Spain in 2026: who it suits and how the process works

Spain no longer has a "golden visa": the program closed in spring 2025. Moving there is still possible, but the logic has changed: instead of investing in real estate, you now need verified income. There are three main routes: the digital nomad visa (remote income from €2,849 per month), the passive income visa (from €2,400 per month) and the startup visa with no minimum investment amount. Processing takes from 1–2 months inside the country to 3–6 months through a consulate. The status is designed for an actual relocation.

The "golden visa" is gone

The "residence permit for real estate from €500,000" program ran from 2013 and closed in spring 2025. Visas issued earlier are being renewed, but no new applications are accepted. If someone offers you a "Spanish golden visa" in 2026, you are dealing with a dishonest intermediary. The working routes today are built around income, not capital.

The three routes of 2026

The digital nomad visa is the main route for working families. The employer and the clients must be located outside Spain, the working relationship must have lasted at least 3 months, and Spanish clients may bring in no more than 20% of the income. You will need a university degree or 3 years of documented experience. The income threshold is tied to the country's minimum wage and rises with the number of family members.

The passive income visa suits people living off investments and retirees. Pensions, dividends, rental income and savings that cover the annual amount are accepted; €600 per month is added for each family member. Working is not allowed, including remotely: consulates refuse applicants who show signs of active employment. If you work, your route is the digital nomad visa.

The startup visa remains the only entrepreneurial route. The state agency assesses the project within a few weeks: it looks at how technology-driven and scalable the project is, and at the team; restaurants, franchises and "projects built for the visa" do not pass.

Who can be included in the application

Along with the main applicant, status goes to a spouse (including a registered partner), minor children, and also dependent adult children and dependent parents. For citizens of a number of countries the option to apply is restricted or more complicated — check at a consultation, and we will suggest alternatives if needed.

How the process works

The fastest scenario is applying for the nomad visa from inside Spain: you enter on tourist status and file the application with the immigration service online. The legal review period is 20 working days, and the card is issued for 3 years straight away. The whole cycle, including preparing the documents, takes 1–2 months.

Applying through a consulate takes longer: 1–2 months goes on collecting documents and apostilles, and another 1–3 months on the review; the full cycle runs from 3 to 6 months. The passive income visa is filed only through a consulate.

You will need police clearance certificates with an apostille and a notarized translation, proof of income and full medical insurance from a Spanish insurer with no copayments. On top of that come mandatory consular and service payments for processing the application and issuing the documents; they depend on who is in the family, and if the application is refused the service fees are not returned. After arrival, what is left is to register at your place of residence, give your fingerprints and receive the resident card.

What the status gives you

Residence lets you live in Spain and travel across the Schengen area without visas for up to 90 days per half-year. The nomad visa allows remote work and is renewed on a "3 years + 2" scheme; renewal is possible even after long absences. The passive income visa prohibits work and requires actually living in the country at least 183 days a year.

Permanent residence can be obtained after 5 years of legal residence. On citizenship Spain is conservative: for most people applying for the passport becomes available after 10 years plus 1–2 years of review. You will have to pass language and culture exams and formally renounce your previous citizenship. An exception is made for people from Ibero-American countries: they are allowed dual citizenship, and the passport is available after just 2 years.

Taxes

You become a tax resident if you live in the country at least 183 days a year. A resident pays tax on worldwide income on a progressive scale with rates up to 47%. Employees on the nomad visa can use the Beckham regime: a flat 24% on the first €600,000 a year for 6 years; freelancers and passive income visa holders are generally not eligible for it. The regime is not granted automatically: you have to apply for it separately, and the application can be refused.

Wealthy families should factor in the solidarity tax on wealth from €3 million (a rate of up to 3.5%) and the mandatory declaration of foreign assets worth over €50,000.

Cost of living: rent and schools

Rents in the country are at a multi-year high; the most expensive cities are Madrid and Barcelona. A 2–3 bedroom apartment in a good area there costs €1,800–3,000 per month depending on the neighborhood. Valencia is about a quarter cheaper. A budget for a family of four without an international school comes to €3,500–5,000 per month depending on the city.

International schools (American, British, IB programs) cost roughly €10,000–24,000 a year in Madrid and €16,000–25,000 in Barcelona; a full senior-school budget with all the fees reaches up to €30,000 a year. Among the international schools: the American School of Madrid and Runnymede College in Madrid, Benjamin Franklin International School and the American School of Barcelona in Barcelona; places in them are booked in advance. Medical insurance for the visa usually costs €50–150 per month depending on age and coverage.

Downsides and risks

1. Queues for public services. Appointment slots for issuing the resident card and for renewals in Madrid and Barcelona are taken within minutes; build extra weeks into this stage.
2. The passport takes a long time: 10 years for most people plus the review and renunciation of your previous citizenship. Spain does not suit those looking for a fast EU passport.
3. The rental market is competitive: good apartments go quickly, and owners often ask a foreigner with no Spanish credit history for several months' deposit.

Who it suits and who it does not

It suits: remote employees and freelancers with clients abroad; people living off investments and retirees with stable passive income; founders of technology-driven projects; families for whom schools, climate and safety matter.

It does not suit: those who wanted a residence permit for real estate without relocating; those who are not ready to become Spanish tax residents; those counting on a fast EU passport.

What's next

If you want to try the Spanish routes on for your own situation — income, family make-up, taxes, schools — book a free Migronis consultation: migronis.com/consultation. We will go through your case and tell you which path is realistic for you specifically and whether Spain suits you.