Spain’s Golden Visa Demand Hits Record High as Deadline Approaches

Applications for Spain’s Golden Visa program are growing rapidly as the official deadline approaches. In Madrid alone, applications from U.S. nationals have surged by 200% since December 2024, when Spanish authorities confirmed that the program would only remain active for a few more months.

The residency-by-investment program, which has attracted high-net-worth individuals for over a decade, is being phased out as part of Spain’s strategy to address its housing crisis. The program will officially end on April 3, 2025, permanently closing the real estate investment route to residency in the country.

Foreign Investors Rush to Secure Spanish Residency

• Madrid remains the top destination for Golden Visa applicants, receiving nearly 75% of Spain’s total foreign investment in 2024.

• Applications tripled in June 2024 and surged further after the termination notice was published in the Official State Gazette on January 2, 2025.

• From January to October 2024, Spain issued approximately 780 Golden Visas to foreign investors.

Final Opportunity Before Spain Ends Its Golden Visa Program

With only weeks left before the closure, investors are moving quickly to secure Spanish residency with the real estate option. This last-minute application strike highlights the growing competition for residency-by-investment programs within the EU, as Spain follows other countries in tightening its foreign real estate investment policies.