Want to enjoy the sunny beaches and delicious cuisine of Spain, without having to fly back home after a few weeks? Well, you can acquire residency through the Spain Golden Visa. This article is the complete guide, containing everything you need to know about Spain Golden Visa’s.
Table of contents
- What is a Spain Golden Visa?
- Who Can Apply for a Golden Visa?
- What are the Spain Golden Visa Requirements?
- How much does a Spain Golden Visa Cost?
- When and Where to Apply for a Golden Visa?
- What are the Necessary Documents for a Spain Golden Visa?
- How to Take Passport Photos for a Golden Visa With Your Photo?
- Summary
- FAQ
What is a Spain Golden Visa?
The Spanish Golden Visa provides a number of benefits to the holder. It is a document provided by the Spanish government to certain individuals who are eligible to receive it.
Here is some information regarding the Golden Visa:
- The Golden Visa is a residence visa.
- The visa is valid for 2 years before renewal.
- The Golden Visa is issued to non-EU nationals.
- The golden visa is only issued to individuals who make a large investment in the Spanish economy.
- The Golden Visa can also be used by the holder and their family to have unlimited access to the Schengen zone in Europe.
This particular type of visa can also be referred to as the ‘Spain Investor Visa‘. This is because it can be acquired by businessmen who invest a significant sum in a Spanish company.
Usually, the Golden Visa is issued to those people who buy real estate, whether that be a single commercial unit or numerous residential properties.
Who Can Apply for a Golden Visa?
There are no citizenship requirements to be able to apply for a Golden Visa, such as having to have lived in Spain etc. The Golden Visa is meant for anyone living outside the European Union. The individual just has to make investments in the Spanish economy in certain ways.
This is a great way to fast-track Spanish residency if you can afford the upfront investment costs. It is also beneficial as it allows free movement through the rest of the European Union.
The Golden Visa also allows spouse and children under 18 to more easily access visas in Spain. Children will also be granted access to schools in Spain.
As well as this, any Golden Visa holder who has a baby in Spain, their newborn will receive a Spanish Passport, without any additional criteria that need to be met.
What are the Spain Golden Visa Requirements?
To be able to get an approved Golden Visa, you need to have invested in one of these ways:
- Made a purchase of real estate in Spain of the sum of €500,000 or more. This can be any number of properties. However, the total worth must be over €500,000.
- Invest in the Spanish public debt (bonds) to the value of €2,000,000 or more.
- Have shares in a Spanish company or have a deposit in a Spanish bank of €1,000,000 or more.
- Invest in a newly formed business that offers employment and that makes contribution to science/technology innovation. This business must also have a relevant socio-economic effect where its business is carried out.
Additionally, there are a number of legal requirements:
- You must be resident outside the European Union.
- The applicant must be 18 years or older.
- The applicant must not have a criminal record.
- If you have applied for a Schengen Visa before, it must not have been rejected.
- The applicant must have Spanish health insurance.
If you’re thinking about trying to get Spanish citizenship, this can be a viable route. The Golden Visa can be a precursor to citizenship, but you must have lived in Spain for 10 years or more. Equally, you must know the language and have ties to the country.
Acquiring a Spanish Passport gives access to many jobs in the European Union as well as unrestricted, visa free travel to many locations throughout the world.
How much does a Spain Golden Visa Cost?
Depending on the investment you make in Spain, the administrative cost of your Golden Visa will vary. There are also legal fees that you need to take into consideration.
The Spanish government charges a set fee for each type of Golden Visa. This fee will vary due to currency conversion rates.
Golden Visa Spain Costs:
- When investing in Spanish business: €1,137.
- Additional family members: €1,202.
- When investing in real estate and capital transfers: €1,910.
Above are the administrative fees, but there are also legal fees associated with applying for a Golden Visa. This is because it is necessary to hire the services of a law firm.
Approximate Legal Costs:
- Single Applicant: €8,000.
- Family Application: €10,500.
- Spain Golden Visa Renewal: €2,500
Apart from the hefty initial investment, these are the costs for a Spain Golden Visa.
When and Where to Apply for a Golden Visa?
Before starting your application process for the Spain Golden Visa, you need to have made your investments. Whether that be real estate, bank deposits, business investment or bond investment, this step needs to be completed first.
You don’t need to have finalized the investment, but you should have officially committed to it.
The Spanish government mandate:
- That you can apply up to three months before you intend to travel to Spain.
- Apply for your Spain Golden Visa in your home country.
- Can apple in Spain, provided you are resident in Spain on a long stay visa
- You must go through the Spanish embassy or consulate in your home country to apply.
Now you understand how to apply and when to apply, let’s take a look at the necessary documents.
What are the Necessary Documents for a Spain Golden Visa?
There is quite a long list of documents that are required for a Golden Visa for Spain. So make sure you get everything prepared before making your application.
Here are the documents required for a Spain Golden Visa application:
- A Spanish long stay visa application form.
- Two Passport photos.
- A valid Passport: It must be no older than 10 years.
- Proof of residence: in your home country.
- Proof of investment: All documents proving the type and amount of your investment as well as the origin of your money.
- Visas for Real Estate Investors:
- Certificates that prove you own the property, proof of Land Registry tax regarding the property.
- Visas for Capital Investors:
- A statement of investment made through the ‘Registrar of Foreign Investments of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, is for investments in unlisted shares and company shares.
- A certificate showing a financial intermediary, who is registered with the ‘National Commission of the Stock Market’ or the ‘Bank of Spain’. This is for when you invest in listed shares.
- A certificate from the ‘Bank of Spain’ or other parties, if you invest in government bonds.
- When making a bank deposit, certification from the party you invested through.
- Police Approval: You must send three versions of this document. Original, photocopied and translated. It must be a maximum of 90 days old when applying.
- Proof of adequate funds: to support yourself and your family while in Spain.
- Medical Insurance: organized through a Spanish medical insurance company.
- Certification: that shows you do not have a disease that could be a hazard to public health in Spain.
Applying for a Spain Golden Visa will take careful planning and quite a lot of time. It’s always worth getting professional help with it comes to the big legal processes.
So, why not go to the professionals when it comes to the little things? Like taking your Passport photo.
Our app, ‘Smartphone iD’ can be used to easily take pre-approved Passport photos. Our in-house experts will verify them before sending them to you digitally. We also have a professional printing service available, offering prints on high-grade photographic paper.
Scroll down to find out more!
How to Take Passport Photos for a Golden Visa With Your Phone?
Taking your Passport photo couldn’t be easier in this modern age. All you need is a smartphone and our app ‘Smartphone iD’.
Here’s how to use our app:
- Get ‘Smartphone iD’ through the app store, it’s available on iOS and Android.
- Using the app, take your photos ‘Smartphone iD’ will guide you on how to do this.
- Select the country you need Passport photos for.
- Select your document type, your photo will be made compliant for this document (Passport, driving license, visa, etc.).
- You’ll receive your photos digitally through email, after our experts have approved your photos.
- Either use these digital copies for printing them out yourself or we can offer you a professional-grade printing service, to make it even easier.
- We use only the best high-grade photographic paper for your Spain Golden Visa photos.
When you’ve not got the time to arrange an appointment with a photographer to have your Passport photo taken, it’s time to use ‘Smartphone iD’. Our app is a simple, secure and speedy way to get pre-approved Passport photos for your Spain Golden Visa.
Summary
If you’re spending so much time and effort to apply for a Spain Golden Visa, you might as well save a bit of time and money here and there. A great way to do this is when taking your Passport photos.
Why not give ‘Smartphone iD‘ a try? We’ll guarantee government approval or your money back.
FAQ
How long does a Golden Visa last?
A Spanish Golden Visa lasts for two years before you have to renew the document.
How much Income do I need for Spanish residency?
You must be a able to prove a minimum of €2316,08 income per month if you are an individual. If you have family, you must prove an extra €579.02 per month as well.
Do you get a Passport with a Golden Visa?
You don’t get a Spanish Passport with a Golden Visa, however if you eventually apply for Spanish citizenship you will receive a Passport.
Can I get residency in Spain if I buy a house?
Yes! You can get residency through this method. However, the value of the real estate must total to €500,000.
How does a Golden Visa work in Spain?
First, you must make a significant investment in the Spanish economy. Then you can apply for a Spain Golden Visa. The visa allows you to have residency in Spain, as well as free access to the European Union and visa-free access to many countries worldwide.
Investments that must be made:
- Made a purchase of real estate in Spain for the sum of €500,000 or more. This can be any number of properties. However, the total worth must be over €500,000.
- Invest in the Spanish public debt (bonds) to the value of €2,000,000 or more.
- Have shares in a Spanish company or have a deposit in a Spanish bank of €1,000,000 or more.
Do you pay Spanish tax on a Golden Visa?
If you don’t live in Spain for more than half the year (183 days), you don’t need to pay income tax. Though you have to pay taxes on any property you purchase in Spain.
If you are not a full-time resident in Spain, you will pay 24.75 percent of any income you receive through Spain.
