Spain offers residence status to foreign nationals who make investments in the country or who wish to retire and live there.

The residence by investment programmes of Spain are popular because of their very fast processing times. Spain however is known to have very strict rules when renewing residencies.

ACIC has strong legal support in Spain. Our clients, after the renowned ACIC Due Diligence exercise is performed, are represented by top immigration lawyers in the field, who follow a strict mandate of excellence devised and enforced by ACIC.

Residence Visa for Investors

Residence Visa for investors in Spain allows foreigners who have invested in real estate, financial assets or Business Projects to live and work anywhere in Spain.

The awarding of this residence permit does not require actual residence in Spain (which is normally considered to be 183 or more days). The only requirement is to visit Spain once during the period of the residence permit.

Who can Apply

Investors who make a significant investment in Spain and their eligible family members.

Investment Types

1. Real Estate €500.000

Foreigners who can prove the acquisition of real estate in Spain with an investment value equal to or in excess of €500,000may apply for this residence permit.

1. Financial assets
    

1. Public debt €2,000,000
2. Shares: €1,000,000 (conditions apply)
3. Investment funds of close-end type or venture capital funds set up in Spain: €1,000,000 (conditions apply)
4. Bank deposits €1,000,000

A significant capital investment is understood as an initial investment with a value equal to or greater than 2 million Euros in Spanish government bonds issued or a value equal to or above 1 million Euros in shares or shares in Spanish companies or deposits into Spanish financial institutions.
 

1. Business projects

There is no minimum investment requirement for this category of investments, the investment must be of general interest to Spain. What qualifies as a project that reaps general interest to Spain and Spain’s economy?

1. A project that creates jobs.
2. Investment projects with a social and economic impact on the geographical area where they are made.
3. One that makes a significant contribution to scientific and/or technological innovation.

The valid time period of the Investor Visa will be:

1. 365 days, if the purchase has already been formalized.
2. 6 months, if the purchase has not yet been formalized but there is a pre-contract with guarantee of its compliance by means of deposit or other means allowed by law formalized in a public deed.

How to obtain the Resident Permit

1. Request an Investor Visa for one year/six months period.
2. After the one year/ six-month period, you can request a two-year residence permit that can be renewed:

• If the investment is maintained, and
• If you have made at least one day visit to Spain during the residence period.
   

1. After the two years period, you can apply to Renew the residence permit for five years.

Eligible Family Members

This programme allows the applicant to include:

• Spouse or person in a relationship similar to marriage.
• Dependents:

Adult children of up to 26 years and eleven months old:

1. who are financially dependent on the main applicant, and
2. who are full time students at a higher education institution, and
3. their main activity is to study at a higher education institution for the acquisition of a certificate of studies, i.e. a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.
4. Adult children over 18 years of age unable to provide for their own necessities due to their state of health.

Processing Times

• Visa decisions are made and notified within 10 working days.
• Residence permit decisions are made within 20 working days.

Non-lucrative Residency Program

This residence status allows foreign nationals who have met the requirements and have a reliable source of substantial income and savings, to reside in Spain without engaging in any type of lucrative activities such as employment of business activities.

This type of Residence permit enables foreign nationals to reside in Spain for a period of one year, with the possibility to extend their stay by submitting an application to renew their status.

The process may take between 2 to 3 months from the date all documents are presented.

Application Requirements

• Applicants must not be citizens of a State of the European Union, of the European Economic Area, a Swiss national or a family member of citizens of these countries; to which the regime of citizen of the European Union applies.
• Not be inside Spanish territory illegally.
• Non-criminal record certificate, issued by the authorities of the country of origin and / or the country where the applicant has lived for the last 5 years.
• Not to be prohibited from entering Spanish territory and not to be considered as rejected in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement in that sense.
• Proof of enough periodic income (investments, annuities, sabbaticals and any other source of income) to live in Spain without working. The minimum income required is 26,000 Euros annually plus 6,500 Euros per each additional family member.
• Medical Certificate which should be a doctor’s recent statement (not older than 3 months on doctor’s or medical center’s letterhead) indicating that The applicant has been examined and found free of any contagious diseases according to the International Health Regulations of 2005 and must be signed by a Medical Doctor.
• A health insurance policy with full coverage with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain.

Residency Obligation

The non-lucrative residency permit requires the holder not to be absent from Spain for more than 6 months per year in order to preserve and be able to renew the permit. To access long term residency, in addition to the previous requirement, the holder cannot be absent from Spain for more than 10 months in total over the 5 year of residency required.

Long Term Residency

The initial residence permit is issued for one year period and the applicant has the ability to renew it, if the requirements are met, the renewed permit is then issued with a validity of two years until the holder has been a resident in Spain for 5 years, at which point a long term residency can be granted.

The long-term residence permit is issued for 5 years. Every year that the applicant lives in Spain holding this permit counts towards the total necessary years for obtain the Spanish nationality by Residency.

Family Members

This programme allows the applicant to include:

• Spouse or person in a relationship similar to marriage (recorded in a public registry or proven by the applicant)
   
• Dependents:

Adult children of up to 21 years and eleven months old:

1. who are financially dependent on the main applicant, and
2. who are full time students at a higher education institution, and
3. their main activity is to study at a higher education institution for the acquisition of a certificate of studies, i.e. a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.

Adult children over 18 years of age unable to provide for their own necessities due to medical conditions.