Before you fly
How long you can stay, and the routes to longer
The current ways to spend more time in Spain, explained without confusing owning a home with residency.
7 min readLast reviewed August 2026
At a glance
- Without a residence route
- 90 days in any 180
- Count the whole Schengen area, not Spain alone.
- Property golden visa
- Ended April 2025
- Buying a home no longer creates a residence right.
- Main routes covered here
- Passive income or remote work
- Choose the route around your real work and income, not the home.
The home does not stop the Schengen clock
If the Schengen visitor rule applies to you, you can spend 90 days inside any rolling 180. A Spanish title deed does not add days, and trips elsewhere in Schengen use the same allowance.
As of August 2026, biometric border recording had begun rolling out. Keep your own travel record and check the current entry system before a long stay rather than assuming a passport stamp tells the whole story.
Routes as of August 2026, built for different lives
Non-lucrative visa
For living in Spain from passive means, without employment or remote work.
- Income floor: €2,400 a month, plus €600 per dependent
- Work rule: no employment or remote work
- Initial term: 1 year, followed by 2-year renewals
- Permanent residence route: after 5 years
Digital nomad visa
For established remote work for employers or clients mainly outside Spain.
- Income floor: €34,188 a year
- Work rule: qualifying remote employment or client work
- Existing work relationship: at least 3 months
- Permit when applied for in Spain: up to 3 years
Questions to answer before planning longer stays
Can I buy a home in Spain if I am not an EU citizen?
Yes. Spain does not require a buyer to be resident, an EU citizen or the holder of a special permit. You follow the same notary and Land Registry route, with an NIE for each buyer.
Is Spain taxing non-EU buyers at 100%?
No. As of August 2026, the proposal had not become law and no such surcharge applied. It could return to the political conversation, so check the dated status rather than an old headline.
Can buying a €500,000 home still give me residency?
No. Spain's property golden visa ended on April 2025. Owning a home and having permission to stay are now separate questions, so begin with the visa route that fits your life rather than the purchase price.
How long can I stay in my Spanish home without residency?
For a non-EU visitor under the Schengen rule, the limit is 90 days in any rolling 180. Owning a home does not extend that allowance. Track travel across the whole Schengen area, not Spain alone.
When you are ready
We will introduce you to the right local expert
Tell us the coast you are drawn to and the home you are hoping to find. One considered introduction, in your language.
Use this guide to know what to ask and what to expect. Your own lawyer will confirm the details for your home, and we can introduce you to one we trust.