How do I choose the right visa or residence route for Spain?

Choosing a route for Spain starts with your circumstances. If you work remotely mainly for foreign companies, the Digital Nomad Visa fits. If you have a Spanish job offer, look at the Highly Qualified Professional permit or the EU Blue Card for qualified roles, or the general-regime work permit otherwise. Founders of innovative projects use the Entrepreneur route, those moving within a corporate group use the ICT permit, and people who can live on passive income without working use the Non-Lucrative Visa. Students have their own route, with a path to stay on afterwards.

An important point to bear in mind is that Spain's residence-by-investment Golden Visa was abolished by Organic Law 1/2025 and closed to new applicants from 3 April 2025. So buying property is no longer a route to residence; prospective residents now rely on the work, entrepreneur, digital nomad and non-lucrative routes instead.

Many of these fast-track Startups Law routes are resolved quickly by the UGE-CE and count toward long-term residence after five years. Because income thresholds, the shortage list and procedures change frequently, confirm the current rules on the official Spanish portals before committing — and ACME can talk through your options and help you choose the most suitable route.