- Spain’s property-based Golden Visa was ABOLISHED on 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025. You cannot get residency by buying a property any more.
- Three viable routes remain for non-EU buyers who want to live in Spain: Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, and the investment-fund route (still Golden Visa but not via property).
- EU and EEA nationals do not need any of these. Free movement still applies.
- UK nationals lost EU free movement post-Brexit and now need one of the three routes above or a work permit.
- Buying an apartment at Nylva Homes is still fully legal and does not depend on any residency option. You simply will not gain residency from the purchase itself.
This is the page that every international buyer asks about within the first week of research. Can I still get Spanish residency by buying a new build apartment? No, not any more, and it is important to be clear about why and what replaced it. This page is the honest reframe for 2026 and beyond.
What exactly happened to the Golden Visa?
Spain’s property-based Golden Visa was abolished on 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025. The law removed the route that allowed non-EU nationals to obtain a Spanish residency permit by investing €500,000 or more in real estate. The motivation was political: Spanish politicians linked foreign property investment to housing affordability pressure in Madrid and Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, and the property route was removed as a signal and a policy lever.
The rest of the Golden Visa programme (the investment fund route, the business investment route) remains in place. Only the property-to-residency link was cut. Existing Golden Visa holders under the old property rules keep their status for the duration of their current permit; they just cannot renew on property alone.
Can I still get Spanish residency as a non-EU buyer?
Yes, through three other routes that do not require a property investment:
1. Non-Lucrative Visa (Visado de Residencia No Lucrativa)
For non-EU nationals with enough passive income or savings to support themselves in Spain without working for a Spanish employer. The 2026 financial threshold is roughly €28,800 per year per main applicant plus 25 percent for each dependent. You must hold private health insurance with a Spanish provider, demonstrate a clean criminal record, and commit to spending at least 183 days per year in Spain (which triggers Spanish tax residency). Renewable annually at first, then every 2 years, with permanent residency after 5 years. This is the most common route for retirees and semi-retired buyers at Nylva Homes.
2. Digital Nomad Visa (Visado para Teletrabajo Internacional)
Introduced in late 2023 for non-EU nationals who work remotely for a non-Spanish employer. Requirements include a minimum income (around €32,000 to €35,000 per year), proof that you work remotely, and at least 3 months of history with the employer. One of its features is a favourable tax regime under the Beckham Law extension: a flat 24 percent on Spanish income up to €600,000 for the first 6 years of residency, rather than the usual progressive Spanish income tax. This is the route most remote-working buyers at Nylva will take.
3. Investment Fund Golden Visa
The Golden Visa rules on fund investment, business investment and bank deposits remain in effect. You can still get residency by investing €2 million in Spanish government bonds, €1 million in Spanish company shares or bank deposits, or €1 million in a Spanish investment fund. Property specifically is now excluded. This route is relevant mainly to UAE and ultra-high-net-worth buyers, not typical sea view apartment buyers.
What does this mean for buyers at Nylva Homes?
Practically nothing changes on the buying side. You can still purchase a Nylva Homes apartment as a non-EU national. The transaction, the bank guarantee, the notary process, and the ownership rights are the same as they were before. The change is only on the residency link: you cannot use the purchase itself to apply for residency. If you want to live in Spain long-term, use the Non-Lucrative Visa or Digital Nomad Visa in parallel with the purchase. BlancaReal’s in-house legal team can refer you to a bilingual immigration lawyer who handles the application.
What about EU and EEA nationals?
No change. EU and EEA nationals (including citizens of the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Norway and the rest) have free movement and can live in Spain without any visa. You register with the local foreigners’ office after 90 days of continuous residence and obtain a residence certificate, but you do not need to “apply” for residency in the visa sense.
What about UK nationals post-Brexit?
UK nationals lost EU free movement on 31 January 2020 and are now subject to the same non-EU rules as Americans, Canadians, Australians, and UAE residents. Most UK buyers at Nylva Homes who want to live full-time in Spain will use the Non-Lucrative Visa (retirees, passive income) or the Digital Nomad Visa (remote workers). Buying the apartment does not grant residency on its own.
Can I still visit Spain on a tourist basis after buying?
Yes. Non-EU citizens from Schengen-exempt countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, UAE and many more) can visit the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This is plenty for second-home owners who come for 1 to 3 months at a time. If you want to stay longer, you need the visa routes above.
Related reading
- Can foreigners still buy property in Spain in 2026?
- How buying off-plan in Spain actually works
- Manilva area guide
- Contact Marcelo
This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change. Always consult a qualified bilingual Spanish immigration lawyer before applying for any visa or residency permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What residency options does Spain offer non-EU property buyers after the Golden Visa ended?
Three main routes: the Non-Lucrative Visa (passive income), the Digital Nomad Visa (remote work), and the investment-fund Golden Visa (non-property). Property alone no longer grants residency since 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025. Buying an apartment at Nylva remains legal; it just does not come with a residency permit attached.
Is the Spanish Golden Visa still available in 2026?
Only the non-property versions. You can still get a Spanish Golden Visa by investing €1 million in Spanish shares, bank deposits or investment funds, or €2 million in Spanish government bonds. The €500,000 property route was abolished on 3 April 2025.
Can I buy property in Spain without being a resident?
Yes. There is no requirement to be a Spanish resident or to have any special visa status to buy property. You need a NIE (Spanish tax ID for foreigners), a Spanish bank account for the transaction, and an independent lawyer. Ownership rights are the same for residents and non-residents.
What is the Non-Lucrative Visa and who is it for?
A Spanish residency permit for non-EU nationals with enough passive income or savings to live in Spain without working for a Spanish employer. 2026 threshold is roughly €28,800 per year per main applicant plus 25 percent per dependent. You must live in Spain at least 183 days per year, which makes you a Spanish tax resident. Common route for retirees and semi-retired buyers.
What is the Digital Nomad Visa?
A Spanish residency permit for non-EU nationals working remotely for a non-Spanish employer. Income threshold is around €32,000 to €35,000 per year. The permit includes a favourable tax regime (flat 24 percent on Spanish income up to €600,000 for 6 years under the Beckham Law extension). Popular route for buyers who can work remotely.
Can I get Spanish residency just by buying a new build apartment?
No, not since 3 April 2025. The property-based Golden Visa was abolished under Organic Law 1/2025. Buying a new build no longer grants any residency right. You can still buy the property, you just need to apply for residency through a separate route if you want to live here full-time.
What happens to existing Golden Visa holders under the old rules?
They keep their current permits until expiry. They cannot renew the Golden Visa on property alone after 3 April 2025. Most existing holders can switch to another route (Non-Lucrative or fund Golden Visa) at the renewal point if they still want to live in Spain.
Do EU and EEA nationals need a visa to live in Spain?
No. Free movement still applies. EU and EEA nationals can live, work and buy property in Spain without any visa. You register with the local foreigners’ office (oficina de extranjería) after 90 days of continuous residence to obtain a residence certificate (certificado de registro), but there is no visa application involved.
What about UK nationals after Brexit?
UK nationals lost EU free movement on 31 January 2020. Most UK buyers at Nylva now use the Non-Lucrative Visa if they are retired or have passive income, or the Digital Nomad Visa if they work remotely. The 90-days-in-180 Schengen visit rule applies to shorter stays. Buying the flat does not grant residency.
Can I visit my Nylva apartment on a tourist basis?
Yes. Non-EU citizens from Schengen-exempt countries can visit Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This covers most second-home patterns: monthly stays or 2 to 3 month blocks per year. Longer stays require a formal residency permit.
Will the property Golden Visa ever come back?
Not forecastable. Spanish politics shifted away from linking property investment to residency in 2024 and 2025 on housing affordability grounds. Whether a future government reverses the policy is unpredictable. Plan based on the rules as they stand, not on a speculative reversal.
Does buying at Nylva help at all with residency?
It shows a tie to Spain, which is a positive factor in any non-lucrative visa application because you can demonstrate stable accommodation. It does not grant residency on its own. Having your own property makes the paperwork smoother than renting because you can provide a deeds document instead of a rental contract.
Do I need a lawyer for the residency application?
Highly recommended. Immigration paperwork in Spain is bureaucratic and the requirements change often. A bilingual immigration lawyer costs €1,500 to €3,000 for a complete application and saves considerable stress. BlancaReal’s in-house legal team can refer you to an immigration specialist.
Can I get Spanish citizenship through property?
No, never could. Spanish citizenship through residence requires 10 years of legal residency (2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Sephardic Jews). Property ownership is not a shortcut.
Where should I start if I want to live at Nylva full-time?
Start by reserving the apartment and talking to an immigration lawyer in parallel. Decide which visa route fits your situation (Non-Lucrative for retirees, Digital Nomad for remote workers). Application processing times run 2 to 4 months once you file in your country of residence. Most buyers time the visa application to the notary completion date.