Quick answer: Spain’s Golden Visa property route has ended
Spain ended the real estate Golden Visa route on April 3, 2025. Buying property in Marbella, the Costa del Sol or elsewhere in Spain should not be presented as a current way to obtain Spanish residency through the former investor-residence property route.
This guide has been updated for buyers researching Marbella property after the Golden Visa change. It is general information only, not immigration or legal advice. Non-EU buyers should discuss residence options with a qualified immigration lawyer before making decisions.
- What changed: the real estate investment route to Spain’s Golden Visa is no longer available for new applicants.
- What did not change: international buyers can still buy property in Spain, subject to normal legal, tax and banking checks.
- Next step: separate the property purchase decision from residence planning and use specialist legal advice for both.
What changed in 2025?
For many years, non-EU buyers associated Spanish property purchases with the Golden Visa route. That changed in 2025. Spain ended investor residence visas connected to real estate investment, with the change taking effect on April 3, 2025.
For Marbella buyers, the practical point is simple: the purchase of a villa, apartment, penthouse or new development should be evaluated on lifestyle, investment quality, legal status, holding costs and long-term plans, not on an assumption that the purchase creates a current Golden Visa path.
Can foreign buyers still buy property in Marbella?
Yes. Foreign buyers can still purchase property in Marbella and across the Costa del Sol. The end of the Golden Visa property route does not remove the ability to buy real estate. It changes the immigration-residency planning around that purchase.
Buyers should still carry out normal checks around title, planning status, community fees, taxes, financing, ownership structure and ongoing costs. A property advisor can help with search strategy and local market context, while a lawyer should handle legal due diligence and immigration questions.
What does this mean for Marbella property buyers?
Marbella remains attractive for lifestyle, second-home use, relocation planning, rentals and long-term ownership. The difference is that buyers should be clear about their primary objective. A home can still be a strong lifestyle or investment decision, but residence rights need to be considered separately.
For some buyers, the next conversation may involve tax residence, non-lucrative residence, digital nomad options, work or business routes, family circumstances, or time limits for Schengen stays. Those options depend on personal circumstances and should be reviewed with qualified professionals.
How to approach a Marbella purchase after the Golden Visa change
- Define the property purpose: lifestyle, second home, relocation, rental, capital preservation or future resale.
- Choose the right area: compare Marbella, Estepona, Benahavis, Golden Mile, Nueva Andalucia, Elviria and other micro-locations.
- Separate legal tracks: use a property lawyer for conveyancing and an immigration lawyer for residence planning.
- Check ownership costs: taxes, community fees, maintenance, insurance, utilities and any rental compliance requirements.
- Use local market advice: compare similar homes, private opportunities and realistic resale demand before committing.
Spain Golden Visa FAQs
Did Spain end the Golden Visa for property buyers?
Yes. Spain ended the real estate investment route to the Golden Visa, effective April 3, 2025. New buyers should not treat a Marbella property purchase as a current Golden Visa residency route.
Can Marbella property still provide Spanish residency?
A property purchase alone should not be relied on as a current Golden Visa route. Buyers who need residence planning should speak with an immigration lawyer about options that match their nationality, income, work, family and tax situation.
Can non-EU buyers still buy homes in Marbella?
Yes. Non-EU buyers can still buy homes in Marbella. The change affects the former investor-residence route, not the ability to purchase real estate.
What should buyers do before purchasing after the Golden Visa change?
Buyers should confirm their residence position with an immigration lawyer, complete legal due diligence on the property and make the purchase decision based on property fundamentals rather than a discontinued visa route.
Useful next steps
Read more about buying property in Marbella, review our property advisory services, understand buyer documentation through Decree 218 in Andalucia, or contact Real Marbella Estate for a private property search discussion.
