Spanish Visas for Property Owners at Hacienda del Álamo: The 2026 Guide
By Home Kare·9 min read·Buyer’s Guide
Buying a home in Spain is the easy part. The bigger question for many international owners is: how long can I actually stay? Understanding Spanish visas for property owners is essential, especially since the rules changed in 2025. Therefore, the Home Kare team has put together a clear guide to the 90/180 rule, the main long-stay visas, and what the end of the Golden Visa means for buyers at Hacienda del Álamo in 2026.
First, the most important point about buying and residency
Let’s clear up the biggest misunderstanding straight away. Buying a property in Spain does not give you the right to live there full-time. Indeed, ownership and residency are two completely separate things. You can own a home at HDA freely as a foreigner — but how long you may stay depends on your nationality and your visa, not on the deeds.
⚠️ The Golden Visa has ended
This is the key 2025 change. Spain abolished the investor “Golden Visa” on 3 April 2025, under Organic Law 1/2025. Consequently, buying a property worth €500,000 or more no longer grants residency. Existing Golden Visa holders keep their rights, but new buyers must use one of the standard visa routes below. Importantly, this changes residency only — your right to own property is completely unaffected.
EU vs non-EU: where you start matters
Your options depend entirely on your citizenship. Therefore, the first step is simply to know which group you fall into.
- EU / EEA / Swiss citizens. You have freedom of movement. You can live in Spain as long as you like; you simply register as a resident after 90 days and obtain a green NIE certificate.
- Non-EU citizens (including UK, post-Brexit). You’re limited to the Schengen 90/180 rule for holidays, and you need a specific visa to stay longer or to live in Spain.
90 / 180
Schengen days for non-EU visitors
2025
Year the Golden Visa ended
5
Years to permanent residency
10
Years to citizenship eligibility
The 90/180 rule, explained simply
For non-EU citizens who just want a holiday home, the 90/180 rule is usually all you need to understand. In short, you can spend up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period anywhere in the Schengen area, without a visa.
In practice, that’s roughly three months out of every six. Therefore, plenty of British and other non-EU owners enjoy their HDA home for long stretches each year without ever applying for residency. However, if you want to stay longer — or live in Spain permanently — you’ll need one of the visas below. The UK government publishes the current entry rules on its travel advice for Spain pages.
The main long-stay visa routes in 2026
Since the Golden Visa closed, two routes cover the vast majority of HDA owners who want to spend more time in Spain. Below is how they compare.
| Visa | Best for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) | Retirees and those with passive income | Sufficient income/savings; no working in Spain |
| Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) | Remote workers and freelancers | Remote work for non-Spanish clients/employer |
| Work / employee visa | Those with a Spanish job offer | Sponsoring Spanish employer |
| Entrepreneur visa | Those launching a qualifying business | Viable business project in Spain |
| For most holiday-home owners, the NLV (retirement/passive income) or the DNV (remote work) are the relevant routes. | ||
The Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
This is the classic route for retirees and anyone with enough passive income or savings to support themselves without working in Spain. You demonstrate sufficient funds — a threshold linked to Spain’s IPREM index that is updated each year — plus private health insurance. As a guide, the main-applicant income requirement has recently sat at roughly €28,000–€29,000 per year, with more for each dependent. However, always confirm the current figure, as it changes annually.
The Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)
Introduced more recently, the DNV suits remote workers and freelancers who earn from outside Spain. It lets you live in Spain while continuing your international work. Moreover, it is initially granted for up to a year and can convert into a longer residence permit, with family members usually able to join.
💡 Visas don’t come with the property — but the lifestyle does
None of these visas are tied to owning a home. However, owning a comfortable, well-located base at HDA makes the application far smoother: you have a clear address, a settled plan and a genuine reason to be in the region. For the right buyer, the property and the visa simply work together.
Looking for your Spanish base? Browse our current listings at HDA
From visa to permanent residency and citizenship
Many owners start with long stays and gradually decide to make Spain their main home. Reassuringly, there is a clear, well-trodden path.
- Start with the right visa Choose the NLV, DNV or another route that matches your situation, and apply through the Spanish consulate in your home country before you move.
- Renew and build continuity Residence permits are renewed in stages. As long as you keep meeting the conditions, you build a continuous record of legal residency in Spain.
- Apply for permanent residency After five years of continuous legal residence, you can generally apply for permanent residency, which removes the income and renewal conditions.
- Consider citizenship After ten years of legal residence, you may be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship — with shorter periods for some nationalities.
Buying the home is the simple step. The smart owners plan their stay strategy — 90/180 or a visa — before they sign, not after.
Common mistakes about Spanish visas for property owners
After guiding many international buyers, we see the same misunderstandings repeat. Knowing them early saves a lot of stress.
- Assuming buying gives residency. It never did automatically, and since the Golden Visa ended, the property route to residency is gone entirely.
- Miscounting the 90/180 days. The 180-day window is rolling, not a fresh count each calendar year. Track your days carefully.
- Confusing residency with tax residency. Spending over 183 days a year in Spain can make you tax resident, which is a separate question from your visa.
- Leaving the visa application too late. NLV and DNV applications take time and are made from your home country, so plan well ahead.
- Forgetting health insurance. Most long-stay visas require comprehensive private health cover from day one.
Frequently asked questions about Spanish visas for property owners
Does buying a property at Hacienda del Álamo give me residency?
No. Buying a property does not grant residency in Spain. Ownership and residency are separate. You can buy freely as a foreigner, but how long you can stay depends on your nationality and visa. The Golden Visa, which previously linked a €500,000 purchase to residency, ended on 3 April 2025.
How long can a British owner stay at their HDA home?
Since Brexit, UK citizens are non-EU and limited to the Schengen 90/180 rule: up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period without a visa. To stay longer, British owners apply for a long-stay visa such as the Non-Lucrative Visa or the Digital Nomad Visa.
What is the Non-Lucrative Visa?
It’s a residency visa for people who can support themselves without working in Spain, typically retirees or those with passive income. You demonstrate sufficient funds — a threshold linked to Spain’s IPREM index, updated annually — plus private health insurance. It’s a popular route for HDA owners who want to live in Spain.
Can I still work remotely while living at HDA?
Yes, through the Digital Nomad Visa. It is designed for remote workers and freelancers who earn from clients or employers outside Spain. It allows you to live in Spain legally while continuing your international work, and family members can usually join you.
Do EU citizens need a visa to live in Spain?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have freedom of movement and can live in Spain without a visa. After 90 days they simply register as residents and obtain a green NIE certificate. The visa routes in this guide apply to non-EU owners, including UK citizens.
Can I get Spanish citizenship as a property owner?
Not through ownership alone. However, if you live in Spain legally on a qualifying visa, you can generally apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after ten years, with shorter periods for some nationalities. Owning your home at HDA provides a stable base for that journey.
Planning to spend more time in Spain?
Tell us your situation and we’ll point you to the right route and refer you to trusted immigration specialists — so your HDA home and your stay plan work together from day one.Talk to Home Kare →