Blog Archives - Property For Sale in Benahavis

European Real Estate Investment Expected to Hit €214 Billion in 2025
Real estate investment across Europe is forecasted to reach €214 billion in 2025, reflecting a 23% increase from the previous year, according to real estate consultancy Savills. This surge is attributed to shifting investor sentiment and strong data from the final quarter of 2024, during which investment in the sector reached €53 billion—a 31% rise compared to the same period the year before.
Savills projects that total investment for 2024 will reach approximately €174 billion, representing a 17% year-on-year growth. This upward trend underscores a renewed confidence in the European real estate market, driven largely by expectations of lower interest rates.
Spain Leads as the Top Investment Destination
Savills identifies Spain as the most attractive European market for real estate investment in 2025, based on a survey of international investors managing assets worth over €800 billion. Following Spain, the United Kingdom and France round out the top three preferred markets. More than half of surveyed investors indicated plans to increase their allocation to real estate assets across Europe and the Middle East in the coming year.
Investment interest remains strongest in assets valued between €20 million and €60 million, and Savills anticipates a rise in transaction volumes throughout 2025, supported by improved financial conditions.
Key Asset Trends
Residential and logistics properties continue to be the top choices among investors. However, the Savills survey also highlights a growing interest in office spaces located in financial districts, as well as increased demand for hotels, data centers, and retail properties. Notably, 45% of investors surveyed expressed a willingness to take on higher levels of risk, a significant jump from 28% in the previous edition. This shift is driven by limited new developments and increased competition for high-quality assets.
Sustainability is also playing an increasingly important role in investment strategies, with more investors aligning their portfolios with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria in 2025.
Key Factors Influencing Investment in 2025
Savills highlights several factors that will shape real estate investment performance in 2025, including global trade dynamics, political uncertainties, and the repurposing of outdated buildings. Additional influences include technological advancements, energy production, and the growing impact of climate change.
As the investment landscape evolves, diversification is becoming a crucial strategy for mitigating risks. Savills also anticipates increased cross-border and intra-European investment activity, fueled by a more dynamic office market, rising profitability, and growing rental yields.
February 14, 2025
How the rules for tourist lets in buildings in Spain change in April
From April 3rd 2025, it will be harder for homeowners with flats and apartments in shared residential buildings in Spain to convert them into short-term holiday lets for tourists.
With tourist numbers at historic highs and a serious housing crisis caused by rental and property prices hitting record levels, Spain’s national government is finally taking action against vacation rentals such as those on Airbnb.
Legislative powers are often decentralised in Spain, so cities and regions across the country have slowly been introducing their own regulations for tourist apartments over the last few years, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga and Seville, from no longer issuing tourist licences to rules on where they can open and the types of buildings they can open in.
But from April 3rd 2025, there will be a new rule regarding vacation rentals which will affect the whole country. If a rental is located a residential building shared with others, owners will now need permission from the building’s homeowners’ association (comunidad de vecinos) in order to legally operate, as well as to obtain a tourist licence.
In order to do this, the Socialist-led government is making a change to the Horizontal Property Law in a bid to stop the proliferation of vacation rentals.
The legal change was included in Organic Law 1/2025 and published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) at the beginning of this year, but the legislation has a period of three months to come into force, with the deadline being April 3rd.
The new law now states: “You must previously obtain the express approval of the community of owners,” and clarifies that the decision must be made with the support of at least three-fifths of the owners.
Previously, neighbourhood associations had some say in the matter, but this now gives them more power.
Royal Decree 7/2019, which came into force six years ago, said that associations could “limit or condition” holiday rentals in the building if three-fifths of the owners agreed, but there were several times when they had to go through lengthy court battles.
The law now goes one step further stating specifically that landlords need to obtain “prior express approval” and also says that the neighbours have the right to report any tourist apartments that are operating without their consent.
“The president of the homeowners’ association, on his/her own initiative or on the initiative of any of the owners or occupants, will require whoever carries out the activity, without it having been expressly approved, to immediately cease it, under warning of initiating appropriate judicial actions,” the law states.
It’s important to note that this new law will not have a retroactive effect. Therefore, if you already have a tourist licence and operate the short-term let legally, the association will not be able to vote against it.
The rule says: “Any property owner who is carrying out the activity prior to the entry into force of the law, who has previously complied with the tourism sector regulations, may continue to carry out the activity with the conditions and deadlines established therein”.
Pedro Sánchez’s government hopes that this will put a stop to the rise of tourist apartments in major cities across the country and in turn help to combat the housing crisis.
This is just one of many measures that they’ve introduced. Last month Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a raft of new rules aimed at improving the country’s housing crisis, including cracking down on seasonal rentals and limiting non-resident foreigners from buying homes.
February 12, 2025
Will the financial requirements for Spain’s non-lucrative visa change in 2025?
Will foreigners in Spain with non-lucrative visas and those applying for one this year have to show a higher amount of savings and passive income to have the right to live here?
The non-lucrative visa (NLV) is one of the main visas non-EU nationals use to reside in Spain. It’s often referred to as the retirement visa, as you’re not allowed to work if you have it and have to prove you have sufficient financial means to take care of yourself through passive income or savings.
How much money you have to prove you have for the NLV is based on the IPREM. This is an index or threshold for government aid, whether it be unemployment, disability grants, school grants, certain subsidies for the purchase or rental of housing, legal aid, or energy subsidies.
The IPREM in 2024 was €600 per month, €7,200 per year.
NLV holders have to prove they have 400 percent of the annual IPREM for the first year, which amounts to €28,800.
For every family member included in the residency application, it’s an extra 100 percent of the IPREM, which is an extra €7,200 for the year.
This means that a couple will need to prove savings or passive income of €36,000.
When it comes to renewing the NLV for two years rather than the initial one, you have to double those amounts.
That was the NLV’s financial threshold in 2024, so how about in 2025?
As things stand, the financial requirement for Spain’s non-lucrative visa is the same in 2025 as it was in 2024.
That’s because the IPREM is only updated through Spain’s General State Budget Law, and for that to happen the Spanish government has to get it through Congress.
So will Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez get the new Presupuestos Generales (State Budget) approved for 2025 and with it a possible change to the IPREM and the financial requirements for the NLV? It seems unlikely but it can’t be ruled out.
Given the ruling Socialists’ weak parliamentary position and their poor track record of passing new laws despite remaining in power, there’s a high chance that the IPREM will stay the same this year.
In fact, at the end of December 2024 the Spanish Cabinet approved the extension of the 2023 State Budget for a second year in a row, meaning that for now the same applies for 2025.
That’s not to say that it can’t happen, but the Spanish premier would have to convince Catalan parties Junts and ERC to get the new State Budget voted in.
For PSOE’s junior coalition party Sumar, if there’s no progress made by spring, it’ll be too late for the State Budget to be updated in 2025.
Politics aside, it’s worth noting that the IPREM hasn’t been updated that often since it was created in 2004, and has only increased by 30 percent since then.
There were slight increases to it in 2021 and 2022, but not since, hence why the financial requirement for the NLV isn’t increasing every year as is the case with the financial threshold for the digital nomad visa, which is tied to the minimum wage (SMI), and this is going up far more often.
So to sum up, it seems very likely that non-lucrative visa applicants and those renewing it in 2025 will not see an increase in the visa’s financial threshold.
February 7, 2025
Spain’s new income requirement for digital nomads in 2025
Spain’s government has just increased the minimum wage, meaning that foreigners applying for or already on the digital nomad visa will have to show higher monthly earnings.
Spain’s Ministry of Labour on January 29th reached an agreement with the country’s main trade unions to raise the minimum wage (SMI in Spanish) by 4.4 percent in 2025. This increase translates to €50 more per month, taking it up €1,184 per month across 14 payments (€16,576 gross per year).
What this means for digital nomads in Spain is that the financial requirements for the country’s Digital Nomad Visa will also increase in 2025, as these are linked to Spain’s SMI.
The 14 payments make it a little confusing because most times when foreigners see the amount for the minimum wage, they assume it’s across 12 payments, one per month of the year. Therefore, you must first calculate how much it will be for one payment per month.
So if the SMI has increased to €1,184 across 14 payments that equals €16,576 per year. Divided across 12 payments, this will be €1,381.33 per month.
A total of 200 percent of the SMI is needed to meet the DNV’s monthly earnings requirement.
This means you now need to earn €2,762 per month to be eligible for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa in 2025.
At the current exchange rate, that is £2,310 a month or $2,871 a month.
The increase is more than €100 a month than what an individual non-EU national applying for the DNV in 2024 needed, when the income requirement was €2,646.
Family Members
If you’re applying for the DNV for yourself and your partner you need to prove you earn an extra 75 percent of Spain’s minimum wage, which is €1,035.99 extra in 2025. Added together with the amount you need for just yourself, this equals €3,798 per month in monthly earnings for you and your partner to qualify for the DNV in 2025.
For each additional family member after this, such as children, you will have to prove you have an extra 25 percent of the SMI, which is now an extra €345,33 per month in 2025.
So if you’re applying for the DNV for yourself, your partner and your one child in 2025, you’ll have to show you earn €4,144 per month. Add another child to the equation, and you’ll have show monthly earnings of €4,489.
Keep in mind that these are gross amounts, known as bruto in Spanish.
Spain’s Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz has said this minimum wage increase will be approved in the Spanish Cabinet “imminently”, which should mean that UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos), the body that processes digital nomad visas, will factor in the changes to the DNV’s financial requirements shortly.
February 2, 2025
Living in Benahavís: an exclusive, charming part of the Costa del Sol
Nestled in the heart of the Costa del Sol, Benahavís is a picturesque Andalusian municipality that has captivated many with its natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle.
Famous for its cobbled streets and rich culinary heritage, this corner of Spain offers a distinctive experience for those seeking a blend of tranquillity and sophistication. Discover what it’s like to live in Benahavís.
What is life in Benahavís like?
Living in Benahavís means a high quality of life. The town combines modern infrastructure with rural charm, offering a range of homes from cosy traditional cottages to luxurious villas equipped with all the latest mod-cons.
The town has a good transport network, with convenient bus routes to Marbella and San Pedro. It also provides top-quality medical services and a variety of sports facilities, including world-class golf courses. Education is well catered for, with several international schools nearby.
Leisure is another key attraction of living in Benahavís. Often referred to as the “dining room of the Costa del Sol”, the town boasts a wide range of restaurants offering everything from traditional Andalusian cuisine to international fare. Additionally, its proximity to the Marbella coast and the stunning natural surroundings provide ample opportunities for water sports and outdoor activities.
As for its population, Benahavís is home to around 9,000 residents, with 60% being foreigners, particularly from the UK and Russia, but more and more from North America.
Most popular neighbourhood in Benahavís
Benahavís offers a variety of areas, each with its own unique charm and character, ranging from luxury residential neighbourhoods to spots with a distinctly traditional atmosphere. The neighbourhood for which we receive the most enquiries though is La Quinta.
Living in La Quinta equals exclusivity and tranquillity. This neighbourhood has stunning views of the sea and mountains, making it a wonderful place to enjoy nature. It also has a prestigious golf course, ideal for lovers of this sport. Its modern villas and flats offer a luxurious lifestyle.
Cost of living in Benahavís
The cost of living in Benahavís can vary considerably depending on your lifestyle. In terms of housing, the average price per square metre is €4,746, reflecting the area’s exclusivity. As of December 2024, rent was €17.50 per square metre.
Public transport in Benahavís is limited due to its rural setting, so many residents opt for private vehicles. However, buses to Marbella or San Pedro are available, costing around €1.40 per trip. In terms of food, monthly expenses typically range from €300 to €500, depending on the type of purchases made.
Leisure is a key aspect of life in Benahavís. From world-class golf courses to gourmet restaurants, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your free time. While prices for recreational activities can be high, particularly at exclusive facilities, there are also more affordable options such as hiking and enjoying the charm of Benahavís village.
Price comparison: Benahavis, Marbella or San Pedro?
The Benahavís area is a good place to live, but it is close to other towns such as Marbella or San Pedro de Alcántara, which are also known for their quality of life.
Living in Benahavís or Marbella
In Benahavís, life tends to be quieter, and while luxury properties are common, prices are generally lower than in Marbella. As of December 2024, the price per square metre in Benahavís is €5,050 (€17.60 for rent).
Living in Marbella provides a vast array of services and activities, which can drive up the cost of living, including gourmet restaurants and exclusive boutiques. In contrast, Benahavís also offers high-quality dining options, but with a more relaxed, less pretentious atmosphere.
Living in Benahavís or in San Pedro de Alcántara
San Pedro, a part of Marbella, offers properties closer to the sea. The cost of properties in San Pedro is generally similar to those in Benahavís, with an average price per square metre of €4,459, slightly lower than in Benahavís.
In terms of daily expenses, San Pedro de Alcántara boasts a well-developed infrastructure, with supermarkets, shops and restaurants offering more moderate prices. In contrast, Benahavís is more focused on luxury and exclusivity.
Pros and cons of living in Benahavís
Here are some of the pros associated with living in Benahavís:
- Natural surroundings: Surrounded by mountains and natural parks, it is ideal for those who love the outdoors and hiking.
- Homes along the Ronda Corridor just 10 minutes from the beach from the San Pedro area.
- Exceptional food scene: Known as the “dining room of the Costa del Sol”, the area is home to many high-quality restaurants including Coto Restaurante where Benahavis.Homes sponsors the music.
- Quality of life: The blend of tranquillity, security and modern amenities ensures a comfortable and relaxing lifestyle.
However, living in Benahavís also has its cons that you will have to adapt to if you want to live here.
- The area’s exclusive feel can translate into a high cost of living, especially in terms of real estate.
- Private transport is almost indispensable due to the limited supply of public transport.
January 24, 2025
5 reasons to buy a luxury villa in Spain
Spain has long been a favourite destination for foreigners and expats seeking sunshine, culture, and a laid-back lifestyle. Its vibrant cities, picturesque countryside, and stunning coastline offer something for everyone. But what makes owning a luxury villa in Spain such a wise choice? Here are our top 5 reasons.
- Breathtaking locations
- A lucrative investment
- Unparalleled lifestyle
- Favourable climate
- Better value for money
- Breathtaking locations
Breathtaking locations
From the sun-soaked beaches of the Costa del Sol to the serene landscapes of Mallorca and Ibiza, Spain is home to some of the world’s most sought-after locales. Luxury villas often boast prime locations with panoramic views, whether nestled in the hills or perched along the Mediterranean coast. Benahavis is home to some of the best of these properties.
A lucrative investment
The prime real estate in Spain market continues to thrive, making luxury villas a sound investment. With steady demand for high-end holiday rentals, especially in popular regions like Marbella and the Balearic Islands, your villa can generate significant rental income when not in use. Furthermore, the long-term value of Spanish real estate has shown resilience, offering potential for capital appreciation over time.
Unparalleled lifestyle
Owning a villa in Spain offers access to a lifestyle that many only dream of. Enjoy al fresco dining, world-class golf courses, exclusive beach clubs, and rich cultural experiences. Owning a villa also allows you to personalise your space with amenities like infinity pools, private gyms, and landscaped gardens.
Favourable climate
Spain’s Mediterranean climate is one of its biggest draws, offering long summers, mild winters, and over 300 days of sunshine in many regions. This fantastic weather makes it possible to embrace outdoor living all year round. Host barbeques on your terrace, enjoy al fresco dining by the pool, or simply relax in your garden with a book and a glass of sangria.
Better value for money
In spite of rising house prices in recent years, Spain offers remarkable value for luxury property buyers compared to other European hotspots like the French Riviera or Tuscany. Villas in Spain often feature expansive plots, modern designs, and high-end finishes at prices that can be significantly lower than similar properties in neighbouring countries. This affordability allows buyers to enjoy a higher standard of living or invest in premium upgrades without stretching their budget. Golden visas also make investing in Spain an attractive option, but you’ll need to be quick, as the scheme is set to end in Spain in April 2025.
A luxury villa in Spain is more than just a property; it’s a gateway to a life of comfort, beauty, and opportunity. Whether you’re looking for a permanent residence, a holiday retreat, or a high-yield investment, Spain’s luxury real estate market has something for everyone.
Start your journey to owning a piece of Spanish paradise today and browse the wide range of luxury villas now for sale on this website.

The most exclusive homes in La Zagaleta
La Zagaleta’s priciest homes in Spain’s most exclusive area
Golf courses, mansions, private clubs with a wide range of facilities, privacy, and a stunning natural environment have positioned La Zagaleta at the pinnacle of international luxury. This is reflected in the price of its homes, which, according to the latest report, stands at €6,580 per square metre.
January 24, 2025
Moving to Spain in 2025? Spanish visa overview
Spain is the second most visited country in the world, with over 84 million tourists every year. It’s a beautiful country to visit or live in. Gorgeous weather, delicious food, affordable prices, great amenities, and ultra-low taxation (in some regions) appeal to foreigners at large. Many of these tourists decide to settle down and buy a property in Spain.
In recent years, Spain has introduced two new immigration schemes with significant tax advantages associated with those that qualify: Beckham’s Rule (named after the English football player) and also the Digital Nomad Visa. The former applies only to EU/EEA nationals, whereas the latter applies only to non-EUs. The tax advantages offered by both are identical, mirroring each other.
Both of these allow applicants to pay NO tax on any assets or income held abroad. Moreover, on the income derived strictly in Spain, applicants pay only a flat fee, which is a mere fraction of the standard tax rates. These two immigration schemes have been purposely devised to attract foreign overachievers, so they relocate to Spain alone, or with their families. Due to their unique tax advantages, they are proving wildly popular amongst foreign applicants (more details below).
The major novelty this year is that Golden Visas will be phased out after a decade. Golden Visas end on the first week of April 2025. However, the lucky few who applied on time will still be able to renew them without any issues going forward.
As a general rule:
- If you are a non-EU national, and wish to stay in Spain for over 90 consecutive days, you need to apply for a visa. Please be advised not all visas grant the right to work in Spain.
- If you are an EU/EEA national, and wish to stay in Spain for over 90 consecutive days, you need to apply for a Spanish residency permit. This is cheap and fast-tracked (takes a few weeks). We offer this service: Spanish Residency permit for EU nationals (includes TIE card & NIE number)
These visas allow you to live anywhere in Spain; you will be spoilt for choice: Barcelona, Costa del Sol, Granada, Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, Seville, and Sotogrande.
General requirements for all Spanish visas
Unlike in other countries, you are not required to have a minimum proficiency in Spanish to apply for a visa. Whilst this is true, I strongly advise you to learn the language, at least at a basic level, to better blend in and understand Spanish society. You will find that natives greatly appreciate the effort and will be far more receptive towards you. Spanish is fairly easy to learn, by rapport to other languages, and is the second most important language in the world. It is the official language of 21 countries.
The following five are staple requirements across all visa types:
1. Non-EU national
2. Hire private health insurance
3. Clean criminal record, no trace (previous 5 years)
4. Be financially self-supporting (you will not claim benefits)
5. Not be living in Spain illegally at the time of making the visa application
Spanish visa overview
Spain offers five visas for non-EU nationals.
We have immigration specialists who can assist you with all five visas listed below (plus Beckham’s Rule, which is not a visa, it’s a tax scheme for EU nationals).
Some visas suit applicants better than others. Some offer unique tax advantages.
1. Golden Visa – Investor Visa
This is the king of all visas.
Spain’s government announced it will be scrapping this visa. It should have ended on the 31-12-24. However, they passed a new law in January giving a 3-month grace period to apply for it during 2025. Golden Visas now officially end on the 3rd of April 2025.
During this three-month transition period, Golden Visa applications will still be accepted, and applications pending as of the effective date will still be reviewed normally.
The investor visa is for affluent non-EU applicants. It is popularly known as a ‘Golden Visa’. It’s a blue-ribbon visa that rolls out the red rug for its privileged holders and neatly cuts through all the red tape. Its purpose is to foster foreign investments in Spain. Whilst there are many different paths to attain a GV, the most popular (and least expensive) is by investing in Spanish real estate. This requires investing €500,000 in real estate, in one, or more, properties.
Golden Visas apply retrospectively; meaning that any non-EU national who bought a property in Spain for over 500k on, or after, the 28th of September 2013 qualifies.
Unlike the other four visas listed below, renewals are not tied to proving you live in Spain all year round. They are based on keeping the investment. This ability to override the 90/180-day rule and not being ‘forced’ to live in Spain, makes it one-of-a-kind and goes on to explain why it is coveted by affluent individuals.
Another point to consider is that a Golden Visa is the ONLY visa in Spain which does not make you tax resident in Spain on attaining it.
If you do not fancy paying tax in Spain (on your worldwide income & assets), and want to override the 90-day rule, this is the right visa for you. GVs allow you the right to work in Spain (optional).
This visa is for 3 years and is attained by us in under 3 weeks.
Suitable for:
- Affluent applicants who invest €500,000 in Spanish real estate.
- Affluent applicants who deposit €1mn in a Spanish bank.
- Affluent applicants who invest €2mn in Spanish Treasury bonds, or €1,000,000 in shares of publicly trading Spanish companies.
- Business project. Develop a business project in Spain that generates employment, has a significant socioeconomic impact, or involves scientific and technological advances.
2. Digital Nomad Visa (tax-free visa)
After the demise of the Golden Visa set for April this year, the DNV is next in line to occupy the visa throne as the most sought after in Spain. DNVs extend to family members i.e. spouse and children under the age of 18 years old. It allows applicants to work remotely from Spain i.e. teleworkers.
The main advantage is its privileged taxation. It grants applicants a special tax regime whereby they pay ultra-low tax (or in most cases none at all!) as opposed to standard tax rates that apply to Spanish tax residents. This visa is for 3 years and is attained by us in under 3 weeks.
Key tax advantages:
- No tax on assets & income abroad. This is of special interest for applicants holding substantial assets and overseas earnings (i.e. HNWIs), which would all go untaxed by Spain.
- Pay a flat tax rate of 24% on the first €600,000 of gross annual earnings in Spain. This translates into tax savings of 50%, or more, on income derived strictly within Spain.
- Not required to file a 720 tax return (unlike Spanish tax residents)
- Not required to file Wealth Tax (unlike Spanish tax residents)
- Automatic tax deferrals on call (unlike Spanish tax residents)
Suitable for:
- International teleworkers
- Self-employed (freelancers) who manage their foreign business remotely
- HNWI and UHNWIs
3. Marriage Visa – Family Regroupment Visa
It’s intended for families or couples that have been separated, in and out of the EU. It seeks to reunite them in an expedited manner within the EU. So, although this type of visa is popularly dubbed as ‘Marriage Visa,’ it would rather be more appropriate to label it as ‘Family Visa’.
Its scope goes well beyond a married couple. It ought to be understood in broader terms, as in family reunion. As its name implies, couples should be married (including same-sex partners), this is the core requirement. Alternatively, it can also be a civil partnership. This visa allows you the right to work in Spain. This visa has low fees, and it is fast-tracked, taking between one to four weeks. This visa is for 5 years.
Suitable for:
- Separated family members that wish to reunite within the EU
- Married couples
- Non-married couples
4. Pensioner’s Visa – Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
This is Spain’s Retirement Visa. It allows applicants to live but not work in Spain. Only retirees should apply for it.
The applicant will be expected to be financially self-supporting and will be required to prove he or she has enough savings for at least two years. This visa is ideal for retirees who wish to spend extended periods of time in Spain – without working – enjoying the finer things in life.
It is the cheapest visa available. It takes 2 to 3 months. This visa is initially for 1 year and then it works on 2-year renewals.
Suitable for:
- Pensioners
5. Business Visa – Lucrative Visa
As its own name implies, this permit allows the applicant to work in Spain as you will be self-employed. This residency applies to someone who is looking to set up his own business in Spain. This requires a proactive hands on attitude. Typically, you will be acting as a director or managing director overseeing a company. Needless to say, one of the key requirements is that you will have enough means to be self-supporting, both for yourself and your family, for one year.
The catch, besides a cast-iron motivation, is that you need to invest in the ballpark of €80,000 to €100,000 to open & run a business in Spain. You will also be required to hire employees and enrol them in Spain’s Social Security (the cornerstone of this visa). Visa renewals are contingent on the business making a profit every year. This visa allows you, and your family, the right to work in Spain as self-employed. This visa has associated the highest fees, and also takes the longest (3 to 4 months).
Suitable for:
- Entrepreneurs
- Applicants (families) wishing to set up and run a business in Spain
- Self-employed
6. Beckham’s Rule
Please note this is not a visa. It applies only to EU/EEA nationals (who do not require a visa).
It is a special tax regime whereby taxpayers pay low tax, or none at all.
EU/EEA nationals who relocate to Spain on the back of a job contract offered by a Spanish employer may apply. It offers identical tax advantages to the Digital Nomad Visa. It has moderate fees and the procedure is expedited. It takes under a month to attain.
Suitable for:
- EU/EEA nationals
- High-ranking expatriate employees
- HNWI and UHNWIs
January 24, 2025
Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) in Spain
If you want to apply for Spain’s digital nomad visa, it’s important to first know if you qualify. Read on to find out all the requirements, from your nationality, income, employers, qualifications, experience and more.
Spain’s digital nomad visa or DNV is known as the visado de teletrabajador de carácter internacional on most of the official Spanish websites and first launched in 2023.
You can apply either through a consulate in your home country, which will give you a one-year authorisation, or apply while you’re in Spain on a tourist visa, which will give you a three-year authorisation. Both of these can be renewed for up to five years.
But, to reach that point, you have to make sure you meet a long list of strict requirements to even begin the application process.
What are the requisites for the DNV?
You must be from a non-EU country
The DNV is open to non-EU citizens only. If you’re from the EU, you can simply move here and register for your green residency certificate.
You must be an employee working remotely or self-employed
To qualify, you must be a remote worker employed by a company abroad or work for yourself for clients abroad. The visa doesn’t allow you do be employed by a Spanish company.
No more than 20 percent of your income can be from Spain
We’ve already established that you can’t be employed by a Spanish company, but if you’re self-employed, you can’t have too many Spanish clients either, as no more than 20 percent of your income can come from inside the country.
You must prove you earn a sufficient amount
In order to be granted the visa you must prove that you earn 200 percent of the minimum interprofessional salary (SMI). This is equal to monthly income of at least €2,646 in 2024. If you are self-employed and your income changes, you must show you have an average equal to or above that amount for the past six months.
You must prove higher earnings if bringing family members
If bringing family members on the visa, such as a spouse and children you must prove that you have an extra 75 percent of the SMI or minimum wage. In 2024 this equals to an extra €1,984.50 per month on top of the €2,646. And for each additional family member after this, such as children, you will have to prove you have an extra 25 percent of the SMI, which is another €661.50. So for a family of three, you will need €5,292 per month or €63,504 per year.
You must have worked for your company or client for three months or more
In order to prove that you have a stable situation, you must have worked for your current clients or company for at least three months. You can show this by sending copies of your contracts.
The company you work for must have been in existence for at least one year
Your employers or clients must not be from a very new start-up company, as you have to prove they have been trading for at least one year or more to be eligible.
Prove you have the correct qualifications and experience
You must have at least 3 years’ experience working in your field or must prove that you have the specific qualifications to do so, such as a degree or professional certificate from a recognised school or course.
You must not have a criminal record
Criminal record checks are part of the application process. You must have a certificate from the country you’ve been living in for the past two years and also sign a declaration of the absence of criminal records for the last five years.
Your company must give you permission to work in Spain
If working remotely as an employee, it’s vital that your company gives you permission to work from Spain and provides you with a written consent letter.
You may need a certificate of social security coverage
If you’re an employee and your country has an agreement with Spain you will need a certificate of social security coverage. For those in the UK for example, this is the A1 certificate. Keep in mind this is not possible if you’re self-employed.
You may need proof that your company has registered with Spain’s social security
If your country does not have an agreement or you can’t get a certificate show proof, your company must register with the Social Security department in Spain and pay the fees on your behalf.
If self-employed, you must sign up to the autónomo system
For self-employed people, you will have to provide a sworn statement saying that you will sign up for the Spanish autónomo (self-employed) system upon arrival. This means that you will pay your own social security fees and be eligible for public healthcare.
You may need private health insurance
If you or your employer are not paying into Spain’s social security system then you will need to prove you have private health insurance. This will most likely need to provide the same coverage as the public health system and with no co-payments.
If you are from the UK and have the A1 certificate, you may be able to request the S1 form which allow you to use the Spanish public health system, so therefore you may not need the private insurance.
January 18, 2025
Visas For Retirement in Spain
If you’re a non-EU citizen planning on retiring to Spain, regardless of whether you’re from the UK, Australia, the US or Canada, there’s now only one choice when it comes to visas that will allow you to reside in the country.
It’s a dream for many to retire abroad, most likely somewhere sunny with a good standard of living and plenty of culture. These are some of the main reasons why Spain is such as popular destination for pensioners.
As a result to Brexit it’s become a lot more difficult for Brits to retire in Spain, but it is still possible if you meet certain requirements. In fact, Spain is still a top destination for British pensioners to retire to.
As third-country nationals, Americans also have to meet the same conditions and apply for the same visa.
The same applies to any other non-EU national, whether they’re from Canada, China, India, New Zealand or Australia.
Now that the Spanish government have announced that they are officially cancelling the golden visa as of April 2025, the only option left for non-EU retirees is the Non-Lucrative Visa or NLV.
The golden visa granted non-EU nationals and their direct family members residency in Spain when they bought property worth €500,000, or invested €1 million in shares in Spanish companies, €2 million in government bonds, or transferred €1 million to a Spanish bank account.
It was one of Spain’s best residency options for those who could afford it, but as of April 3rd 2025 this will no longer be available to apply for. Technically it is still possible to apply, but it would be a huge rush to find a property worth €500,000+ in Spain, carry out the purchase and apply for the golden visa in the next three months.
The other Spanish visas available to non-EU citizens are mostly for those who work, such as the Digital Nomad Visa, with the exception of a student visa.
Thankfully, the Non-Lucrative Visa is still one of the best options for retirees who can prove they have sufficient savings or a certain amount of passive income each month.
Financial requirements
The main requirement is that you need to prove you have 400 times the IPREM which for 2024 is €2,400 per month (this figure may be updated soon for 2025 so stay tuned).
As mentioned above, this should be in savings or passive income, so it could include your pension, money from a property you rent out back in your home country, interest from bank accounts etc.
The main point is that you can’t work on this visa, but for retirees, this shouldn’t be a problem.
The NLV also allows you to bring direct family members with you. It mostly applies to those who are financially dependent on you. For this, you have to prove that you have an extra 100 percent of the IPREM for each family member, which for 2025 is €600 per month.
Renewal and path to citizenship
It’s initially granted for the period of one year, but can be renewed for a further two years and another two years after that. If you intend to live in Spain, long term, after these five years are up you can apply for a permanent residency card which is valid for 10 years.
At this point, you can renew it for another 10 years or even apply for Spanish citizenship.
The main caveat are the finances. Because you need to renew your NLV visa for two years instead of one you’ll need prove you have passive income or savings for both those years at once. That means 800 times the IPREM.
This works out at €57,600 for the two years, not including the extra 200 percent (100 percent per year) of the IPREM for each dependent family member.
For just a single person for example renewing the NLV for four years, you would have to prove €115,200 in available funds.
Taxes
As the NLV is a residency visa and you’ll most likely be living in Spain for more than 183 days per year, you will also be considered a tax resident.
This means you will be taxed on your worldwide income, so any income that you earn passively on the NLV, as well as your pension.
Pensions and passive income in Spain are subject to progressive tax rates ranging from 19 up to 47 percent, depending on how much you earn from it.
The current rates in 2025 are:
Up to €12,450: 19 percent
€12,451 – €20,200: 24 percent
€20,201 – €35,200: 30 percent
€35,201 – €60,000: 37 percent
€60,001 – €300,000: 45 percent
Over €300,000: 47 percent
January 18, 2025
Spain Plans to Introduce New Tax on Non-EU Property Buyers
Spain Plans to Introduce New Tax on Non-EU Property Buyers
Spain plans to implement a tax of up to 100% on properties purchased by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK and US. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, announcing the proposal, described it as an “unprecedented” step to address Spain’s housing crisis.
“The West faces a decisive challenge: to avoid becoming a society divided into two classes—the rich landlords and poor tenants,” Sánchez said.
It was not exactly clear how much the tax will be, or how it will levied, but the Financial Times reported that Spain’s housing ministry said the new measure would be introduced by modifying stamp duty or via a special tax.
It is believed, however, that the tax will not apply to non-EU nationals purchasing properties to establish residency in Spain; such as retirees.
Background
Non-EU residents purchased approximately 27,000 properties in Spain in 2023, Sánchez noted during an economic forum in Madrid. He claimed many of these purchases were speculative rather than for personal use, exacerbating the country’s housing scarcity.
However, Sánchez omitted mentioning a 2002 study, The Economic Impact of Residential Tourism in Spain (conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Spanish Association of Developers and Builders), which highlighted the positive impact of foreign property ownership. That year, second-home buyers contributed €6.35 billion to Spain’s GDP and supported over 105,000 jobs in the tourism sector.
Not a New Concept
Proposals to limit property purchases by non-resident, third-country nationals have surfaced before, especially in regions like the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands, where limited housing stock has been strained by high demand from foreign buyers.
However, outright bans face legal hurdles due to EU regulations. The free movement of capital within the EU allows citizens of EU member states—and, by extension, certain third-country nationals—to purchase property in any member state with minimal restrictions.
A Window of Opportunity
The new law is not expected to come into effect for several months, providing prospective buyers some time to act. Those prepared to purchase now can take advantage of the broad inventory of available properties, and off-plan options may offer flexibility for buyers who need additional time to secure funds. Off-plan purchases typically require a 30% deposit upfront, with the remaining 70% payable upon property completion, which can range from late 2024 to 2027.
Scrapping the Golden Visa Scheme
This announcement follows Spain’s decision to end its golden visa scheme, effective April. Since its introduction, the scheme has allowed non-EU nationals to gain Spanish residency by purchasing homes worth at least €500,000. However, the program’s impact on Spain’s real estate market has been minimal. Between 2013 and 2022, fewer than 5,000 golden visas were granted—accounting for less than 0.1% of the 4.5 million homes sold during that period.
Critics argue that Spain’s housing crisis is driven by insufficient supply and surging demand, not golden visas or second-home purchases. For instance, a report by the Metropolitan Observatory of Barcelona Housing (O-HB) revealed that in Barcelona, 36.1% of rental properties are owned by “grans tenidors” (large-scale landlords with ten or more properties), even though they represent only 2.1% of property owners. In contrast, public administrations own just 4.4% of rental apartments.
A Popularist Approach?
Many in the real estate sector view these measures as populist. They argue that international buyers—who contribute significantly to Spain’s economy—are being unfairly targeted, while wealthier Spanish and International landlords, who dominate the rental market and drive up prices, remain largely untouched.
If Spain’s government genuinely aims to address the housing shortage, industry professionals suggest focusing on policies to encourage new housing developments and regulate large-scale (rich) landlords referred to in the proposals, rather than targeting non-EU buyers. However, such measures could challenge influential domestic interests, making them less politically appealing.
Many solicitors feel such a law could not be passed as it will violate Spanish and EU laws and the announcement is just a tactic to spook non-EU buyers and put them off buying a home in Spain.
January 14, 2025