Spain has officially completed the Golden Visa program, which was in effect for 12 years.

Spain's Golden Visa program officially ended on April 3, 2025.

Since the scheme began in 2013, the Spanish authorities have issued a total of 14,576 "golden visas." 

The program provided citizens of non-EU countries with the opportunity to obtain a residence permit in exchange for investments in the amount of 500,000 euros or more. 95% of the participants of the Golden Visa chose investments in real estate, although the rules provided for other options.

The program stimulated the Spanish economy, however, according to the authorities, it caused an increase in housing prices in large cities, which are in demand from foreign investors. The most popular among the participants of the scheme were Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, the Balearic Islands, Alicante, Girona, and Valencia.

We talked with experts from Russian-speaking real estate agencies about the cancellation of the Golden Visa, other legislative initiatives and trends in the Spanish market.

A Spanish residence permit can be obtained, for example, through programs for startup founders, for digital nomads.

Source: SchengenNews