Bea Alonzo not planning to become Spanish citizen after legal resident status

MANILA, Philippines — Actress Bea Alonzo has no plans of becoming a Spanish citizen – but she is happy that she will soon have such an option.

That is what Bea told reporters at her recent “Start Up PH” press conference in Cebu City.

“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 declared at the event.

Following her acquisition of a two-bedroom Madrid apartment, Bea is now a legal resident of Spain with a Golden Visa, a "residence visa issued to a non-EU national who intends to make a significant investment in the Spanish economy,” said the Schengen Visa website.

Anyone who purchased real estate in Spain for at least 500,000 Euros (about P30 million) is entitled under the Residency by Investment program to travel visa-free within the Schengen Zone of the European Union. The benefit extends to Bea’s mother, Mary Anne.

“'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,” shared Bea.

As legal citizen, Bea can now work freely in Europe. Although not required to stay in Spain, she is now eligible to apply for citizenship after a couple of years. But the Filipino-British actress was quick to stress that she will not apply for Spanish citizenship.

“After two years, you can apply for citizenship which am not gonna of course, but, at least, there is that option.”

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