YOUR
PERSONAL PROPERTY SHOPPER IN CANARY ISLANDS
Hi Friends, my name is Chano. If you buy property in Spain you can get a
Spanish residency permit (this is the correct bureaucratic terminology for
Spain’s golden visa), which allows you to live in Europe. The only challenge is
the paperwork, and you must invest at least 500.000,00 €. It’s not a myth! Keep
reading to learn the details.
In 2013 Spain passed a law that gives residency permits to NON-EU
CITIZENS in exchange for a property investment of 500,000€ or more. They
instigated the program to attract foreign investment and create jobs. This will
stimulate the economy and reduce public debt.
Some NON-EU CITIZENS that have taken advantage of Spain’s Golden Visa.
In this article we address their most frequently asked questions. We explain
the difference between a visa and a residence permit, details about the type of
property purchases that qualify, timing and more.
Q: Can I apply for Spain’s Golden Visa with more than one property if
each property is less than 500,000€?
A: Yes. You can use more than one property to qualify for Spain’s Golden
Visa as long as the amount invested is equal to or greater than 500.000,00 €.
However, we have found that purchasing a one property generally helps you
optimize your Golden Visa property purchase.
Q: Is there a certain period in which the purchases must take place?
Suppose I buy one property now and another, say, a year later?
A: Currently there are no requirements on the timing of your
purchases. The only potential problem would be if the Spanish Government
modified the law. Please note that this type of thing has been known to occur.
Spanish laws do respond to external factors. For example, the law that created
Spain’s Golden Visa was established in 2013. At that time there was a deep
economic crisis, caused by the collapse of Spain’s housing bubble. There was a
large inventory of unsold properties that were seized, or slated to be seized,
by Spanish banks. These weighed heavily on public and private debt. Since
domestic housing demand was virtually non-existent, the country did everything
it could do encourage foreign investment.
Like any law, this one could undergo changes. For example, if the
government decided it was more interested in infrastructure development, as
opposed to selling real estate, it could increase the minimum floor for real
estate investment and offer more advantageous programs for infrastructure
investment. If this were to happen before you submitted your application, it
could be negatively impacted. In our opinion, this law will not suffer
important changes in the next five to ten years. However, it is important to
know that there is a small chance that the law could change. To talk more about
this, call us today.
Q: Can the law regarding the right to have a Golden Visa be changed
retroactively?
A: One of the cornerstones of
the Spanish legal system is that laws don’t have retroactive effects. This
achieves legal stability with respect to acquired rights. Thus retroactive
change is only applied in very exceptional cases.
Q: How long does Spain’s Golden Visa last?
A: Please note that there are two steps to this process. First you
obtain the visa, which is a stamp in your passport issued by a Spanish
Consulate. It allows you to travel to Spain, with multiple entries and exits, FOR
ONE YEAR. Within this year you should travel to Spain and apply for your
residency permit. You must apply for this in Spain.
Q: How long are the residency permits valid?
Residency permits are initially valid for two years. After this period
you can renew it. This renewal is valid for five years. You can continue
renewing it every five years as long as you own properties in Spain. You do not
have to reside in Spain in order to be allowed to renew your residency permit.
Q: How do I start the process?
A: In order to start the Golden Visa/Residency Permit process you must
first purchase properties in excess of 500.000,00 €. You will need the purchase
agreement(s) and the deed(s) to prove that you have made the investment(s).
Q: How long does the process take?
A: Once you apply for your residence permit, it takes about 50 days.
Roughly 25 days to complete the application process and 25 days to receive your
ID card.
Q: Does the Golden Visa only apply to me or can I extend it to family
members?
A: Spain’s Golden Visa extends to immediate family members. As Spain
is one of the best places in the world to raise children, this is an attractive
option if you have a family. Spouses and dependent children under the age of
eighteen years are guaranteed residency permits. For all other family members you must present
paperwork proving they are your legal dependents.
Q: Can I get a mortgage to purchase my property?
A: Yes, but it has to be from a foreign bank. The logic is that will
bring 500,000.00+€ of foreign investment into Spain. If you borrow money from a
Spanish bank, you are not bringing money into the country. Our recommendation
is to either pay in cash, or have your financing lined up before you purchase.
Ideally, this will be with a bank you’ve done business with for years.
Q: If I buy property through a company, can I still get a Golden Visa?
A: Yes you can. All you have to do is prove that you, directly or
indirectly, hold the majority of the voting rights and have the power to
appoint or dismiss the majority of the board of directors. This needs to be
demonstrated through official documents such as your company’s articles of
incorporation. These documents should be notarized and translated into Spanish.
Moreover, you can save up to 50% on Canary Islands real estate taxes if you set
up a company to purchase your property.
Q: Are there any scenarios under which the immigration authorities
will deny renewing your residence permit?
A: There are two scenarios
under Spain’s Golden Visa program where you would be denied renewal. First, if
you sell your property or transfer it into someone else’s name. Second, if you
have a criminal record. If you have a criminal record you will not receive an
initial residency permit.
SUMMARY
When you purchase property in excess of 500.000,00 € you will receive
a multiple entry visa which is valid for one year. Within this year you must go
to Spain and apply, in person, for your residency permit. It is valid as long
as you keep your Spanish properties in your name. You do not need to reside in
Spain, but will have to come here each time you need to renew your residency
permit. This is because you have to personally apply for your Spanish ID card.
If you decide to live in Spain, you are eligible for permanent
residency after 5 years. However, you have to demonstrate that you did not
spent more than eleven months outside of Spain within the prior five years.
Once you have a permanent residency permit you do not need to renew it. You
just renew your ID card which is very fast and easy.
As you may of heard, navigating the Spanish bureaucracy can be time
consuming, tricky and frustrating! We at Dominium Broker in Canary Islands have recommend
the best to help for many Golden Visas and residence permits for our customers
and can make the process very easy for you.
Given the time and headache we can save you, we think you will find
using our services a very worthwhile investment.
1. INITIAL
ASSESSMENT & STRATEGY
We ensure we understand your specific budget, goals and criteria so we
can tailor our expert methods to your needs. This enables us to create a
personalized plan and strategy, then define a target date for your property
purchase. For information on how to obtain your title and other documentation,
read 5 steps to take after purchasing property in Canary Islands.
2. SEARCH
& SHORTLISTING
Monthly we provide you a hand-picked selection of properties.
Initially we use these to fine tune both our understanding of your criteria and
your understanding of the Canary Islands market. This ensures you see
properties best suited to your goals on your viewing days.
3. NEGOTIATION & DUE DILIGENCE
After the viewing days we select two or three properties on which to
negotiate. This enables us to negotiate from a strong position. Our due
diligence process ensures these are all safe purchases.
4. CLOSING
& TAX MANAGEMENT
Once a price has been agreed upon by both parties, there is a full
process that must be managed to ensure we get the best terms on your purchase.
Simultaneously, our lawyers prepare the best legal options to optimize your tax
spend and ultimate return.
5. PROPERTY
REFURBISHMENT & MANAGEMENT
In most cases we acquire properties to be refurbished- this maximizes
our clients' returns. We tightly manage your refurbishment so everything goes
smoothly and is delivered within time and budget. Our partner takes care of
renting your property short term- this typically maximizes the return on your Canary
Islands property investment.
FEES FOR BUYERS
Our pricing is completely transparent. You pay only one fee. On
average, our clients average 50% more than the average market return. We save
you months of work and lots of money. 5% of the final purchase price, after the property is secured.
WHY YOU NEED
US
Canary Islands can be a very frustrating market for a foreigners. We
work only for international buyers and renters. We are not real estate agents –
we work with neither locals nor sellers. We get the best property for you. We
exhaust the market and translate your needs into Canary Islands terms. We save
you time, money and hassle. We search, negotiate and protect you from
financial, legal, logistical and structural surprises. One simple, transparent
fee 5% for a purchase, or one month’s rent for a rental. All prices are subject
to Canary Islands VAT at the actual rate of 6,5%.
• There is
no single database of properties
• Most key
insider information is hidden
•
Availability changes by the day in this fast moving market
• It’s a
stressful process that takes a huge amount of time
• There is
no one to explain the surprises or intricacies of the Canary Islands market
• Canary
Islands agents typically work for owners, sellers and landlords
• Our
services are exclusively for international buyers
• We discuss
your needs and preferences and clearly outline our process
• Get
insider knowledge and preferred access to properties
• We ensure
you make the optimal choice for your needs
• You choose
the best property, we negotiate the price, you sign the contract
• We manage
all the details to ensure you procure your ideal property
• Our
transparent fees are payable after your property is secured