A citizen of Kazakhstan can freely buy property in Spain — in full ownership, in person or entirely remotely under a notarised power of attorney. There are no restrictions for non-EU buyers on the residential market: an apartment on the Costa Blanca or a villa on the Costa del Sol is registered to you, to spouses jointly, or to a company. A purchase of a completed home takes one to two months, and the full budget is the property price plus 10–13% in taxes and costs.
This guide covers the whole journey of a buyer from Kazakhstan: how to transfer money via SWIFT and pass bank compliance, how to obtain the NIE and open an account, which taxes apply in each region, and what has become of the golden visa, residence permits and citizenship. Every rate is verified against the official sources of the autonomous regions; where rules change often, we say so openly — instead of quoting figures past their expiry date.
How the purchase works: steps and timeline
A purchase of a completed home (resale or a finished new build) normally takes one to two months from choosing the property to receiving the keys, in five steps:
- Reservation. A reservation contract takes the property off the market against a deposit (typically €3,000–10,000).
- Legal checks. The land-registry extract, freedom from debts and encumbrances.
- NIE and bank account. Obtaining the foreigner identification number and opening an account (details below).
- Private contract (contrato de arras). Fixes the terms, usually with a 10% payment.
- Notary. Signing the title deed (escritura), paying the balance and registering the new owner.
An off-plan new build follows the developer's schedule: reservation, staged payments until completion — each payment protected by law with a bank guarantee or insurance — and notarisation at handover. The full process is covered in our general buying guide; here we focus on what is specific to buyers from Kazakhstan.
Resale or new build: how each one is paid for
A resale home is bought "as is" and paid for in essentially two steps: a deposit at reservation and the balance in a single payment at the deed signing. The home is ready, keys change hands on notary day; the tax is the regional ITP (rates in the table below).
A developer new build works differently — payment is staged over the construction period: typically a reservation, then 30–40% in instalments tied to the build schedule, and the balance at completion, when the deed is signed. It is not a loan: no interest accrues, and every payment is protected by law with a bank guarantee or insurance — if the project is never completed, the money is returned. For a buyer from Kazakhstan this is also a practical convenience: the budget moves in several SWIFT transfers over a year or two rather than one large payment.
Which to choose depends on the goal. A resale offers a ready home and a fast move-in; a new build offers modern energy standards, developer warranties and a budget spread over time. Every listing in our catalogue is labelled by type, and the taxes for both scenarios are in the table below.
Can you buy without travelling to Spain?
Yes. Spanish law allows the entire transaction to be completed under a notarised power of attorney (poder notarial). It can be issued three ways: before a Spanish notary during any visit to Spain; at a Spanish consulate in Kazakhstan; or before a Kazakhstani notary — in which case it is legalised with an apostille (Kazakhstan is a party to the Hague Convention) and translated by a sworn translator. Under the power of attorney your representative — usually a lawyer — obtains the NIE, opens the account and signs the contracts and the deed.
In practice most of our clients choose the middle route: the property is selected remotely via video viewings, checks and paperwork run under the power of attorney, and they fly in once — for the notary signing and the handover. But a fully remote purchase is a well-established working procedure, not an exotic exception.
Money: transferring funds from Kazakhstan
Property in Spain is paid for in euros, cashlessly, by SWIFT bank transfer. Cash settlements in property transactions are prohibited above minimal amounts, and the notary records the origin of every payment. The standard route is converting tenge to euros at your Kazakhstani bank and transferring to your own Spanish account, from which the property is then paid.
Prepare for the transfer in advance. When a large sum arrives, the Spanish bank will ask for proof of the source of funds: a business or property sale contract, income statements, tax returns — the exact set depends on the bank. Ask your Kazakhstani bank about its current requirements for transfers abroad before the transaction: procedures change periodically, and your plan should reflect the rules on the day of transfer, not a year-old article. We accompany this stage and agree the document package with the bank in advance so the money doesn't get stuck in compliance.
The NIE and a Spanish bank account
The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is the foreigner identification number without which no property operation in Spain is possible: it is required for the deed, taxes and utility contracts. It can be obtained in Spain (by police appointment), at a Spanish consulate, or through a representative under power of attorney. It is not a residence permit and not a visa — merely a foreign taxpayer number.
A Spanish bank account is not always strictly mandatory, but in practice you need one: taxes, utilities and community fees are paid from it. Banks open accounts for non-residents; you will need your passport, the NIE and source-of-funds documents. We assist with both the appointment and the paperwork.
Taxes and the full cost of purchase
The main tax depends on the property type and the region — the current rates:
| Region | New build | Resale (ITP) |
|---|---|---|
| Valencian Community (Costa Blanca) | IVA 10% + AJD 1.4% | 9%* |
| Andalusia (Costa del Sol) | IVA 10% + AJD 1.2% | 7% |
| Murcia | IVA 10% + AJD 1.5% | 8% |
* 11% for properties above €1M.
On top of the tax, budget for the notary and land registry (usually up to 1–1.5% combined) and, optionally, an independent lawyer's fee. All in, the full purchase budget is roughly the property price plus 10–13% depending on region and property type. For an exact figure on a specific property use our buying-costs calculator — it applies the current rates of all three regions.
Visas, residence and staying in Spain: facts vs myths
This is where the most outdated information circulates, so point by point. Citizens of Kazakhstan need a Schengen visa to visit Spain; the 90-days-in-any-180 rule applies. Owning property does not waive the visa regime, but in practice it is strong supporting evidence of purpose and accommodation when applying for multi-entry visas.
Important: the "golden visa" no longer exists. Spain closed its residence-by-investment programme (residence for a €500,000+ property purchase) in April 2025. If someone offers you "residency for buying an apartment" today, it is either outdated information or dishonest marketing. Buying property does not by itself grant a residence permit.
Legitimate long-term routes remain: the non-lucrative residence visa (living on passive income), the digital-nomad visa (remote work for a foreign employer), study and work tracks. Their income and documentation requirements are updated regularly — we advise on the current conditions for your situation in a consultation, and this guide deliberately avoids quoting figures that go stale.
Annual costs after the purchase
- IBI — the municipal property tax: typically a few hundred euros a year, based on cadastral value.
- Comunidad — community fees: upkeep of the complex, the pool and shared areas.
- IRNR — the non-resident imputed-income tax: for citizens of non-EU countries, 24% of a small notional base (1.1–2% of cadastral value) — in practice a few hundred euros a year.
If the home is rented out, tax is paid on the actual rental income — our guide to renting out property in Spain covers how that works.
