Spain’s golden visa ended in 2025, but several residency routes remain open for people who are willing to actually live in the country. The main alternatives are the non-lucrative visa, the digital nomad visa, and the entrepreneur visa. All three can lead to permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years, with a shorter two-year citizenship path available for some applicants.
Spain’s former golden visa allowed non-EU investors to obtain residency through a €500,000 real estate purchase with minimal physical presence. That route ended as part of a broader political response to housing pressure.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez argued that many non-EU buyers were purchasing property not to live in Spain, but to rent it out through platforms such as Airbnb. He also proposed a 100% tax on property purchases by non-EU, non-resident buyers, which would make Spanish real estate much less attractive for foreign investors.
The remaining residency routes are different from the golden visa. They require effective residence in Spain for at least six months per year. That usually means becoming Spanish tax resident.
The core shift is clear: Spain is no longer offering a low-presence real estate residency route. The open alternatives require applicants to build a life in Spain rather than simply hold a property investment.
Non-lucrative visa
Spain’s non-lucrative visa is designed for people who can support themselves without working.
It is often used by:
- Retirees
- Pensioners
- Passive-income earners
- People with sufficient savings
- People living from foreign rental income, dividends, pensions, annuities, or social security
The financial requirement is based on 400% of Spain’s public income indicator.
The transcript gives the approximate requirement as just under €30,000 per year for the main applicant.
Each dependent requires roughly €7,200 per year in additional income or savings.
For couples, the exact requirement can vary by consulate and may be higher in practice.
Qualifying income must be passive. Examples include:
- Pensions
- Annuities
- Foreign rental income
- Social security payments
- Investment dividends
The key restriction is work. Holders of the non-lucrative visa cannot work in Spain. They also cannot technically work remotely.
For remote workers, freelancers, and online business owners, the non-lucrative visa is usually the wrong route. Spain separates this category from the digital nomad visa.
The visa is initially valid for one year. It can then be renewed for two-year periods.
After five years of continuous residence, the holder can become eligible for permanent residency.
Citizenship follows Spain’s standard 10-year naturalization timeline, unless the applicant qualifies for a reduced period.
A major rule changed in 2025. Spain reinstated a minimum physical presence requirement of 183 days per year to maintain the non-lucrative visa.
That means this route now requires genuine residence and Spanish tax residency. It is not a permit for people who want to live mostly outside Spain while keeping an EU residence card.
Digital nomad visa
Spain launched its digital nomad visa in January 2023 under the country’s Startup Law.
It is intended for remote workers employed by foreign companies and for self-employed professionals whose clients are mostly outside Spain.
The income requirement is approximately €2,849 per month, equal to 200% of Spain’s minimum wage, which was raised by 3.1% in January 2026.
Applicants must also show:
- A university degree or at least three years of relevant professional experience
- Private health insurance with no co-pays
- Remote work for foreign employers or clients
For freelancers and self-employed applicants, at least 80% of professional activity must serve clients or employers outside Spain.
If applying from abroad, the initial visa is valid for one year.
After entering Spain, the applicant can convert it into a residence permit valid for up to three years, renewable for another two years.
After five continuous years of legal residence, the holder becomes eligible for permanent residency.
Beckham Law tax regime
One of the major advantages of Spain’s digital nomad visa is access to the Beckham Law, officially Spain’s special tax regime for expatriates.
Under this regime, qualifying applicants are treated as non-residents for tax purposes.
Spanish-source employment income is taxed at a flat 24% for up to six years on earnings up to €600,000 per year.
Income above €600,000 is taxed at 47% or higher, depending on the Spanish region.
The larger advantage is not only the 24% rate. Under the Beckham Law, foreign-source non-employment income can remain outside Spanish taxation.
This may include:
- Foreign dividends
- Rental income from overseas property
- Capital gains on foreign assets
The regime also exempts foreign-held assets from Spain’s wealth tax.
This contrasts sharply with ordinary Spanish tax residency, where residents can face progressive taxation on worldwide income at rates that may reach around 50%, or higher in some regions.
For remote workers and internationally mobile professionals, the digital nomad visa can therefore combine Spanish residence with a temporary tax regime that is much more favorable than standard Spanish taxation.
Entrepreneur visa
Spain’s entrepreneur visa is one of the least discussed post-golden-visa options.
It remains available and was not affected by the golden visa termination, because it falls under different articles of the same law.
This visa is for non-EU nationals who propose an innovative business of special economic interest to Spain.
The process begins with a business plan submitted to Enisa, Spain’s national innovation company.
Enisa evaluates the project based on:
- Innovation
- Scalability
- Economic interest to Spain
- Potential to create local jobs
- Whether the business brings something new to the Spanish market
Traditional brick-and-mortar businesses are unlikely to qualify.
The program is aimed at tech-enabled, high-growth, or impact-driven businesses.
If Enisa issues a favorable report within three months, the applicant then applies for a residence permit through Spain’s large companies and strategic groups unit.
The final residence approval can take as little as two weeks, making this one of the fastest approval stages in Spanish immigration.
The initial permit is valid for three years and can be renewed in five-year increments.
Like the other post-golden-visa routes, the entrepreneur visa requires the holder to live in Spain for at least six months per year, which usually means becoming tax resident.
The official financial solvency requirement is around €7,200 per year, though consulates may expect higher proof of funds in practice.
Since the Startup Law took effect in 2023, entrepreneur visa holders can also qualify for the Beckham Law.
This means eligible entrepreneurs may receive:
- Flat 24% tax on Spanish-source income for up to six years
- Exemption from Spanish tax on foreign-source non-employment income
- Exemption from wealth tax on assets held abroad
For applicants with a scalable business idea, the entrepreneur visa may be the strongest replacement for the golden visa because it combines residence, business-building, and access to Spain’s special expatriate tax regime.
Citizenship timelines
All three routes can lead to permanent residency after five years of continuous legal residence.
The standard citizenship timeline is 10 years.
However, some applicants may qualify for Spanish citizenship after only two years. The transcript does not specify which nationalities or categories qualify, so the exact eligibility is unclear.
The key requirement across the remaining routes is physical residence. Unlike the former golden visa, these visas are not designed for absentee residency.
Practical comparison
The three Spanish alternatives serve different profiles.
The non-lucrative visa is best for retirees and passive-income applicants who do not need to work. It has a relatively low financial threshold, but requires 183 days per year in Spain and creates Spanish tax residency.
The digital nomad visa is best for remote employees, freelancers, and foreign-client professionals. It requires active foreign-source work and may provide access to the Beckham Law tax regime.
The entrepreneur visa is best for founders with innovative, scalable businesses that can create economic value in Spain. It requires a credible business plan and Enisa approval, but can also unlock the Beckham Law.
Key trade-offs
Applicants should compare:
- Whether income is passive or active
- Whether they need to work remotely
- Whether they can spend more than six months per year in Spain
- Whether Spanish tax residency is acceptable
- Whether they qualify for the Beckham Law
- Whether they want retirement, remote work, or startup residency
- Whether permanent residency or citizenship is the main goal
- Whether the 10-year citizenship timeline is acceptable
- Whether they qualify for the shorter two-year citizenship route
Spain’s golden visa allowed people to obtain residency without real relocation. The remaining routes are more traditional. They require presence, tax residence, and stronger personal connection to Spain.
The practical takeaway is that Spain remains open to retirees, remote workers, and entrepreneurs, but the easy real estate residency era is over. Anyone considering Spain after the golden visa closure should choose the route based on income type, tax exposure, physical presence, and whether the Beckham Law can reduce the cost of becoming Spanish tax resident.
