Spain ends Golden Visa, here’s where Americans are heading

New analysis from leading international real estate experts Astons has shown that there has been a surge in search interest for Spanish Golden Visa following the recent announcement that the country’s programme is coming to an end. However, Americans are already looking to Greece as their next destination of choice for alternative residency.

Astons has analysed Google search trends data from the US* for various Golden Visa-related search terms to see how interest in those terms has changed over the past two months (October – December 2024).

The data reveals that US Google search interest for the term “Residency by Investment” has climbed by 24.9% over the past month.

It’s also clear that Americans are now scrambling to secure Spanish residency after it was recently announced that Spain’s Golden Visa programme is to end, with the final deadline for applications being 3rd April, 2024.

Spain has long been a popular choice for US citizens looking to gain citizenship to another country, not least because of the obvious attractions of living the Spanish lifestyle. And with the deadline for applications fast approaching, search interest in ‘Spain Golden Visa’ has increased by 21.6%. .

To secure a Golden Visa, Spain insists on a minimum investment of $528,415, and the average application takes between three and six months to be processed.

While the newly imposed deadline has seen interest in Spanish Golden Visas grow, it’s clear that Americans are already looking for their next destination of choice – with Greece coming out on top.

Search interest for ‘Greece Golden Visa’ has seen a huge increase of +50.4% in just two months and there’s plenty of reasons to look to Greece over Spain.

Greece’s Golden Visa requirements are much more affordable than Spain’s with a minimum required investment of just $264,208. Applications are often processed in as little as three months, after which residency can be granted for the whole family for five years. Once the five years is up, residents are given the opportunity to renew.

Like Spain, there is no requirement to reside within the country and become a tax paying resident in order to secure residency and the Greek Golden Visa can be extended as long as you maintain your property investment.

The lifestyle benefits of Greece are envied around the world. Stunning weather with beautiful beaches and landscapes combine with a great education system, good policing, political stability, a liberal society, a strong economy and a property market packed with opportunities for investors.

Citizenship, residence permit, and real estate investment expert for Astons, Alena Lesina, commented: “With Spain announcing the end to its Golden Visa the clock is now ticking and there’s been a surge in interest from US citizens who are looking for a Plan B destination in Europe, with this demand expected to remain until 3rd April when the Spanish Golden Visa scheme closes.

However, it’s clear that Americans are already diverting their attention to Greece which is rapidly becoming the most in-demand Golden Visa destination in Europe.

Greece is one of the most welcoming of Golden Visa nations, and its programme is undoubtedly going to benefit from increased interest after Spain closes its door. This makes it a particularly attractive place to invest early and ahead of the curve, because as demand for Greek property increases, so too will values, delivering great benefit to existing investors.”

* Search interest score data sourced from Google Trends.

The article Spain ends Golden Visa, here’s where Americans are heading first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.