Spain: British expats must race against the clock as expat deadline looms

MAEUEC explained: “If the investment is made by a couple married in community of property, one of the spouses may obtain an investor visa, and the other spouse, a visa as a family member of the investor.”

A significantly higher investment option is at least €2million in Spanish public debt securities, or €1million in stocks or shares in Spanish companies, investment or venture capital funds incorporated in Spain, or bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions.

For savvy entrepreneurs, “significant capital investment” into a business project that is of “general interest”, creates work and has a positive socio-economic or technological impact can help you fetch the investor visa.

Last year, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez explained that in “major cities” like Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia or Palma de Mallorca, 94 out of every 100 such visas are “linked to real estate investment”.

This played out against the backdrop of a “highly stressed market and where it’s almost impossible to find decent housing for those who already live, work and pay their taxes there”, he said.

Earlier this year, various measures were proposed to tackle the housing crisis, impacting Britons hoping to purchase a second home.

As the deadline for obtaining Spain’s Golden Visa approaches, Britons are re-evaluating their options.

Get Golden Visa said: “While Spain’s Golden Visa programme has given a conduit for individuals seeking residency through investment, its suspension is an important turning point in addressing housing affordability and regulatory challenges in the country.

“As new laws are implemented, potential investors will need to rethink their strategy while examining alternate routes to residency in Spain or other European countries.”

In Spain, options include a non-lucrative residency, digital nomad visa, student visa, or entrepreneurial visa.

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