Residency options guide
Residency After Buying Property in Spain
Buying property in Spain does not automatically grant you the right to live there long-term. For foreign buyers who want to spend more than 90 days in Spain in any 180-day period, a separate residency application is required. The route depends on your nationality, income and intended lifestyle in Spain.
Property purchase alone is not enough
Owning property in Spain gives you the right to visit, not to reside. A separate visa or permit is needed for stays beyond 90 days in any 180-day period.
The Golden Visa for residential property is abolished
Spain announced the abolition of the investor residency visa for residential property purchases in 2024. Alternative routes remain available.
Non-lucrative visa suits retirees and passive income holders
This is the most common route for non-EU buyers who can demonstrate sufficient income and do not plan to work in Spain.
EU citizens have simpler rights
EU/EEA citizens can live in Spain freely and register as residents without a visa — they simply need to register on the padrón and obtain a TIE card.
Residency options at a glance
There is no single route — the right option depends on nationality, income, work status and how long you plan to spend in Spain each year.
| Route | Who it suits | Key requirement | Allows working in Spain? |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA registration | EU and EEA citizens | Register on the padrón + TIE card | Yes |
| Non-lucrative visa | Retirees, passive income holders | ~€2,400/month passive income | No |
| Digital nomad visa | Remote workers, freelancers | Work primarily for non-Spanish clients | Remotely only |
| Golden Visa | Closed for residential property | Abolished in 2024 — existing holders keep status | — |
90/180
Visa-free days for non-EU visitors
Per rolling 180-day period, Schengen-wide
183
Days that trigger tax residency
Per calendar year in Spain
€2,400
Monthly income for non-lucrative visa
Single applicant, 2025 figures
The 90-day rule for non-EU buyers
Non-EU nationals can visit Spain (and the Schengen Area) for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period without a visa. Buying a property does not change this limit.
Important
The 90-day rule is per Schengen Area, not per country. Days spent in France, Germany or any other Schengen state count toward the same limit as days in Spain.
If you want to spend more time in Spain — whether for retirement, remote work or lifestyle reasons — you will need a residency permit that allows longer stays.
Non-lucrative visa (Residencia No Lucrativa)
The non-lucrative visa is the most popular route for non-EU buyers who want to live in Spain without working there.
- Income requirement: approximately €2,400/month for a single applicant (2025 figures), plus roughly €600/month per dependant
- Application: submitted at the Spanish consulate in your home country before travelling to Spain
- Initial validity: one year, renewable in two-year blocks
- Restriction: you cannot work in Spain on this visa — income must be passive (pension, investments, rental income)
- Health insurance: comprehensive Spanish health insurance is required from a provider authorised in Spain
Digital nomad visa
Spain introduced a digital nomad visa in 2023 for remote workers and freelancers whose work is primarily with clients or employers outside Spain. It allows holders to live in Spain and work remotely for up to five years.
This is increasingly relevant for younger foreign buyers who purchase property as a base for remote working rather than pure retirement.
What happened to the Golden Visa?
Spain's Golden Visa programme granted residency to non-EU nationals who invested €500,000 or more in Spanish real estate. The Spanish government announced its abolition for residential property investments in 2024, citing housing affordability concerns.
- Existing Golden Visa holders: retain their current status and renewal rights
- New applications for residential property investment: no longer accepted
- Commercial real estate and other investment categories: check current regulations — rules may differ
Tax residency is a separate question
Holding a residency permit in Spain is not the same as becoming a Spanish tax resident. Tax residency is triggered by spending more than 183 days per year in Spain or having the core of your economic activities there.
Key distinction
Becoming a Spanish tax resident changes your obligations significantly — you become liable for Spanish income tax on worldwide income, not just on Spanish-source income as a non-resident.