Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa,
done right
For retirees and people with passive income. What you need to qualify, and how to get your case reviewed by a vetted lawyer.
Non-Lucrative Visa requirements
The visado de residencia no lucrativa: you support yourself in Spain without earning there. Your lawyer confirms which of these apply to your case.
Annual funds of at least 400% of Spain's IPREM index, plus roughly 100% more per dependent. The IPREM is reset every year.
Passive income or savingsNo economic or professional activity in Spain. Pensions, rentals, dividends and savings are the income this route expects.
Passive income onlyA full policy from a Spanish-authorised insurer, with no copayments and no waiting periods. Travel cover is refused.
Spanish authorised insurerCriminal record certificate, a medical certificate, a valid passport and proof of funds — most apostilled and sworn-translated.
Apostilled & translatedAt the Spanish consulate covering where you live. It cannot be filed from inside Spain as a tourist.
Consulate onlyOne year to start, then two-year renewals. After five continuous years you can generally apply for long-term residency.
1 year, then 2 + 2How to apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa
Answer a few questions about your nationality, your income and savings, and your timeline. It takes less than two minutes.
We introduce you to a vetted immigration lawyer who files Non-Lucrative Visa cases regularly and works in English.
They assemble the financial evidence, book your consulate appointment, file the application, and handle your TIE once you land in Spain.
Where Non-Lucrative Visa applications go wrong
Consulates want to see that your means are stable and available, not a one-off balance. Pension statements, investment income, property rentals and savings are each weighed differently, and how you present them decides the outcome.
The consulates in the US, UK, Canada and Australia each publish their own document lists, appointment systems and interpretations. A pack that succeeds in one jurisdiction is regularly refused in another.
Policies with copayments, waiting periods, annual caps or a non-Spanish insurer are rejected routinely — often after the applicant has already paid a year's premium. Getting the policy right before filing saves the whole application.
End-to-end, in English
Your immigration lawyer manages the whole Non-Lucrative Visa process — you are not left decoding Spanish bureaucracy alone.
- Checking you qualify
- Putting your proof of funds together
- Making sure your health policy is accepted
- Apostilles and sworn translations
- Booking your consulate appointment and filing
- Your NIE and TIE once you arrive
- Renewals after your first year
Non-Lucrative Visa FAQ
General information only — not legal advice. Your lawyer confirms how each point applies to your case.
How much money do I need for the Non-Lucrative Visa?
You must evidence annual means of at least 400% of Spain's IPREM index for the main applicant, plus roughly 100% of the IPREM for each dependent joining you. The IPREM is set annually, so the euro figure changes from year to year — your lawyer confirms the amount in force when you file and which of your income sources and assets can be counted toward it.
Can I work remotely on the Non-Lucrative Visa?
No. The Non-Lucrative Visa is granted on the basis that you will not carry out economic or professional activity, and remote work for a foreign employer is not what this route is designed for. If you intend to keep working while living in Spain, the Digital Nomad Visa is the route to look at instead.
Can I apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa from inside Spain?
No. It is applied for at the Spanish consulate covering your place of legal residence, before you move. Once the visa is issued you travel to Spain within the stated window and then apply for your TIE residence card there.
What health insurance is accepted for the Non-Lucrative Visa?
A full private policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with cover equivalent to the Spanish public system, no copayments, no waiting periods and no annual cap. Travel insurance and most international expat plans are refused. Each person on the application needs their own policy.
How long does the Non-Lucrative Visa take?
Consulates typically resolve applications within a few months of the appointment, though this varies significantly by location and time of year. The bigger variable is preparation: apostilles, sworn translations, medical certificates and a compliant insurance policy often take longer to assemble than the decision itself.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes. A spouse or registered partner and dependent children can be included, and in some circumstances dependent parents. Each additional person raises the funds you must evidence by roughly 100% of the IPREM and needs their own health cover, criminal record certificate and civil documents.
Will I become a Spanish tax resident?
Living in Spain for more than 183 days in a calendar year generally makes you a Spanish tax resident, which brings your worldwide income into scope and may trigger reporting obligations on foreign assets. Double-taxation treaties usually apply. This is a tax question rather than an immigration one — take it to a Spanish tax adviser before you move.
Can I switch from the Non-Lucrative Visa to a work permit later?
Modifying a non-lucrative residence into a work-authorised status is possible in defined circumstances, usually after a period of residence and subject to the conditions in force at the time. It is not automatic, so if working in Spain is part of your plan, say so at the case review stage rather than after you arrive.
Is the Non-Lucrative Visa right for your case?
Tell us about your income and where you're applying from. We'll introduce you to a vetted Spanish immigration lawyer who handles this visa — usually within one business day. Free, with no obligation.
Get my case reviewed