible about the country, Greece, Portugal, Malta and Italy still offer investment-based residency programmes — though conditions are tightening across the EU. These don’t give you the right to live in Spain automatically, but they do grant Schengen-area freedom of movement and can be a useful parallel route.
Can I Still Buy Property in Spain as a Non-EU Citizen?
Yes. The end of the Golden Visa only removed the automatic residency benefit tied to property investment. Non-EU nationals can still buy property in Spain with exactly the same rights as Spanish citizens, and there is no limit on how much or where you can buy. Foreign buyers accounted for around 15% of Spanish property transactions in 2024.
Owning property can also support a Non-Lucrative Visa application, since it helps demonstrate your intention to reside in Spain and satisfies the accommodation requirement.
FAQ: Spain Golden Visa After April 2025
Is Spain’s Golden Visa still available?
No. The programme closed to new applications on 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025.
I have a Golden Visa — do I lose it now?
No. Existing Golden Visas remain valid and renewable indefinitely under the original rules, as long as you maintain your investment and meet the renewal requirements.
I was applying but missed the April 2025 deadline. Can I still apply?
No. The 3 April 2025 cutoff was firm, with no extensions. You’ll need to use one of the alternative visas listed above.
Do I still need health insurance for Golden Visa renewal?
Yes. Full-coverage private health insurance from a DGSFP-registered Spanish insurer, with no co-payments, is required at every renewal.
Can I switch from a Golden Visa to another residency type?
Yes. At renewal, existing Golden Visa holders can apply for a different residency permit — for example a work permit, self-employment permit, or family-reunification permit — provided they meet the requirements of the new permit type.
Can I still buy a €500,000+ property in Spain?
Yes, there are no restrictions on property purchases by non-EU nationals. It just no longer gives you residency automatically.
Get Help with Your Insurance and Visa Planning
Whether you’re renewing an existing Golden Visa, transitioning to another residency type, or applying for a Digital Nomad or Non-Lucrative Visa, the health insurance requirement is one of the most common reasons applications are delayed or rejected.
Insbrok is an independent broker with 40+ years of experience helping expats navigate Spanish insurance and bureaucracy. We compare plans from all major DGSFP-authorised insurers and match you with a visa-compliant policy that fits your situation.
Get a free quote at insbrok.com or book a free consultation.
📌 Last updated: April 2026
Author: Insbrok Team
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