US and Canadian citizens are increasingly interested in buying property here in Spain due to our favourable climate, beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and relatively affordable property market. We are frequently asked whether there are issues for US and Canadian citizens in buying property in Spain. In short, the answer is absolutely not. There is no difference between US and Spanish nationals in the actual purchase but there is in terms of being able to live full time in the country.

I’ll look at the residence restrictions and then recap the buying procedure.

Residence Restrictions

The first thing to remember is that owning property does not automatically grant residency.

For those planning to stay in Spain for extended periods, a visa or residency permit will be necessary.

There are two possible visas for non-EU citizens wishing to reside permanently in Spain. We have written extensively about each of them. Click the title to go to the appropriate article. Until April 2025 there was a third option - the Golden Visa for purchases of property in excess of €500.000. The Golden Visa enabled holders to travel freely in the Schengen Area, to work in Spain or in any other country.  And it did not automatically imply fiscal residence, which was important to some applicants. Under both internal and external pressure the government cancelled the scheme.

• Digital Nomad Visa. Introduced for people who can work remotely whilst enjoying the culture and climate of Spain. Fiscal residence is mandatory, but highly preferential tax rates are offered. Particularly appealing for high earning freelancers.

• Non Lucrative Visa. Designed for retirees who have income from pensions, rents, dividends etc. from outside Spain. Work in Spain is not allowed. It has to be applied for outside Spain at the consulate nearest the applicant’s residence. Some consulates take the attitude that only passive income is allowed. That is to say, income from employment, even outside Spain, is disallowed.