Buying Guide · Residency

Residency in Spain After the Golden Visa: Your 2026 Options

By Sunset Homes · 9 min read · Updated 2026

Spain’s Golden Visa — residency in exchange for a €500,000 property investment — was abolished in 2025. For non-EU buyers who once eyed that route, the question now is: how do you live in Spain legally? The good news is there are clear, well-established alternatives. Here is the 2026 landscape.

The non-lucrative visa (NLV)

The most popular route for retirees and the financially independent. You demonstrate sufficient passive income or savings to support yourself without working in Spain, plus private health insurance. It grants one year initially, then renews. It pairs naturally with buying a home — many of our retirement buyers use exactly this.

The digital nomad visa

Introduced under the Startups Law, this suits remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Spain. It allows you to live in Spain while working for foreign clients or employers, with favourable tax treatment in some cases. Income thresholds and documentation apply.

Other paths

• Work or highly-qualified visas — if you have a Spanish employer or company.
• Student visas — for longer study stays.
• Family reunification — if a close relative holds residency.

Each has its own income, insurance and documentation requirements. Always verify current rules with the Spanish consulate or an immigration lawyer; official information is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

So why buy if it doesn’t give residency?

Because a home and a visa are two separate, complementary decisions. Buy the property you want; obtain residency through the route that fits your situation. UK buyers in particular should read this alongside our post-Brexit guide, since the 90/180 rule is what most often drives the decision to seek residency.