These two routes no longer belong in the same bracket. Spain has closed its golden visa to new applicants, while Switzerland offers residence through a lump sum tax arrangement rather than an investment. This page sets out the current position so you do not plan around a route that has ended.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The Spain golden visa was a residence permit granted mainly for a qualifying real estate investment, but it has been repealed and is closed to new applicants. The Switzerland lump sum taxation route is not an investment programme at all. It is a tax arrangement under which a qualifying foreign national who does not work in Switzerland is taxed on an expense base rather than on worldwide income, and receives an ordinary residence permit. They are listed together here mainly to show how different and how time sensitive these routes are.
Spain stopped accepting new golden visa applications on 3 April 2025. Before that the headline route was a real estate investment of at least EUR 500,000. New applicants can no longer use it, although those who applied earlier are handled under transitional rules. Switzerland has no investment minimum. Instead the tax is based on a deemed expense base, with a federal minimum taxable amount stated at CHF 435,000 for 2026, set against a multiple of housing cost, and each canton sets its own higher minimum. Confirm the current federal and cantonal figures with the relevant Swiss authorities, and confirm the Spain transitional position if you applied before the closure.
The Spain route is not open to new timelines because new applications are not accepted. For Switzerland, the lump sum arrangement is negotiated with the chosen canton and paired with a residence permit application, with processing commonly described as around three to seven months depending on the canton. The arrangement requires you to make Switzerland your main home and to spend most of the year there. Treat these as indicative and canton dependent.
Spain is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, but since the golden visa is closed it is no longer a way in for new investors. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. It is part of the Schengen Area, so residence supports visa free short stay travel across the Schengen zone, but a Swiss permit does not give EU wide rights to live and work. Any move toward a Swiss passport runs through ordinary naturalisation, which has a long residence requirement and is separate from the tax arrangement.
The Spain golden visa now suits no new applicant, since it is closed, and anyone told otherwise should verify directly with the Spanish authorities. The Switzerland lump sum route suits a wealthy individual who will not work in Switzerland, who can meet a substantial annual tax base and who wants to live in Switzerland as a main home. We do not name or rank firms anywhere. To compare independent, vetted advisors who can confirm the current position for your situation, use Get Matched below.
| Item | Spain (legacy golden visa) | Switzerland Lump Sum Taxation |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Closed to new applicants since 3 April 2025 | Available in some cantons only |
| Model | Residence for a qualifying investment, mainly real estate from EUR 500,000 | Tax arrangement on an expense base, not an investment |
| EU membership | Spain is an EU and Schengen member, but the route is closed | Switzerland is not an EU member, but is in the Schengen Area |
| Key requirement | Not available for new applicants | Make Switzerland your main home, do not work in Switzerland |
| Authority | Spanish migration authorities under the repealed law | Cantonal tax administrations and the State Secretariat for Migration |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Spain: Spanish migration authorities under the now repealed golden visa law. Switzerland: cantonal tax administrations and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Spain repealed the golden visa and stopped accepting new applications on 3 April 2025. Earlier applicants are handled under transitional rules. Confirm your position with the Spanish authorities.
No. It is a tax arrangement based on a deemed expense base, paired with a residence permit, for a qualifying foreign national who does not work in Switzerland. There is no set investment amount. Confirm the figures with the cantonal authority.
No. The Spain route is closed, and Switzerland is not an EU member, so a Swiss permit does not give EU wide rights and any Swiss passport comes only through long ordinary naturalisation. Verify the current rules with each authority.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
We introduce you to vetted, independent advisors, in confidence and at no obligation. Your topic is noted for you below.
Independent and paid by the people we help, never by a government and never by a firm.
One short email when a programme rule changes, with the official source named so you can verify it. No hype, unsubscribe anytime.
Related programmes and comparisons, each dated and sourced to the official authority.