The Golden Visa Scheme.
Investment – Minimum investment of €500,000
Processing time – Approx. 20 days
Key benefit – The right to live, work, and study in Spain, free movement across the EU and Europe’s Schengen Area
The residence by investment program commonly referred to as the Golden Visa allows foreign nationals to obtain residency in Spain by making an investment in the country, there are a number of investment options available however the most popular option is to invest in property. This then allows the investor to apply for an investor visa. If successful, applicants and their families are granted visa-free access to Spain and across Europe’s Schengen Area.
There are many benefits of participating in Spains immigration by investment scheme including the ability to include a spouse or partner, financially dependent children of any age (adult children must be full-time students), and financially dependent parents of the main applicant and their spouse who are aged 65 years and over. The vibrant high quality lifestyle, culture and history make it a popular location. Access to the excellent Spanish public healthcare and education systems. After a given time there is the chance to apply for full Spanish citizenship.
Requirements of Spanish residence by investment
The Spain Residence by Investment Program requires that a foreign individual invests into either a real estate project, a business project, company shares or bank deposits, or government bonds.
Applicants are required to fulfill one of the following investment options in the country:
- The acquisition of real estate with a minimum value of €500,000 (one or multiple properties)
- The creation of a business project to be developed in Spain, duly recognized as being of ‘general interest’
- Company shares or bank deposits with a minimum value of €1 million in Spanish financial institutions
- A government bond investment with a minimum value of €2 million
Documentary evidence of the investment must be provided as part of the application process.
Procedures and time frame of the Spain Residence by Investment Program
Applications to the program must be made through the prescribed forms and must be accompanied by the appropriate fees and supporting documents. Residence permits are usually issued after a 20-day consideration period and have an initial duration of two years, renewable for five years upon request, provided that a minimum investment in Spain is maintained by the applicant.
The application process comprises two stages:
Phase 1 – Applicants apply in their home country for a Spanish residence visa that allows them to reside and work in Spain for one year.
Phase 2 – Applicants apply for a Spanish residence permit. If they have come to Spain on an ordinary tourist visa, they may apply for the residence permit directly, thus omitting the first phase.
The residence permit applies to the main investor, spouse or partner (including unmarried or same-sex unions), and all economically dependent descendants.
There is no minimum stay requirement to maintain residence status but you must visit Spain to obtain the first residence permit.
Citizenship
After 10 years Residents may apply for citizenship. However some groups are able to apply for Spanish citizenship after only two years of effective residence in Spain. (Sephardi Jews and citizens of Equatorial Guinea, Latin America, and the Philippines) Dual citizenship restrictions apply to most foreign nationals.
