You had the funds set aside, a shortlist of apartments on the coast and a simple plan: buy, file, move. Then Spain switched the investor visa off, and the plan stopped working overnight.
The good news: there are real Spain Golden Visa alternatives, and several legal routes to residency still work in 2026. They just ask for something different from a property deed.
What Happened to the Spain Golden Visa?
For over a decade, the Golden Visa let non-EU investors live in Spain in exchange for a significant investment, most often a property worth €500,000 or more.
This did not only remove the real estate route. Every investment option under that article disappeared:
- €500,000 or more in Spanish real estate
- €1 million in Spanish company shares, investment funds or bank deposits
- €2 million in Spanish public debt
- Business projects accredited as being of general interest
You can still buy property in Spain. It simply no longer gives you residency on its own.
MigratioLex in EL PAÍS
Raquel Carmona Flaquer, lawyer at MigratioLex, contributed to the EL PAÍS report “Una década de ‘golden visa’ en España” (in Spanish), which looks back at ten years of the programme before its abolition.
Spain Golden Visa Alternatives at a Glance
The right route depends on one question above all: how will you earn your living once you are in Spain?
Non-Lucrative Visa
Work in SpainNot allowed Key requirement€2,400/month in passive income or savings Best forRetirees, investors, people living off savingsDigital Nomad Visa
Work in SpainRemote work for foreign employers or clients Key requirementAbout €2,849/month in 2026 Best forRemote employees and freelancersEntrepreneur Visa
Work in SpainYes, in your own innovative company Key requirementFavourable ENISA report on the project Best forFounders of scalable, tech-driven businessesHighly Qualified Professional
Work in SpainYes, for the hiring Spanish company Key requirementQualified job offer in Spain Best forSenior and specialised professionalsSelf-Employed (Autónomo)
Work in SpainYes, on your own account Key requirementViable business plan and investment Best forConsultants, shop or studio ownersHow Much Income Do You Need in 2026?
Minimum monthly income, in euros, for the two income-based routes
How these figures are calculated
Non-Lucrative: 400% of IPREM (€600/month) for the applicant, plus 100% for each family member. Digital Nomad: 200% of the monthly minimum wage (€1,221 x 14 payments, about €1,424.50/month), plus 75% for the first family member and 25% for each additional one.
1. Non-Lucrative Visa: Live in Spain Without Working
The closest replacement for most former Golden Visa applicants. You prove enough passive income or savings to live in Spain, and you agree not to work here.
- €2,400 per month (€28,800 per year) for the main applicant
- €600 per month (€7,200 per year) for each family member
- Private health insurance with full cover in Spain, with no co-payments
- A clean criminal record for the last five years
Example
Linda and Mark, a retired couple from Texas, receive pensions and dividends worth about €4,400 per month. They had planned to buy a villa in Alicante for the Golden Visa.
They clear the threshold comfortably. They can still buy the villa as an investment, but the residency now comes from their income, not the property.
2. Digital Nomad Visa: Keep Your Remote Job
If you work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, this is usually the stronger fit (article 74 bis, Law 14/2013). Unlike the Non-Lucrative Visa, it lets you keep working.
- Minimum income of 200% of the minimum wage, about €2,849 per month in 2026
- An employment or client relationship of at least three months
- Up to 20% of your work may come from Spanish clients
- A university degree or three years’ experience in your field
Example
Karim, a UX designer employed by a London agency, earns €5,000 per month. He wants to move to Valencia with his wife and their daughter.
He qualifies. The trap comes later: if he takes on a Spanish client for more than 20% of his work, he no longer meets the conditions of the visa.
3. Start-up and Entrepreneur Visa
For founders who want to build an innovative business in Spain (article 70, Law 14/2013). There is no fixed minimum investment: what matters is the project.
- A favourable report from ENISA, Spain’s public agency for innovative companies
- A business plan showing innovation, scalability and economic interest for Spain
- Evidence that you have the funding and profile to execute it
Example
Wei had €600,000 ready for a Golden Visa property in Madrid. He also runs a logistics software company in Singapore and wants to open a European hub.
Instead of locking that capital in real estate, he invests it in a Spanish subsidiary and applies as an entrepreneur. The same money now builds a business that justifies his residency.
4. Highly Qualified Professional Visa
If a Spanish company wants to hire you for a senior or specialised role, this route (article 71, Law 14/2013) is processed by the Large Companies Unit (UGE), usually faster than ordinary work permits.
- A job offer from a company established in Spain
- A university degree or proven specialised experience
- The employer files the application, and your family can apply with you
Example
Ana, a Colombian energy engineer, receives an offer from a renewables company in Madrid. The employer files her application with the UGE, and her husband and son apply at the same time.
5. Self-Employed (Autónomo) Visa
For professionals who want to run their own activity in Spain without it needing to be innovative. The authorities look at whether the business is viable and properly funded.
- A business plan with investment and expected income
- The qualifications or licences your activity requires
- Enough funds to launch the business and support yourself
Example
Tom, a British photographer, wants to open a studio in Málaga. His plan shows the equipment investment, premises and projected income, which is exactly what the self-employed route assesses.
Which Route Fits You?
Start with how you will earn your income in Spain, then follow your answer:
How will you support yourself in Spain?
Pensions, savings, rentals or dividends. I will not work.Non-Lucrative → Remote work for a company or clients abroad.Digital Nomad → A job offer from a Spanish company.Highly Qualified → My own innovative, scalable business.Entrepreneur → My own traditional business or freelance activity in Spain.Self-Employed →Still Want to Invest in Spanish Property?
Many of our clients do both: they buy the property as an investment and obtain residency through the Non-Lucrative or Digital Nomad route. It keeps the property decision and the residency decision separate, which is exactly how it should be.
Why Choosing the Right Route Is Harder Than It Looks
- Buying property first, assuming it still opens the door to residency.
- Applying for the Non-Lucrative Visa while planning to keep working remotely, which that visa does not allow.
- Calculating income without adding each family member to the threshold.
- Taking on too many Spanish clients after getting the Digital Nomad Visa.
- Filing with missing apostilles, sworn translations or outdated criminal records.
- Moving without planning Spanish tax residency and how your worldwide income will be taxed.
Will You Become a Spanish Tax Resident?
Every residency route has tax consequences. Check your situation before you move, not after.
Take the Free Tax Residency Test →Those apartments on the coast have not gone anywhere. What changed is the order: first the right residency route, then the purchase, not the other way round.
Talk to a Lawyer Before You File
If you are unsure which of these routes fits your income, family and plans, that is exactly what a consultation is for. At MigratioLex, we review your specific case, not a generic checklist. We respond within 24 hours, in English, French or Spanish.
Book Your Initial ConsultationThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The examples are illustrative, not real clients. Based on Organic Law 1/2025 (BOE 3 January 2025), Law 14/2013 and Royal Decree 1155/2024. Income figures use the 2026 IPREM (€600 per month) and minimum wage (€1,221 in 14 payments). The number of visas granted is based on Ministry of Foreign Affairs data reported in the press.
