Golden Visa – Residency for Equity Investors: Visa and Authorization

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Obtaining Golden Visa

To obtain the visa (if you are outside of Spain) or the authorization (if you are already legally in Spain) based on the concept of capital investment, certain minimum investment requirements must be met. Both the visa and the authorization will enable you to reside and work in Spain.

The visa for capital investment is also known as the Golden Visa, especially when the investment is made in real estate.

Who is the Golden Visa for?

Two cases must be distinguished:

It is aimed at non-EU individuals who make a significant capital investment in financial assets, real estate acquisition, or any business project. It is also aimed at foreign individuals who own a company when the investment is made by a legal entity domiciled in a territory not considered a tax haven. In this case, the foreign individual must directly or indirectly own the majority of voting rights and have the power to appoint or dismiss the majority of the members of its management body.

What is your situation?

If you are outside of Spain, you must apply for the residence visa for investors through capital investment or for the acquisition of real estate at the diplomatic missions or consular offices of Spain in your country of residence.

If you are legally in Spain, you must apply for the residence authorization for investors through capital investment.

What requirements do I have to meet regarding investor residence?

Both for the visa and for the authorization, you must meet the general requirements for residence in Spanish territory and the specific requirements related to the type of visa or residence authorization for investors through capital investment or for the acquisition of real estate.

In the case of the authorization, it is not required for the holder to reside or stay for a certain time in the territory, but they may hold the authorization without necessarily living in Spain and only traveling to Spain at least once a year.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - GOLDEN VISA

Not being irregularly in Spanish territory.
Being over 18 years of age. Having no criminal record in Spain and in the countries where you have resided during the last five years, for crimes provided for in Spanish law.
Not being prohibited from entering Spain or being listed as inadmissible in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement to that effect.
Having sufficient economic resources for yourself and for your family members during your period of residence in Spain.
Having health insurance contracted with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain.
Paying the fee for processing the authorization.

SPECIFIC INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS

Make an investment that meets the minimum amounts required:

Investment in financial assets, making an initial investment equal to or greater than one of the following values:

Two million euros in Spanish public debt securities.
One million euros in shares or social participations of Spanish capital companies with a real business activity. One million euros in investment funds, closed-end investment funds, or venture capital funds established in Spain.
One million euros in bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions.
Acquisition of real estate in Spain with an investment value of 500,000 euros or more (Golden visa).

Investment in a business project to be developed in Spain and considered and accredited as being of general interest, in which case compliance with at least one of the following conditions will be evaluated: Creation of jobs.

Execution of an investment with socio-economic impact of relevance in the geographical area where the activity will be carried out. Relevant contribution to scientific or technological innovation.

What is its validity?

Visa: It has a validity period of one year (except for the acquisition of real estate through a deposit contract: 6 months). Authorization: It has a validity period of three years. Once the period has expired, the authorization may be renewed for periods of five years, provided that the conditions that generated the right are maintained.

Can I bring my family with me with my golden visa?

Yes. Your family members can accompany you on your trip and, at any time, they can apply, jointly or successively, for the authorization or the visa. This condition applies to:

Spouse or registered partner Children of the holder, or of the spouse or partner, under the age of 18 or of legal age, who economically depend on the holder or their spouse or partner, and have not constituted a family unit themselves. First-degree ascendants dependent on the holder or their spouse or partner.

Who can make the application?

The foreign person can submit the visa or authorization application personally or through a representative with proper accreditation.

Golden Visa Applicant Profile Spain

To obtain a Golden Visa Spain, in addition to your investment (real estate or non-real estate) and other general requirements, you must demonstrate that you fit one of these profiles:

Investor Entrepreneur Highly skilled professional.
Researcher.
Transfer of employees within the same company or group of companies.

However, any of these profiles need to make an investment in Spain to obtain the Spanish Golden Visa.

What documentation is required for the Golden Visa?

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

Application form for authorization or national visa, as applicable. Identity document or passport.
Public or private health insurance contracted with a company operating in Spain.
Certificate of criminal record from the country or countries where you have lived for the past 2 years, for crimes provided for in Spanish law.
Additionally, a sworn statement of the absence of criminal records for the past five years will be presented.
Evidence of having sufficient financial means for yourself and for your family members during your period of residence in Spain (400% of the IPREM for the main applicant and 100% of the IPREM for each accompanying family member).

SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION

If it is an investment in financial assets in Spain:

In public debt: minimum amount of 2 million euros (€).
Acquisition of shares or social participations in Spanish capital companies: minimum amount of 1 million euros (€).
In investment funds: minimum amount of 1 million euros (€).
In bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions: minimum amount of 1 million euros (€).
If it is an investment in real estate, it must be for a minimum amount of 500,000 euros (€).

If it is an investment in a business project in Spain, there is no minimum amount for this type of investment, as its impact on the general interest is evaluated according to three factors: Creation of jobs. Socio-economic impact in the geographical area where the activity will be carried out. Relevant contribution to scientific or technological innovation. To demonstrate the accreditation of the investment, the following specific documentation must be provided according to each specific case:

In public debt: certificate from a financial institution or the Bank of Spain.

In non-listed shares: declaration of investment made in the foreign investment registry of the Directorate-General for International Trade and Investments (DGCOMINVER). In listed shares: certificate from a financial intermediary registered with the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) or the Bank of Spain.

In investment funds: certificate from the management company. Bank deposit: certificate from the financial institution. In real estate: certificate from the property registry and deed of sale. If the purchase of the property has not been formalized, the deposit contract formalized in a public deed must be presented. The ownership and charges certificate must be presented. In a business project: favorable report issued by the DGCOMINVER.

Who has to apply for the visa or residence permit?

The investor or their legal representative must apply for the visa or residence permit through the golden visa application form. It is important to distinguish WHERE you are at the time of application to know whether you will apply for your Investor Visa or, on the contrary, your Residence Permit:

INVESTOR VISA, if you are outside of Spain at the time of application. Visa applications must be made at the Spanish Consulate in the country of origin or residence. Residence permit applications must be made at the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit (UGE-CE). RESIDENCE PERMIT, if you are currently in Spain at the time of application. Residence permit applications must be made at the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit (UGE-CE), and we can electronically submit all documents and applications on your behalf and representation.

What is the deadline?

Visa: Once the documentation has been validated, the fee paid, and the requirements met, your residence visa for investors through capital investment or for the acquisition of real estate will be issued within a period of ten working days according to the law. Authorization: Your residence authorization for investors through capital investment or for the acquisition of real estate will be resolved within a period of twenty working days. You will receive a notification of the status of your application through the email provided at the time of application.

Benefits of Golden Visa or Visa Oro España

This program requires a very specific situation, but the benefits of the gold visa card related to your residence in Spain are notable. The Golden Visa Spain requires you to be the holder of a Golden Visa from Spain or Visa Oro España, which means:

It grants you entry into the EU (Schengen area).
You can apply for the same permit for your spouse or partner, minor or legal age children who economically depend on you, and also include ascendants.
You only need to visit Spain once a year to maintain the permit, and even then, no prolonged stay is necessary.
The initial residence permit for investors is valid for two years. After that period, non-EU investors interested in residing in Spain for longer can apply for the renewal of the residence permit for successive periods of 5 years, provided that the conditions are maintained.
Once the 2-year permit is granted, you are entitled to work as an entrepreneur or employee.
After ten years, you have the option to apply for Spanish nationality.