Can I live in Spain permanently if I buy a house?

No. Buying property in Spain does not grant residency. The Golden Visa programme, which previously offered residency in exchange for a €500,000 property investment, was abolished in April 2025. US citizens can buy Spanish property freely without residency status, but a purchase only gives the right to occupy the home during the standard 90-days-in-180 Schengen tourist window. To live in Spain permanently you still need a visa: the Non-Lucrative Visa (proof of passive income), the Digital Nomad Visa (remote work income), or an employer-sponsored work visa. After five years of continuous legal residency you can apply for permanent residency; after ten years for citizenship (two years for citizens of former Spanish colonies). For the full cost picture, see our Spain cost of living page.