Surge in Applications for Spain's Golden Visa as Deadline Looms
Key Highlights
- Spain is witnessing a sharp increase in applications for its Golden Visa Program.
- According to Golden Partners, applications for the program tripled in June 2024 and have surged again since January 2 and 3, 2025.
- Spain’s Golden Visa Program is set to end on April 3, 2025, as part of measures to tackle the housing crisis.
A notable rise in applications for Spain's Golden Visa Program has been reported since January 3, 2025, according to Golden Partners, a consultancy specializing in international real estate investments in Spain.
The firm highlighted that the number of applications for the program tripled in June 2024 and surged once more starting January 2, particularly on January 3, when the decision to terminate the program was published in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE).
"We continue to receive a high volume of inquiries from clients worldwide, including countries like Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, China, the UAE, Belgium, Germany, the U.S., and Russia."
— Golden Partners
Ending the Golden Visa Program to Address Housing Issues
Spain’s Residency by Investment scheme, commonly known as the Golden Visa Program, allows non-EU nationals to obtain residency in exchange for meeting specific investment conditions. The most popular route involves purchasing property worth €500,000 or more.
Government data revealed that 2,017 visas were granted in 2022, and this figure rose to 3,273 in 2023.
In April 2024, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez announced the program’s termination to address the growing housing crisis. Minister of Housing Isabel Rodríguez emphasized that eliminating the Golden Visa Program was a necessary step to curb property market speculation and reduce housing prices.
“This type of investment puts significant pressure on the housing market, drives up property prices, and fosters speculation. The government's objective is to end this speculation.”
— Isabel Rodríguez, Minister of Housing
The announcement triggered a surge in applications. Between January and March 2024, an average of 69 golden visas were issued per month, which increased to 95 per month between April and October.
Since its inception in 2013, more than 15,300 non-EU nationals have obtained residency through Spain’s Golden Visa Program, with top beneficiaries hailing from China, the U.S., and the U.K.