Investor residence (closed) in Spain
The programme issuing visas and residence permits to foreign investors has been abolished. Investors could previously obtain resident status through direct investment in property, shares or bonds. An organic law repealed the programme's legal basis. Documents issued earlier remain valid until they expire. Applications lodged before the abolition are examined under the former rules.
Source: Ministerio de Inclusión — Unidad de Grandes Empresas: Inversores
Who could apply (programme history)
Before the programme was abolished, the following categories of applicant could use it.
Direct investors
- Investing capital in Spanish companies or businesses
- Buying property on Spanish territory
- Investing in Spanish bonds and securities
Family members and dependants
- Spouses of investors
- Unmarried children below a set age
- Parents of investors where there is dependence
When the programme will not suit
You want to move to Spain as an investor
Consider Arraigo (attracting professionals), non-lucrativa (residence without work) or a work visa
You support a company in Spain and want to invest in it
Approach the labour and social security authorities — an entrepreneur visa may be possible
Your investor visa was refused before April 2025
The programme is closed; consider long-term resident status (after five years of residence) or other types of authorisation
You are looking for the simplest route to Spanish residence
The non-lucrativa programme calls for a low outlay; Arraigo is open to labour migrants; the employment residence permit is for people taken on as employees
Who it suits
Documents
Documents for an investor residence permit are not accepted. Applications lodged before 3 April 2025 are seen through under the former rules.
Timelines and rights
Processing time
Applications lodged before the abolition are examined under the rules in force on the day they were filed.
Renewal and the grace period
Holders of visas and permits in force that were obtained before the abolition (before April 2025) keep the right to renew under the rules that applied when the original permit was issued. Renewal is examined on those same terms. For those whose permits have run out, the route to long-term resident status opens after five years of continuous lawful residence.
How it differs from the routes next to it
The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.
| Investor residence (closed) | Protección Subsidiaria | Humanitarian protection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | Visas and permits already issued remain valid until the end of their term | Residence and work permit (TIE) for about 5 years, renewable | Usually 1 year; annual renewal |
| Grounds | Formerly — visas and residence permits for investors under articles 63-67 of Ley 14/2013 | Threat to life | Humanitarian grounds |
| Money | The investment thresholds no longer apply | No state fee; reception and social support | No threshold as with the NLV; treatment and means are assessed |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
A current holder moves towards long-term resident status by the general route — 5 consecutive years of temporary residence.
Route to citizenship
The general naturalisation period is 10 years of lawful residence. For nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and for Sephardic Jews — 2 years.
Frequently asked questions about Investor residence (closed)
When was the investor visa programme abolished?
Are investor visas already issued still valid?
What happens to applications lodged before 3 April 2025?
What alternatives are available to investors?
How is long-term resident status obtained in Spain?
Other ways to move to Spain
- Asilo / Protección InternacionalAsylum / refugee status
- Protección SubsidiariaSubsidiary protection
- Razones HumanitariasHumanitarian protection
- ArraigoRegularisation
- Non-lucrative residence permitTemporary residence permit without the right to work
- Residence and employment permitTemporary residence permit and authorisation to work as an employee
- Self-employment residence permitTemporary residence permit and authorisation for self-employed activity
- Study stayLong-stay authorisation for study
- Family reunification residence permitTemporary residence permit for a resident's family members
- EU long-term residencePermanent residence with EU long-term resident status
- Citizenship by naturalisationNaturalisation by period of residence
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Spain.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.