Residency Support for Property Buyers in Spain

This page is for international buyers who want to understand residency before they buy a home on the Costa del Sol. You want to know whether buying gives you the right to live in Spain, and which visa fits you. This page gives you clear, honest answers in simple language.

Residency in Spain is one of the most misunderstood topics for foreign buyers. The rules changed recently, and a lot of old advice is now wrong. Let us set the record straight.

Quick answer: Buying property in Spain does NOT give you residency. The Golden Visa was abolished on 3 April 2025. EU citizens need no visa and simply register as residents. Non-EU citizens must apply for a visa, such as the Non-Lucrative Visa or the Digital Nomad Visa, and are otherwise limited to 90 days in any 180 by Schengen rules.

The most important fact: buying is not residency

Please read this section carefully, because it corrects the single biggest mistake buyers make. Owning a home in Spain does not give you the right to live there full-time. The two things are completely separate.

For years, buyers could get residency through the Golden Visa by investing in property. That route is gone. The Golden Visa was abolished on 3 April 2025. So buying a home today gives you no residency rights at all.

• Owning property lets you visit and use your home, but it does not extend how long you may stay.
• Residency comes only from a separate visa or, for EU citizens, from registering as a resident.
• Anyone who tells you that buying a home gets you residency is giving you outdated information.

Warning: Do not buy a Spanish home expecting it to grant you the right to live in Spain. Since 3 April 2025, that is simply not how it works. Decide your residency plan separately, and ideally before you buy, so there are no painful surprises.

What this means for non-EU buyers

If you are a non-EU citizen, for example from the UK or the United States, this changes things in a way many do not expect. The biggest shock is the limit on how long you can stay.

As a non-EU visitor, you are bound by the Schengen 90/180 rule. This means you may spend only 90 days inside any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen area. Owning a home does not change this.

• If you want to live in Spain for longer than 90 days at a time, you need a visa. There is no way around it.
• The 90 days are counted across the whole Schengen area, not just Spain, so trips to France or Italy also count.
• Going over the limit can lead to fines or entry bans, so it is worth tracking your days carefully.

This surprises many buyers who imagined splitting the year freely between Spain and home. You can still enjoy your home, but a long stay needs the right visa.

The main visa options, explained

If you are non-EU and want to stay longer, two visas come up most often. Each suits a different situation. Knowing the basics helps you choose without fear.

The first is the Non-Lucrative Visa, often called the NLV. It is for people who can support themselves without working in Spain, such as retirees or those with passive income.

• The NLV needs about 2.400 euros a month of passive income, plus about 600 euros a month for each dependent.
• You apply from your home country, not from inside Spain.
• It does not allow you to work, and it expects you to spend at least 183 days a year in Spain.

The second is the Digital Nomad Visa, for people who work remotely for clients or employers outside Spain.

• It needs about 2.760 to 2.850 euros a month in income, with 80% or more coming from outside Spain.
• It can use the Beckham Law, a special tax regime with a flat 24% tax rate on Spanish income up to 600.000 euros.
• It suits remote workers and freelancers who keep their income based abroad.

Bonus tip: Tax residency is not only about the 183-day rule. You can also be treated as a Spanish tax resident if Spain becomes your main centre of economic interest, even with fewer days here. A tax resident is taxed on worldwide income, not just Spanish income, and Spanish taxes are not light, so you do not want this unless you genuinely intend to live here. Always take tax advice before you choose a visa.

Good news for EU buyers

Here is the reassuring part for our EU buyers. If you hold citizenship of any EU country, the whole visa worry mostly disappears. As an EU citizen, you have the right to live in Spain.

You do not need any visa at all. You simply move and then complete a straightforward registration.

• You register as a resident and receive a green residency certificate, sometimes called the green NIE.
• This registration is normally needed once you plan to stay longer than 90 days.
• You keep the freedom of movement that comes with EU citizenship, so long stays are not a problem.

So while non-EU buyers must plan a visa, EU citizens can settle far more easily. It is one of the real advantages of buying as an EU citizen.

How we help, and why that matters

We are not immigration lawyers, and we will never pretend to be. What we do is make sure you understand your real options before you commit to a home. That alone prevents a lot of heartache.

Our trusted lawyer can help with residency, or put you in touch with a dedicated immigration specialist. Either way, you get proper guidance from someone qualified, not guesswork from a salesperson.

• We make sure you know whether buying matches your residency plan, so you do not buy on a false assumption.
• We connect you with the right expert for your situation, whether that is the lawyer or an immigration specialist.
• We give you the honest picture, including the downsides, such as the tax effect of becoming resident.

Why work with Spain Developments

We are a fully independent buyer's agent with access to every development on the Costa del Sol. Independence means we have no reason to oversell. We would rather you understand the residency rules clearly than make a decision you regret.

Our buying service is free to you, because the developer pays our fee. The price is the same whether you buy through us or go direct, so going direct saves you nothing. With us, you get an honest guide who tells you the truth, including when the truth is inconvenient.

Sticking with one trusted buyer's agent means you are not overwhelmed by conflicting advice. You have one calm point of contact for the property, and a clear route to the right residency specialist.

When you are ready, we will help you understand your options and connect you with the right people, so your home and your residency plan fit together properly.