Spain is widely regarded as one of the best countries today in today's day and age thanks to its high standards of living in various aspects. Amid global economic challenges such as inflation, rising prices, difficulties in daily life and setting up private companies, investors around the world are looking for locations with strong infrastructure and favorable conditions for their projects and investments.

In this article, we will give you the best options for investing in Spain for foreigners with a breakdown government services and benefits offered to foreign investors in Spain offered exclusively by the Spanish government through its own trade and investment platform for foreigners ICEX which is wholly owned by the Spanish government and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Trade of Spain. In addition, we will explain How to obtain an investor residence visa in Spain with the required conditions and documents.

 

 

First: The best options for investing in Spain for foreigners:

• Create a Spanish company the Joint Stock Companies and Limited Liability Companies:

I. Joint Stock Company (S.A.): A limited liability company whose capital is divided into shares that can be freely traded.

II.Limited Liability Company (S.L.): Similar to a joint stock company, but the shares are not freely traded and are more suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

• An entrepreneur with limited liability:

Conducting the activity individually means that an individual can start a business on his own without the need to establish a company, provided he meets certain requirements such as tax registration and securing the necessary licenses.

• A branch or permanent establishment:

I.BranchA unit belonging to the parent company and acting on its behalf in Spain without having an independent legal personality. The parent company is legally responsible for all activities of the branch.

II.Permanent EstablishmentSimilar to a branch but requires a permanent and stable presence such as an office or factory, making the parent company legally responsible for its activities.

• Joint ventures: 

I. Union Temporary Enterprise (UTE) This is a collaboration between companies for a temporary period of time to accomplish a specific project.

II. Economic Interest Group (EIG) and European Economic Interest Group (EEIG)EIG and EEIG.

Cooperation between companies to achieve common economic interests without having an independent legal personality.

III.Silent partnership (cuenta en participación)has a special legal arrangement in Spain, where the investor shares profits and losses with a local entrepreneur without being directly involved in management.

IV.Equity Loans: A type of financing where loans are made to a company on the condition of receiving a portion of the profits.

V. Joint Ventures Through Spanish companies or limited liability companies, a joint venture with a local partner who has experience and knowledge of the Spanish market.

• Investment options without setting up a company or entering into a partnership are as follows:

I.Signing a distribution agreement

II.Working through an agent

III. Franchising. Granting the rights to use a brand and business model to local partners in exchange for a fee or a percentage of profits.

• Acquisitions:

I. Purchase of shares: Purchase of a stake in an existing Spanish company.

II.Buying real estate: Investing in Spanish real estate.

III.Buying a business: The acquisition of a company or part of a company in Spain.

• Venture capital:

Investing in venture capital entities: Putting money into venture capital funds that invest in startups and innovative ventures.

 

II: Government services and benefits offered to foreign investors in Spain: 

Identify business opportunities: The Spanish government can identify business opportunities for foreign investors in the Spanish market, specialized opportunities and market trends.

Industry tips and information : The Spanish government, through its experts, provides all the information an investor needs about their industry. The Spanish government also provides the specific information an investor needs to develop their business, including applicable legislation, permits and licenses, market data, statistics, trends, products, and specialized opportunities.

Regional support in preparation: Whether you have decided on a particular location or are still making your decision, Spanish government specialists can help you connect with regional development agencies that can provide assistance by connecting the investor with local institutions and offering in-depth knowledge about regions, subsidies, and regional development plans.

Location search: The Spanish government through specialists can help an investor choose the best location for their business needs, finding offices, co-working spaces, warehouses, logistics centers, and any facilities the investor may need. It can also help the foreign investor access skilled labor, customers, technology centers, clusters, and hubs.

Tips and information for investorsThe Spanish government has experts and specialists in every field: The Spanish government has experts and specialists in each field, who can advise on the main issues that investors should consider when setting up their projects in Spain, and when implementing projects, such as:

- The specific laws and regulations that govern any business activity.

- The labor market.

- Collecting taxes and tax liabilities.

- How to get the necessary funding and incentives.

 

III: How to obtain an investor residence visa in Spain: Conditions and required documents: 

 

 

Investor visa or investor residency in Spain (Investor visa) :

And they are visa a residency visa given to foreigners who make a significant capital investmentunder the following conditions:

• An initial investment of at least €2 million in Spanish public debt securities, or €1 million in stocks or shares in Spanish companies carrying out actual commercial activities, in investment or venture capital funds established in Spain, or in bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions.
• A business project in Spain considered to be of public interest, in terms of job creation, significant socio-economic impact on the geographical area where the project will be carried out, or significant contribution to scientific or technological innovation. In this case, the visa can be obtained by a representative appointed by the investor to manage the project.

Note: As of April 2025, the provision for obtaining golden residency in Spain by purchasing a property worth €500,000 has been canceled, and this option is no longer available to foreign investors. However, other options are still available to obtain residency, such as investing in government bonds, investment funds, or setting up businesses in Spain.

With an investor visa or investor residency in Spain, investments made by legal persons are accepted, provided the legal person is not based in a tax haven, and the investor owns, directly or indirectly, majority voting rights and the power to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the board of directors.

The following family members of the investor can also obtain the visa: 

• Unmarried spouse or partner.
• Children and adults who are financially dependent on the investor and who have not established their own family unit.
• Relatives in the ascending line (from assets) in the investor's sponsorship

Documents required for an investor visa in Spain, a comprehensive list: 

1. National Visa Application FormThis must be submitted by each applicant, or their representative, completing and signing the visa application form and filling out each of its sections.

 

2. Photo: A recent passport-sized color photograph must be submitted with the application, taken on a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any clothing that hides the oval of the face.

 

3. Valid and unexpired passport : A valid passport, the original and a copy of the page or pages of the passport containing the biometric data, must be submitted. The passport must have a validity period of at least one year and two blank pages, and passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.

 

4. Investment Approval Documents Original and copy of the following documents:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Equity and non-traded stock investment policy: The investment declaration is made in the Foreign Investment Registry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Investing in quoted stocks: A certificate from a financial intermediary registered with the National Securities Market Authority (CNMV) or with Banco de Españaproving that the interested party has made the investment.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Investing in public debt: A certificate from the financial institution or Banco de España certifying that the applicant is the sole owner of the investment for a period equal to or greater than 5 years.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bank deposit: Provide a bank certificate stating that the applicant is the sole owner of the investment.

- Investing in real estate: A certificate from the Land Registry with up-to-date information on ownership and mortgages, issued no more than 90 days ago, and a bill of sale if the purchase amount is not included in the certificate of ownership and mortgage. Burdens.

- Investing in a business: A favorable report from the competent economic and commercial office in this consular district, stating the public interest that will be served by the business.

In the case of an investment made through a legal person: A favorable report from the relevant economic and commercial office of this consular district, stating that the company is not based in a tax haven, and that the investor holds, directly or indirectly, the majority of the voting rights and authority to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors.

Foreign documents must be certified or notarized and, where applicable, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.

5. Financial Means Document: The original and a copy of the Financial Means Document must be submitted as a document proving the adequacy of the investor's own financial resources, or a regular source of income for the investor and, if applicable, for accompanying family members.

The minimum requirement is equivalent to 400% of the general multi-impact income index (IPREM)IPREM) in Spain. To this amount must be added 100% of IPREM for each family member, and foreign documents must be legalized and, where applicable, submitted with an official translation into Spanish.

6. Criminal record check certificate: Applicants of legal age who are applying for a visa must provide the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence within the last two years. In addition, a responsible declaration of no criminal records for the past five years will be submitted.

This certificate cannot be older than 6 monthsunless the certificate itself specifies a longer expiration period.

and These certificates must be legalized through the consular representations of the issuing country and a sworn translation into Spanish is also required.

7. Health Insurance: Applicant investors must provide the original and a copy of the certificate of approval of public or private health insurance contracted with an insurer authorized to operate in Spain.

8. Proof of residence in the consular district: The applicant must provide proof of legal residency in the consular district or that they are attending classes in person in the consular district. To check your consular district.

9. Proof of identity and characterization of the actor: If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the representative's identity document or passport and the power of attorney or representation credentials must be presented, and the originals must be presented at the time of application, provided that the foreign documents are notarized and, where appropriate, must be presented with an official translation into Spanish.

10. Visa fee payment: Payment of the visa fee is mandatory and must be done at the same time as the visa application, the fee must be paid in local currency and is subject to regular changes due to currency fluctuations. Please check the list of consular fees.

 

Documents required for an investor visa in Spain: 

1. National Visa Application Form This must be submitted by each applicant, or their representative, completing and signing the visa application form and filling out each of its sections.

2. Photo: A recent passport-sized color photograph must be submitted with the application, taken on a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any clothing that hides the oval of the face.

3. Valid and unexpired passport : A valid passport, the original and a copy of the page or pages of the passport containing the biometric data, must be submitted. The passport must have a validity period of at least one year and two blank pages, and passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.

4. Investment Approval Documents Original and copy of the following documents:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Equity and non-traded stock investment policy: The investment declaration is made in the Foreign Investment Registry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Investing in quoted stocks: A certificate from a financial intermediary registered with the National Securities Market Authority (CNMV) or Banco de España, certifying that the interested party has made the investment.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Investing in public debt: Certificate from the financial institution or from the Bank of Spain Banco de España Proof that the applicant is the sole owner of the investment for a period equal to or greater than 5 years.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bank deposit: Provide a bank certificate stating that the applicant is the sole owner of the investment.

- Investing in real estate: A certificate from the Land Registry with up-to-date information on ownership and mortgages, issued no more than 90 days ago, and a bill of sale if the purchase amount is not included in the certificate of ownership and mortgage. Burdens.

- Investing in a business: A favorable report from the competent economic and commercial office in this consular district, stating the public interest that will be served by the business.

In the case of an investment made through a legal person: A favorable report from the relevant economic and commercial office of this consular district, stating that the company is not based in a tax haven, and that the investor holds, directly or indirectly, the majority of the voting rights and authority to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors.

Foreign documents must be certified or notarized and, where applicable, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.

5. Financial Means Document: The original and a copy of the Financial Means Document must be submitted as a document proving the adequacy of the investor's own financial resources, or a regular source of income for the investor and, if applicable, for accompanying family members.

The minimum requirement is equivalent to 400% of the general multi-impact income index (IPREM)IPREM) in Spain. To this amount must be added 100% of IPREM for each family member, and foreign documents must be legalized and, where applicable, submitted with an official translation into Spanish.

6. Criminal record check certificate: Applicants of legal age who are applying for a visa must provide the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence within the last two years. In addition, a responsible declaration of no criminal records for the past five years will be submitted.

This certificate cannot be older than 6 monthsunless the certificate itself specifies a longer expiration period.

and These certificates must be legalized through the consular representations of the issuing country and a sworn translation into Spanish is also required.

7. Health insurance : Applicant investors must provide the original and a copy of the certificate of approval for public or private health insurance contracted with an insurer authorized to operate in Spain.

8. Proof of residence in the consular district: The applicant must provide proof of legal residency in the consular district or that they are attending classes in person in the consular district. To check your consular district.

9. Proof of identity and characterization of the actor: If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the representative's identity document or passport and the power of attorney or representation credentials must be presented, and the originals must be presented at the time of application, provided that the foreign documents are notarized and, where appropriate, must be presented with an official translation into Spanish.

10. Payment of visa fees: Payment of visa fees is mandatory and must be done at the same time as the visa application. Fees must be paid in local currency and are subject to regular changes due to currency fluctuations. Please check the list of consular fees.

Documents required for family members

The following must be provided For each family member accompanying the investor:

All required documents specified above 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 10. and, where applicable, those specified in Section 9aas well.

- In the case of minorsthe visa application must be signed by one of their parents or a duly authorized representative.

Documents proving the family relationship with the investor: Birth or marriage certificates issued by the Civil Registry, certificate of registration as a married couple.

Foreign documents must be notarized and, where applicable, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.

- In the case of adult childrendocuments proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be notarized and, where applicable, submitted with an official translation into Spanish.

- In the case of relatives of assets documents proving that they are in the investor's care. Foreign documents must be notarized and, where applicable, must be submitted with an official translation into Spanish.

When necessary to evaluate the request. The consular office may request additional documents or data It may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.

and forFor additional information about the visas available in Spain, you can leave your question here Our team at Maxisthomes will answer all your questions and help you get the information you need.

If you are interested in real estate investment in Marbella Spain, don't miss the opportunity to browse our available properties. You can visit real estate page Feel free to get in touch with us, we are here to help you with whatever you need.

 

📌After the cancellation of Spain's golden residency program, the search for strong European alternatives has become even more important. Check out our article on Greece's program:
Golden Residency in Greece - the best alternative after the cancellation of Spain's program