Get in Touch

Home / Services / Spain Non-Lucrative Visa

Non-Lucrative Visa

Spain Non-Lucrative Visa Application

Full legal coordination for Spain's non-working residence visa -- financial documentation, health insurance, accommodation proof, consulate filing, and TIE residence card issuance. Designed for retirees, early-retirement professionals, and financially independent individuals.

For non-EU citizens with passive income, pensions, savings, or investment returns who want to live in Spain without engaging in any work or professional activity -- including remote work.

2,500+

Successful applications across all programs

98%

Approval rate across all visa programs

2-8 weeks

Typical consulate processing

EUR 2,400/month -- minimum passive income for the main applicant (400% of IPREM)

No work permitted -- including remote work; strictly passive income or savings

Family included -- spouse or partner, dependent children, and qualifying relatives

Licensed lawyers registered with the Spanish Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados)

The Non-Working Residence Visa

Live in Spain Without Working

Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa (Visado de Residencia No Lucrativa) allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain without engaging in any gainful activity -- no employment, no freelancing, no remote work. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient passive income, pensions, or savings to support themselves and any dependents for the duration of their stay.

With Spain's Golden Visa property route eliminated in April 2025, the Non-Lucrative Visa has become the primary residence pathway for retirees, early-FIRE professionals, and financially independent individuals. The permit is initially issued for one year, renewable for two-year periods, with a path to permanent residency after five years and citizenship after ten.

Last updated: February 2026

Read our full Non-Lucrative Visa guide

Retirees

Pension income from government or private pensions qualifies as passive income. Must demonstrate EUR 2,400 per month (EUR 28,800 per year) for the main applicant plus EUR 600 per month for each dependent. Pension statements, bank deposits, and fund distributions all accepted as evidence.

Financially Independent

Investment returns, rental income, dividends, royalties, and substantial savings all qualify. If relying on savings rather than regular income, you must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover the full minimum for at least twelve months. Bank certificates showing balances, average balances, and account history are required.

Renewal Path

Initial permit: one year. First renewal: two years. Second renewal: two years. After five continuous years, apply for permanent residency. Renewal requires re-demonstrating financial means -- typically double the initial requirement as the renewal covers two years. Must maintain accommodation and health insurance throughout.

Family Applications

Spouse, registered partner, or proven stable partner may apply together. Dependent children and qualifying ascendant relatives can also be included. Each dependent adds EUR 600 per month (100% of IPREM) to the income requirement. All family members receive the same residence permit and Schengen-area travel rights.

Why MovingTo

The Application Most People Get Wrong

The Non-Lucrative Visa appears straightforward but has the highest rejection rate of Spain's residence visas. Financial evidence that doesn't match what the consulate expects, wrong health insurance, missing apostilles, incomplete affidavits -- each is grounds for refusal. We eliminate those risks.

Financial Structuring

Consulates scrutinise the source, stability, and continuity of your income. Pension statements must show regular deposits. Investment income must be documented with brokerage or fund statements. Savings must be evidenced with full bank certificates showing opening dates, balances as of 31 December, and average balances. We structure your financial evidence to match exactly what your consulate expects -- not what a generic checklist says.

Compliant Health Insurance

Standard travel insurance does not qualify. Spanish consulates require private health insurance from a Spanish-authorised provider with no co-payments, full coverage including hospitalisation, and no exclusions that would disqualify the policy. We source and verify insurance that meets the specific requirements of your consulate -- the most common reason for NLV rejections after financial evidence.

Affidavit & Documentation

The NLV requires a notarised affidavit in Spanish committing to not engage in any lucrative activity, explaining your reasons for living in Spain, confirming your accommodation, and outlining your professional background. We draft this document, coordinate apostilles and sworn translations for all supporting materials, and compile the complete dossier before your consulate appointment.

Service Scope

What We Handle, What We Don't

We Handle

  • Eligibility assessment -- income sources, savings, and family situation
  • Financial evidence structuring -- bank certificates, pension statements, investment documentation
  • Notarised affidavit drafting in Spanish (declaracion responsable)
  • Health insurance sourcing -- Spanish-authorised, no co-payments, full coverage
  • Criminal record certificate guidance -- apostille and sworn translation
  • Medical certificate coordination
  • Accommodation documentation -- rental contract, property deed, or invitation letter
  • Form completion -- National Visa Application, EX-01, Form 790-052
  • Consulate appointment scheduling and applicant preparation
  • Post-arrival TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) application and empadronamiento

We Don't

  • Provide ongoing tax advisory, accounting, or filing services
  • Offer investment advice, financial planning, or wealth management
  • Source or manage rental properties or real estate purchases
  • Guarantee visa approval -- decisions rest with the consulate
  • Handle work permit applications (the NLV prohibits all work activity)

From Assessment to Residence in Spain

Typical timeline: 2 to 4 months from engagement to visa

01

Eligibility & Financial Review

We assess your income sources against the EUR 2,400 monthly threshold (EUR 28,800 per year) plus EUR 600 per dependent. Pension income, investment returns, rental income, dividends, and savings are all evaluated. We confirm your financial evidence meets the specific requirements of your consulate and identify any gaps.

02

Documentation

Complete dossier assembly: bank certificates with balances and averages, pension or income statements, notarised affidavit in Spanish, criminal record certificates (apostilled and translated), medical certificate, health insurance policy, proof of accommodation in Spain, passport copies, photographs, and completed forms (EX-01, 790-052).

03

Consulate Filing

Appointment booked at the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your residence. Applicant prepared for in-person submission. Full dossier reviewed and organised for presentation. Passport submitted with application. Family applications filed simultaneously. Processing time: typically two to eight weeks, legally up to three months.

04

Arrival & TIE Card

Visa valid for 90 days -- you must enter Spain within this period. Within one month of arrival, apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the Oficina de Extranjeria or local police station. We coordinate empadronamiento (municipal registration), TIE appointment booking, and initial residence setup.

Client Results

"Retired couple, UK pension income. MovingTo structured our financial evidence from two separate pension sources, coordinated S1 form eligibility, and handled the consulate filing in London. Both visas approved in three weeks. TIE cards issued within a month of arriving in Malaga."

G. & P. Whitfield

Non-Lucrative Visa -- Pension income -- UK, 2025

"Early retirement at 45, living on investment portfolio and rental income. The financial structuring was the critical part -- MovingTo prepared bank certificates, brokerage statements, and rental contracts exactly as the Washington DC consulate expected. Approved first time, no additional documents."

J. Nakamura

Non-Lucrative Visa -- Investment income -- USA, 2025

"Applied with my husband and two children. The team calculated our family threshold, sourced compliant health insurance for all four of us, and drafted the affidavit. Four applications filed together at the Barcelona consulate. All approved within six weeks."

L. van der Berg

Non-Lucrative Visa -- Family of four -- South Africa, 2024

"Canadian retiree, combination of CPP and private pension. My first application was refused because of incorrect health insurance. MovingTo took over, restructured the financial documentation, sourced a Spanish-authorised policy with no co-payments, and the second application was approved without issue."

R. Fournier

Non-Lucrative Visa -- Pension income -- Canada, 2025

Common Questions

Working With Us

What are the financial requirements?

You must demonstrate passive income or savings of at least EUR 2,400 per month (EUR 28,800 per year) for the main applicant, based on 400% of Spain's IPREM indicator. Each dependent adds EUR 600 per month (EUR 7,200 per year). Qualifying sources include pensions, investment returns, rental income, dividends, royalties, and substantial savings. Bank certificates must show balances, averages, and account history.

Can I work remotely on this visa?

No. The Non-Lucrative Visa prohibits all gainful activity -- employment, freelancing, and remote work. You must sign a notarised affidavit confirming you will not engage in any lucrative activity while in Spain. If remote work is your income source, the Digital Nomad Visa (Telework Visa) is the correct pathway.

What health insurance is required?

Private health insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Spain, with full coverage including hospitalisation and no co-payments. Travel insurance and international health policies without Spanish authorisation are not accepted. British citizens over 65 may qualify through the S1 form. We source and verify compliant policies as part of the engagement.

How long does the process take?

Document preparation typically takes one to two months. Consulate processing ranges from two to eight weeks, with a legal maximum of three months. After visa approval, you have 90 days to enter Spain and must apply for your TIE residence card within one month of arrival. Total timeline from engagement to residence: typically two to four months.

How does renewal work?

The initial permit is for one year. Renewal applications must be submitted 60 days before or within 90 days after expiry. The first renewal is for two years, the second for another two years. You must re-demonstrate sufficient financial means -- typically double the initial requirement as the renewal covers two years. After five continuous years, you can apply for permanent residency.

Is the Golden Visa still available?

No. Spain's Golden Visa real estate investment route was eliminated in April 2025. The Non-Lucrative Visa is now the primary residence pathway for financially independent individuals who do not intend to work in Spain. Unlike the Golden Visa, it does not require a minimum investment but does require ongoing passive income or substantial savings and prohibits all work activity.

Get Started

Start Your Non-Lucrative Visa Application

Get a financial eligibility assessment, document checklist, and full timeline from our licensed Spanish legal team -- structured from the outset for consulate approval.

Your Case Is Reviewed By

Raquel Moreno Diaz

Licensed Immigration Lawyer

Colegio de Abogados de Madrid -- Collegiate Member

Raquel Moreno Diaz oversees every Non-Lucrative Visa engagement, ensuring financial evidence, health insurance, affidavit, and the complete application dossier are structured to meet consulate requirements from initial assessment through to TIE card issuance.

2,500+ successful applications across all programs -- 98% approval rate -- 4 European markets

Start Your Application

Free assessment with a licensed immigration lawyer. No obligation.

Your information is used only to respond to your request.

After You Submit

  • Lawyer assesses your financial documentation and confirms eligibility
  • You receive a full document checklist, timeline, and fee breakdown
  • We advise on accommodation options and health insurance sourcing
Non-Lucrative Visa Start Application