The Spain Golden Visa program allows individuals to obtain residency in Spain through a qualifying investment.
The Spain Golden Visa provides a pathway to Spanish citizenship, but there are specific conditions and timelines that applicants must follow. Here’s how the process works:
1. Residency Requirement for Citizenship
- Ten-Year Residency: To become eligible for Spanish citizenship, Golden Visa holders must reside in Spain for at least ten years. This requirement involves continuous legal residency, meaning the visa holder must have spent the majority of each year (typically more than six months per year) in Spain.
- Minimal Stay Requirement for the Visa: While the Golden Visa itself has a minimal stay requirement (requiring holders to visit Spain at least once per year), meeting the residency requirement for citizenship involves a much more substantial presence in Spain.
2. Pathway from Golden Visa to Permanent Residency
- Permanent Residency After Five Years: Golden Visa holders can apply for permanent residency after five years of maintaining their investment and meeting the basic residency requirements. Permanent residency allows for an indefinite stay in Spain, making it easier to meet the citizenship residency requirements.
- Citizenship Application After Permanent Residency: After holding permanent residency for five additional years, the Golden Visa holder becomes eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship, provided they meet all other conditions.
3. Other Citizenship Requirements
- Language and Cultural Integration: Applicants for Spanish citizenship must demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Spanish language and an understanding of Spanish culture and society. This typically involves passing a language test (DELE A2 or higher) and a cultural test (CCSE).
- Good Conduct and No Criminal Record: Applicants must have a clean criminal record and demonstrate good conduct during their period of residency in Spain.
4. Dual Citizenship Considerations
- Dual Citizenship Restrictions: Spain generally does not allow dual citizenship except for citizens of certain Latin American countries, including Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal. Golden Visa holders from other countries may need to renounce their original citizenship to obtain Spanish citizenship.
Summary
The Spain Golden Visa offers a pathway to Spanish citizenship, but to achieve this, visa holders must reside in Spain for at least ten years, meeting the substantial residency requirements. After five years, they can apply for permanent residency and after another five years, for citizenship. Applicants must also demonstrate language proficiency, cultural integration, and good conduct. Dual citizenship may not be permitted, depending on the applicant's original nationality. For more detailed guidance, consulting official Spanish immigration websites and legal advisors is recommended.