For over a decade, one route shaped a large slice of Spain's luxury property market: buy a home worth at least €500,000, and residency followed. The "Golden Visa" turned a property purchase into a passport to Schengen mobility — and drew thousands of international buyers to the Costa del Sol, Mallorca, Ibiza, and Barcelona.
That route is now closed. If you're buying property in Spain in 2026, the rules are different from what you may have read even two years ago. This guide explains what actually changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for international buyers planning a home on the Costa del Sol.
A note before we start: Brunello by Kats is an interior design and architecture holding, not an immigration or legal advisor. The summary below reflects the public legal position as of 2026, but you should always confirm your specific situation with a qualified Spanish immigration lawyer.
What Changed: The Golden Visa Is Gone
The headline is simple. Spain's investor residence programme — the Golden Visa — was abolished by Organic Law 1/2025, which closed new applications from 3 April 2025. The law repealed the relevant articles of the 2013 legislation that had created the scheme, and there is no direct replacement.
In practical terms for anyone reading this in 2026, the €500,000 property-for-residency route no longer exists for new applicants. Buying a home in Spain no longer comes with residency attached.
A few details matter:
- Existing holders are protected. Those who already held a Golden Visa, or filed before the cut-off date fall under transitional rules and can generally renew and progress toward permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship.
- There is no grace period and no equivalent scheme. The property route wasn't replaced by another property-based programme. Spain has no residency-by-property option in 2026.
- The motivation was housing. The government framed the change as a response to housing affordability and speculation in the most pressured urban markets.
What Stayed the Same: You Can Still Buy Freely
Here's the part that often gets lost in the headlines. The end of the Golden Visa did not restrict foreigners from buying property in Spain at all.
Non-EU and EU citizens alike continue to enjoy exactly the same property ownership rights as before. There is no ban, no new restriction, and no residency requirement to purchase. You can buy a villa in Benahavís, an apartment in Puerto Banús, or land anywhere in Spain as a non-resident, just as you always could.
What changed is only the link between buying and residency. The two are now fully decoupled: you can buy without gaining residency, and you can obtain residency (through other routes) without buying. For the large number of Marbella buyers who were purchasing a lifestyle home rather than chasing a visa, very little has changed in practice.
What It Means for International Buyers in 2026
The shift reshapes why and how some people buy — even if the act of buying is unchanged.
The Property Itself Matters More
When residency was attached, some buyers treated the purchase as a means to a visa, with the home almost secondary. With that incentive gone, the quality of the property — and what it's like to actually live in it — moves to the centre. You're buying a home to enjoy, not a qualifying asset. That makes design, renovation potential, and how well the space suits your life more important than ever.
"A Home for Living," Not "An Investment for a Visa"
The market is tilting toward genuine lifestyle and second-home buyers: families planning a future move, people splitting the year across countries, those drawn by the climate and the coast rather than the paperwork. If that's you, the end of the Golden Visa is largely a non-event for your purchase — and a reason to focus your energy on making the home right.
Residency, If You Want It, Now Has Other Routes
If living in Spain long-term is part of your plan, residency is still very achievable — just not through property. The commonly used routes in 2026 include the Non-Lucrative Visa (for those with sufficient passive income or savings, no work in Spain), the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers and freelancers with income from outside Spain), and the Entrepreneur Visa (for those launching an approved business). Each has its own income thresholds and requirements, and each is independent of whether you own property. A Spanish immigration lawyer can advise which fits your circumstances.
Independent Advice Is More Important
When residency was bundled with the purchase, many buyers leaned on developer-appointed lawyers. With the two now separate, having your own independent legal and tax team matters more — for the purchase itself, for tax and succession planning, and for any residency application you pursue in parallel.
Where Interior Design Fits In
If the home itself is now the point, then making it genuinely yours is where the value lies. Most Marbella properties are resales, and many need updating to match how an international owner actually wants to live — open, light-filled, tailored.
This is where a considered renovation and furnishing project turns a purchase into a home. Whether you're buying to live, to enjoy seasonally, or as a long-term family base, the work that follows the purchase is what makes it worth it. If you're managing that from abroad, our guide to renovating a home in Spain from abroad covers how to do it without the stress — and you can see the kind of transformations involved across our project portfolio.
Planning a Home on the Costa del Sol?
Once the purchase is settled, the next question is how to make the space truly yours.
We offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation with a specialist to talk through your property's potential — design, renovation, and furnishing — wherever you're based. No obligation, online or in person. Book your consultation here, or visit our showroom in Puerto Banús.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get residency in Spain by buying property in 2026?
No. The €500,000 property-for-residency route — the Golden Visa — was abolished by Organic Law 1/2025 and closed to new applicants on 3 April 2025. Buying property no longer grants residency. You can still buy freely as a foreigner, but residency now requires a separate route such as the Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad, or Entrepreneur Visa.
Can foreigners still buy property in Spain after the Golden Visa ended?
Yes, completely. The end of the Golden Visa did not restrict property purchases at all. Non-EU and EU citizens have the same ownership rights as before, with no residency requirement and no new restrictions. Only the link between buying and residency was removed.
When did Spain's Golden Visa end?
Spain's investor Golden Visa closed to new applications on 3 April 2025, under Organic Law 1/2025 (published in the official gazette on 3 January 2025), which repealed the relevant articles of the 2013 law that created it. There is no direct replacement programme.
What happens to existing Golden Visa holders?
Existing holders and those who applied before the 3 April 2025 cut-off are generally protected under transitional rules. They can typically renew their permits and continue toward permanent residency and eventual citizenship, provided they meet the original conditions. Anyone in this situation should confirm details with a Spanish immigration lawyer.
What are the alternatives to the Golden Visa for living in Spain?
The commonly used routes in 2026 are the Non-Lucrative Visa (for those with sufficient passive income or savings who won't work in Spain), the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers with income from outside Spain), and the Entrepreneur Visa (for an approved business venture). All are independent of property ownership, and each has its own income and documentation requirements.
Does buying a home in Spain still make sense without the visa?
For lifestyle and second-home buyers, very much so. With residency no longer the driver, the focus shifts to the quality of the home and how well it suits your life — which is arguably a healthier basis for the purchase. Spain remains one of the most attractive destinations for international homeowners; the home itself is now simply the point, rather than a means to a visa.