After spending approximately P30 million in real estate, Bea Alonzo is now a legal resident in Spain
After purchasing an apartment in Madrid, Bea Alonzo shared that she is now a legal resident of Spain.
Talking to the media during the presscon of Start Up PH's last few episodes in Cebu City, the Kapuso actress happily said that she got her Golden Visa in Spain.
“Galing ako sa isang mahabang bakasyon. 26 days, almost a month. Kakauwi ko lang this week from Europe. The reason why I went there was because I wanted to get my Golden Visa to Spain, so am now a resident of Spain,” Alonzo said.
According to the Schengen Visa info website, a Golden Visa is a "residence visa issued to a non-EU national who intends to make a significant investment in the Spanish economy."
The Residency by Investment program allows anyone who purchased real estate in Spain worth at least 500,000 euros (or approximately P30 million) to travel visa-free through the Schengen Zone of the European Union. Additionally, her mother Mary Anne will also benefit from this.
While Alonzo is not required to stay in the country, she can work in the continent and opt to apply for citizenship after two years.
“Yung Spanish government kasi, if you have a certain amount to invest sa real property nila, you will be granted a Golden Visa which means you are automatically a resident. After two years, you can apply for citizenship which am not gonna of course, but, at least, there is that option,” Bea narrated.
Alonzo continued that she chose to buy an apartment in Spain because she has "always been fascinated with the idea of living abroad." She added that she loves the country and has friends there, but made it clear that she will live in the Philippines.
During a recent trip to Spain, Alonzo shared that she finally showed her mom her apartment.
In a vlog entry last May, the actress said that she was apartment-hunting in Madrid. She also included the six properties that her real estate broker showed her. Alonzo later on revealed that she went for the two-bedroom apartment in Chamberi.