Can Canadian citizens get residency in Spain by buying property?

Yes. Non-lucrative temporary residence visa: from €28,800 (about $32k). Means of 400% of IPREM per month for the applicant (€2,400/month, €28,800/yr at the 2026 IPREM of €600/month) plus 100% IPREM (€600/month, €7,200/yr) per family member, as income or savings; no work of any kind, including remote work for foreign clients; a bought or rented home serves as accommodation

How long does it take?

Non-lucrative temporary residence visa: consulate decides within 3 months of application (statutory; can be extended if documents or an interview are requested). The permit runs 1 year, renewable: renewals of 2 years each (RD 1155/2024 art. 64.7); long-term residence after 5 years.

Does it lead to citizenship?

Citizenship possible after about 10 years, permanent residence after 5.

The Residency Index2027 edition

Spain residency for Canadian citizens.

From: $32k
Permit in: 3 mo
Passport in: 10 yrs
Index score: 69

Canadian passport You can already stay 90 days without a visa; residency is for staying longer, banking and owning.

Homes in Spain The Spain map

For Canadian citizens

What is different for Canadian citizens.

On leaving Canada, emigrants are deemed to have sold certain property at fair market value, which can trigger a capital gain known as departure tax; Canadian real property is excluded.
Canada Revenue Agency, Leaving Canada (emigrants)
Emigrants must file Form T1161 listing their property if its total fair market value exceeds CAD 25,000, even if no return is otherwise due.
Canada Revenue Agency, Dispositions of property for emigrants of Canada

1 open route

The routes to living in Spain.

Our Spain visa and residency guide

Non-lucrative temporary residence visa

Open69

checked 2026-10-20

Minimum: €28,800 · about $32k
What counts: Means of 400% of IPREM per month for the applicant (€2,400/month, €28,800/yr at the 2026 IPREM of €600/month) plus 100% IPREM (€600/month, €7,200/yr) per family member, as income or savings; no work of any kind, including remote work for foreign clients; a bought or rented home serves as accommodation
Processing: consulate decides within 3 months of application (statutory; can be extended if documents or an interview are requested)
Permit: 1 year, renewable: renewals of 2 years each (RD 1155/2024 art. 64.7); long-term residence after 5 years
Time you must spend there: more than 183 days a year in Spain to renew (RD 1155/2024 art. 64.2 f)
Path to a passport: Citizenship possible after about 10 years, permanent residence after 5.
Family: spouse or registered/stable partner, minor children, adult disabled children (RD 1155/2024 art. 61.3); the LA consulate page also lists dependent ascendants; each adds 100% IPREM
Tax: Become Spanish tax resident: worldwide income taxed at progressive rates; regional wealth tax may apply

Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20

Residence visa for investors (Law 14/2013, arts. 63-67), "golden visa"

Closed

closed 2025-04-03 (Organic Law 1/2025, BOE 3 Jan 2025, emptied arts. 63-67 of Law 14/2013 three months after publication; applications filed before then decided under old rules)

Minimum: €500,000 · about $561k
What counts: Former route: residential or other property of €500,000+ per applicant (that amount free of charges or mortgage), or €1m in Spanish company shares, Spanish investment funds or Spanish bank deposits, or €2m in Spanish government bonds, or a business project of general interest. All investor routes were repealed together.
Processing: Not published
Permit: 3 years, existing permits keep their validity, and renewals are decided under the rules in force when the permit was first granted (renewals of 5 years each)
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: Citizenship possible after about 10 years, permanent residence after 5.
Family: spouse or partner, minor children, dependent adult children, dependent parents
Tax: Holders who become Spanish tax residents are taxed on worldwide income; wealth tax varies by region

Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20

Residency rules, thresholds and fees change often, sometimes without notice. Everything here is general information, checked on the date shown, not legal, tax or immigration advice: confirm with the official source and a licensed adviser before you act. Continental sells property; we don’t arrange visas or residency.

Homes

The latest homes in Spain.

Buying a home in Spain doesn’t bring residency on its own today. These are our latest homes there.

All homes in Spain

AvailableFrom€9m (about £7.6m)
Benahavís, Spain
Tierra Viva
Villas with Automobili Lamborghini interiors, Benahavís
Type
Villa
Bedrooms
4–6
Completion
Q4 2028
AvailableFrom€1.6m (about £1.3m)
Casares, Spain
Marea Interiors By Missoni
Missoni interiors at Finca Cortesin, Costa del Sol
Type
Apartment
Bedrooms
2–4
Completion
Q4 2028

Pounds are approximate, at ECB euro reference rates, 20 October 2026; Gulf currencies at their US dollar pegs.

Buying in Spain The Spain map Visa & Residency in Spain

Short answers

What people ask.

Can Canadian citizens get residency in Spain by buying property?: Yes. Non-lucrative temporary residence visa: from €28,800 (about $32k). Means of 400% of IPREM per month for the applicant (€2,400/month, €28,800/yr at the 2026 IPREM of €600/month) plus 100% IPREM (€600/month, €7,200/yr) per family member, as income or savings; no work of any kind, including remote work for foreign clients; a bought or rented home serves as accommodation
Is the Spain golden visa still available?: Residence visa for investors (Law 14/2013, arts. 63-67), "golden visa" is closed (closed 2025-04-03 (Organic Law 1/2025, BOE 3 Jan 2025, emptied arts. 63-67 of Law 14/2013 three months after publication; applications filed before then decided under old rules)). Open today: Non-lucrative temporary residence visa.
How long does it take?: Non-lucrative temporary residence visa: consulate decides within 3 months of application (statutory; can be extended if documents or an interview are requested). The permit runs 1 year, renewable: renewals of 2 years each (RD 1155/2024 art. 64.7); long-term residence after 5 years.
Does it lead to citizenship?: Citizenship possible after about 10 years, permanent residence after 5.

The Wealth Atlas

What living well in Spain costs.

MarbellaA well-provided year, sourced line by line£78k

Read it for your passport

Spain residency, passport by passport.

Visa-free stays: Schengen visa list (EU Regulation 2018/1806): British, American and Emirati visitors stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa; Saudi, Indian and Chinese visitors need a Schengen visa. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Homes

Looking for a home in Spain?

We sell homes in Spain. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll show you what’s available, including homes at the price points these routes ask for. The visa itself is a matter for the authorities and your own adviser.