Non Lucrative Visa Spain (NLV)

A Non-Lucrative Residency Visa is a long-term visa leading to a temporary resident permit, which allows the visa holder to live in Spain for more than 90 days.

Since a Non-Lucrative Visa does not allow you to work in Spain, it is often referred to as a retirement visa. Non-Lucrative Visa holders can immigrate to Spain with their eligible family members.

After five years of temporary residence in Spain, they will be eligible to apply for a permanent residency in the country, which will allow them to live, work and study in Spain, eventually paving the way to Spanish citizenship.

EEA (the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Swiss citizens do not need any visas to live in Spain. Following Brexit, UK citizens now need a long visa or residency permit to reside in Spain, same as third-country nationals.

However, British expatriates who already have a Foreigner Identity Card (called a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero’ or TIE card) will not require this visa.

Page Contents

• What Is a Non-Lucrative Visa for Spain?
• Who Should Consider Applying for the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa?
• Dependent Family Members on a Non-Lucrative Visa
• Non-Lucrative Residence Visa Spain Requirements
• Spain Non-Lucrative Visa Application From UK
• What Supporting Documents Do I Need for a Non-Lucrative Visa Spain?
• Supporting Documents for Accompanying Family Members
• Processing Time and Cost for Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa Application
• What Happens If My Non-Lucrative Visa Application Is Approved?
• How to Renew My Non-Lucrative Visa in Spain?
• Non-Lucrative Visa to Permanent Residency in Spain
• What If My Non-Lucrative Visa Application Is Denied?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you have sufficient financial resources without having to work for an employer or be self-employed, a Non-Lucrative Visa can be a favourable option to obtain temporary residency in Spain. It can be the ideal option for foreign nationals who want to retire in Spain or just spend the summer/winter months there to avoid a harsh climate in their home countries.

However, you must have enough passive income from outside Spain to be able to cover your expenses in the country along with that of your family members (if any). You will also have to keep in mind the healthcare cost, since Non-Lucrative Visa holders cannot avail public health facilities in Spain.

You may start working in Spain after five years if you can successfully obtain a permanent residency. However, until then you must be ready, both financially and mentally, to not engage in gainful activities.

You may bring your eligible family members to Spain along with you (provided your passive income cover for their expenses, too) on a Non-Lucrative Visa. Family members in this context refer to:

• Spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
• Children dependent on you financially or otherwise. They must not have formed their own family unit
• Dependent elderly parents or parents-in-law if they are in your care and are part of your family unit

To apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa, you will have to start with arranging for all your necessary supporting documents and completing the visa application form. You will have to submit your application in person. For minors, a parent or guardian (or a duly accredited representative) can submit on their behalf.

In the UK, the Embassy of Spain is in London. There are eight Spanish consulates located in Manchester, Belfast, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Jersey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, however, has an agreement with BLS International for certain types of visa applications, including the Non-Lucrative Visa.

Please get in touch with your nearest BLS International branch in the UK to make a prior appointment for submitting your application. If you have family members who will accompany you to Spain, you will need to book an appointment per person.

You might have to attend an interview on the day of your appointment. Please carry all your required documents with you. If the concerned Spanish consulate asks for additional documents, you will have to submit them within the deadline mentioned.

In case you have not travelled to the Schengen area in the past five years, you will also be required to provide your biometric data (i.e. your facial image and ten fingerprints) on the day of your interview.

To apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa in Spain, you will need to submit the following documents along with your visa application:

• Valid passport issued in the last 10 years, valid for at least four months, and with at least two blank pages
• A National visa application form, duly completed and signed
• Non-working residence visa application form (i.e. the EX-01 form), duly completed and signed
• A recent passport-size, colour photo
• Documents (originals and photocopies) proving the applicant has sufficient financial means to cover their (and their family members’, where applicable) living costs in Spain for the first year of the residence permit or documents accrediting that they have a regular source of passive income covering the above-mentioned expenses
• Health insurance from an insurance entity authorised to operate in Spain, covering all risks insured by Spain’s public health system
• Criminal record check certificate for all adult applicants, issued by the UK as well as any other countries of residence for the last five years
• A medical certificate affirming that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health in Spain pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations
• Proof of residence in the area under the concerned Spanish embassy/consulate’s jurisdiction
• Visa fee payment receipt

• All of the above-mentioned documents except proofs for financial means
• Marriage certificate or civil union registration certificate for spouses or civil partners
• For unmarried partners, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or documents proving that their relationship dates back before the resident moved to Spain
• For minor children, birth certificates, proof of nationality, proof of the right of care and custody of the parent residing in Spain, proof of adoption (if applicable), letter of consent from both parents, custody decree in case parents are divorced, death certificate of the parent who has passed away (if applicable)
• For adult children, documents proving their financial dependence on the main applicant, their civil status, and that they continue to form part of the family unit
• For parents, the birth certificate of the main applicant (or their spouse/partner), documents proving the parents’ financial dependence on the main applicant, and that they continue to form part of the family unit

All official documents must be legalised with the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Moreover, documents not in Spanish must be accompanied by their certified translation copies.

It usually takes around two to five weeks to receive a decision on your Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa application. However, the procedure may also take up to three months so plan your travel accordingly. If the consular officer asks you to submit more documentary evidence, the processing time may increase.

The visa processing fees depend on the applicant’s nationality. Usually, the fee is €80 for most nationalities. For citizens of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the US and the UK, different rates may apply for reasons of reciprocity. Please check with BLS International beforehand the amount of fees applicable in your case.

You will need to fill up and sign two copies of Form 790-052 to pay the residence permit fees at the consular office. Alternatively, you may pay the fees online and attach the proof of payment obtained from that webpage with your visa application.

A Non-Lucrative Visa is valid for 90 days. It comes with the NIE (Foreign Identity Number). It is your unique identification number as a foreigner in Spain, and will allow you to carry out official activities like buying a house or opening a bank account.

After arriving in Spain on this visa, you must apply for a Foreigner Identification Card (TIE card) within 30 days. You can apply at the Foreign Nationals’ Office or the police station of the province where the residence permit was processed.

You will also have to register in your local municipality in Spain. You can do so at the town hall corresponding to your municipality. You will also be required to register your fingerprints at your local police station.

UK citizens with an S1 must also get their S1 registered in Spain. After you get your TIE, you can start the registration process. Spanish Social Security services (Seguridad Social) may take up to six months to issue a certificate for you to register with a doctor.

A Non-Lucrative Visa is initially valid for one year, starting from the date you enter Spain. It can be renewed for two years at a time thereafter. To renew your Non-Lucrative Visa, you will have to submit a renewal application in Spain along with supporting documents proving that:

• You have enough money (800% of the IPREM) for residing in Spain for two years
• You lived in Spain for at least six months and thus are a tax resident in the country
• You have no criminal record and no debts
• You have private health insurance

After five years of temporary residence in Spain, the Non-Lucrative resident permit holders and their family members can apply for a permanent residence permit. After living in Spain continuously for ten years as a permanent resident, you may also be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship by naturalisation.

For certain nationalities, like a Filipino citizen, you may be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship after living in the country for only two years as a permanent resident.

In case of a visa refusal, the Spanish immigration authorities will notify you in writing regarding their decision and the reason(s) thereof. You have one month to submit an appeal for reconsideration to your concerned consular office.

Alternatively, you may file an application for judicial review with the High Court Justice of Madrid within two months following the date of receiving visa refusal notification (or of the reconsideration appeal dismissal).