Spain residency in 2026: 6 visa paths after Golden Visa was cancelled

The famous Golden Visa via property is gone since April 2025. Here are the 6 visa options that still work for foreigners who want to live in Spain in 2026, with the real income thresholds and timelines.

What changed: Golden Visa is gone

The Spanish "Golden Visa" through property purchase ended on 3 April 2025 under Law 1/2025. After that date, no new Golden Visa applications based on a 500 000 € property purchase have been accepted. Existing visa holders keep their permits until expiry but cannot renew on the same grounds.

What is still possible in 2026: buying property in Spain as a foreigner, and getting residency through a separate route. They are two unrelated things now. Buying gives you the asset; residency comes through one of the six paths below.

The 6 paths to live legally in Spain in 2026

1. Non-lucrative visa (visado no lucrativo) - the most popular

For people with passive income or savings who do not need to work in Spain. You prove that you can support yourself without taking a Spanish job.

Requirement	2026 figure
Passive income or savings	€28 800 / year for the applicant (4 × IPREM)
Per dependent	+ €7 200 / year each
Health insurance	Private, full cover, no co-pay
Criminal record	Clean for last 5 years
First period	1 year, then renewable for 2 + 2 + 2 years

This is the path for early retirees, financially independent buyers, and anyone with proven rental income or investments abroad. You can buy property and live in it, but the property does not "count" toward the visa.

2. Digital nomad visa - for remote workers

Introduced in 2023, refined in 2025. For employees or freelancers working remotely for a non-Spanish company.

Requirement	2026 figure
Monthly income	€2 646 net (2 × Spanish minimum wage)
Per dependent	+75 % first, +25 % each next
Work contract / freelance	At least 3 months old
Spanish clients	Max 20 % of income
Health insurance	Private
First period	1 year (consulate) or 3 years (in Spain), renewable

This is the fastest growing path for tech workers, designers, consultants who can prove their salary in EUR-equivalent.

3. Work visa (permiso de trabajo) - with a Spanish employer

A Spanish company hires you, the company files for the permit, you arrive on a 1-year visa. Hardest path because the company must prove no EU candidate could fill the role (with exceptions for "shortage occupations" list).

For most international buyers this is not the route, but mentioned for completeness.

4. Student visa - for long courses

If you (or a family member) enrol in an accredited Spanish university or professional course of 6+ months, you get a student visa. You can buy property while on a student visa, you cannot work full-time but you can do 30 hrs/week of side work.

Useful for families where the primary applicant takes a master's degree and brings dependents.

5. Entrepreneur visa (emprendedor) - innovative business

Set up a business in Spain that the government deems "innovative" (tech, science, social impact). Requires a business plan approved by ENISA. Investment threshold flexible, focus is the project's value.

Realistic for tech founders. Niche otherwise.

6. Family reunification (reagrupación familiar)

If your spouse, parent or adult child already has Spanish residency, you can join them. Standard EU rules apply. Cleanest path if you have such family ties.

Special path: highly-qualified worker (Beckham Law)

Not a visa type strictly, but a tax regime. Foreign professionals who move to Spain to work as company directors or executives can opt into the Beckham Law for the first 6 years: 24 % flat income tax instead of progressive (up to 47 %). Combined with a normal work visa, this is the path most senior expats take.

Salary threshold: usually €60 000+ for tax-meaning, but the law itself has no minimum.

What about Ukrainian citizens specifically

Ukrainians benefit from the EU Temporary Protection Directive activated in March 2022 and extended through at least 2026. Practical effects:

Immediate right to live, work and study in any EU country (including Spain)
Free access to Spanish healthcare and public services
Quick residence permit issued by Spanish Extranjería on presentation of Ukrainian passport
No income or sponsorship threshold required

If you are a Ukrainian citizen, you do not need to apply for any of the six visas above. The temporary protection card is your residency. You can buy property freely. We help dozens of Ukrainian buyers per year and the paperwork is genuinely simpler than for any other nationality.

What about Russian citizens specifically

Russian citizens are treated as standard third-country nationals. All six paths above are open, but with additional documentation:

Source-of-funds proof required for any property purchase over €100 000
Spanish banks request notarised history of last 3-5 years of income
Some banks decline applications outright; others are open. We know which ones currently approve
Cyprus / UAE / Turkey / Serbia residency on top of Russian passport makes everything smoother

We have closed deals for Russian buyers throughout 2024 and 2025. It is harder than for EU citizens, but very much possible with the right bank and proper paperwork.

Other nationalities

Country	Easiest path 2026
UK	Digital nomad if you work remote, non-lucrative if retired
USA / Canada	Digital nomad or non-lucrative; FATCA reporting separate
Germany / France / NL (EU)	No visa needed - EU freedom of movement
Israel	Standard third-country, non-lucrative or digital nomad
China / India	Standard third-country, work or student visa most common
LATAM	Some have bilateral fast-tracks - check your country

Timeline expectations

Path	Typical processing time
Temporary protection (Ukrainian)	Same week, on arrival
Non-lucrative (consulate)	2-4 months
Digital nomad (consulate)	1-2 months
Digital nomad (in Spain)	20 working days by law
Student visa	1-3 months
Work visa	3-6 months
Entrepreneur	2-4 months after ENISA approval

Cost summary

Consular fees are usually 60-140 € depending on the visa type and nationality. The real cost is in documentation and translation: budget €500-1500 per applicant for a clean file. Add a lawyer if your case is unusual (300-800 € flat).

FAQ

Can I get permanent residency / citizenship by buying property? No. The Golden Visa was the only direct property-to-residency path and it is closed. You can buy and live as a tourist (90 days) but for residency you need one of the 6 visas.

Does buying property help my visa application? Indirectly. Owning property in Spain shows ties and stable accommodation, which improves your file for non-lucrative or family reunification. But it is not a substitute for meeting the income criteria.

How long to citizenship? 10 years of legal residency for most nationalities. 2 years for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Sephardic Jews. Citizenship requires giving up your original passport in most cases.

Can I work in Spain on a non-lucrative visa? No. That is the whole point of the "non-lucrative" name. If you want to work, the digital nomad visa is your path.

What we do

We are an estate agency, not an immigration firm, but we work weekly with three Valencia immigration lawyers we trust. When you buy property with us we connect you with the right one for your nationality and goal. The first 30-minute consultation is free for our clients.

Email info@wesnagroup.com to start, or pick a flat in our catalog and we cover the rest end-to-end.