The Non-Lucrative Visa: a guide for retirees & the financially independent
If you want to live in Spain but you do not need to work while you are here, the Non-Lucrative Visa is usually the route. It suits retirees and anyone with enough savings or passive income to support themselves. The 2026 income figures are set by a benchmark called the IPREM, and they held steady this year, so the numbers below are current.
What is the Non-Lucrative Visa?
The Non-Lucrative Visa gives you residency in Spain on one main condition: you support yourself without working. That is what non-lucrative means. You live on a pension, savings, investments, rental income, or other money that comes in without you taking a job in Spain.
It has been the standard route for retirees moving to Spain for years, and it stays popular with people from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and beyond.
Who it suits
- Retirees living on a pension or savings
- People with steady passive income who do not plan to work
- Anyone who wants a longer, settled stretch in Spain without needing local earnings
The visa does not let you work in Spain, and working remotely for a foreign employer sits in a grey area that has caused problems for applicants. If you plan to keep working online, the Digital Nomad Visa is almost always the right route instead. A specialist will point you to the correct one before you spend money on the wrong application.
Income requirements for 2026
The financial requirement is 400% of the IPREM for the main applicant, plus 100% of the IPREM for each extra family member. The IPREM stayed at €600 per month for 2026, so the figures match 2025.
The 2026 income figures
- Main applicant: €2,400 per month, or €28,800 per year.
- Each additional family member: €600 per month, or €7,200 per year.
That puts a couple at €36,000 per year, a couple with one child at €43,200, and a couple with two children at €50,400. You can meet the requirement through regular income, a lump sum of savings, or a mix of both, but consulates differ on how they want to see it.
The IPREM did not rise for 2026 because Spain carried over its budget, so these figures match 2025. In a year where the budget changes, the amounts can move. Check the current IPREM before you rely on any number.
How to apply
Unlike the Digital Nomad Visa, you apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa from your home country, at the Spanish consulate that covers your area. You cannot start it from inside Spain. The process runs roughly like this:
- Gather and legalise your documents. Apostilles and sworn translations take time, so start early.
- Book your consulate appointment and submit the application in person.
- Wait for the decision and collect your visa.
- Travel to Spain, then within your first month register for your TIE card and sign on at your local town hall.
Two applicants in different cities can be asked for different documents and different proof of funds. Someone who knows your specific consulate is the single biggest factor in getting approved on the first try.
Renewals and the path to residency
The first visa usually runs for one year. You then renew in two-year blocks. After five years of legal residence you can apply for long-term residency. Renewals expect you to have spent real time in Spain and to still meet the income and insurance requirements, so it is not a permit you can set and forget.
A note on tax
Spending more than 183 days a year in Spain generally makes you a tax resident, which affects how your worldwide income is taxed. That is separate from immigration, and it is worth planning early with a cross-border tax adviser. Your immigration specialist will tell you when it starts to matter.
Is the Non-Lucrative Visa right for you?
Tell us about your situation and we will match you with a licensed, English speaking immigration specialist who confirms the current figures and handles the application from start to finish.
Find my specialistThis article is general information and not legal advice. Spanish immigration rules and income thresholds change from year to year and can vary by consulate and by personal circumstances. Confirm the current requirements for your own case with a licensed immigration professional before you apply.