Non-Lucrative Visa Spain from US
Many US citizens and foreign nationals are eager to move to Spain on a long-term basis. The Spain non lucrative visa allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain for up to three years, so long as they do not engage in business or employment activities. This page is a guide for US nationals wishing to retire or spend time in Spain long-term.
Visa applications can be a tricky process, especially if you qualify for more than one type of visa, such as Spain’s Digital Nomad visa. Contact us online or call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to discuss the best visa route options for you.
What is the Non-Lucrative Visa in Spain?
The Spanish non-lucrative visa allows US nationals and other non-EU/EEA citizens to live in Spain for up to three years, under the conditions that they do not work or engage in business activities. The minimum validity period for this visa is 1 year.
The Non-lucrative visa Spain is perfect for retirees, digital nomads, or those seeking a change with the means of financially supporting themselves without needing to work.
Applicants will need to be able to prove they have the financial resources to live on during their time in Spain, and that they would not need to become dependent on taking on work or business in Spain during the validity period of the visa. If you intend to bring your family members with you, you must also prove that you can financially support them too.
Please note, the non-lucrative visa in Spain does not allow you to make any form of income in Spain or from a Spanish company based in Spain.
Page Contents
- What is the Non-Lucrative Visa in Spain?
- What is the Eligibility Criteria for the Non Lucrative Residence Visa?
- Non Lucrative Visa Spain Financial Requirements Explained
- What Documents Do I Need for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa?
- How to Apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa Spain from USA
- What is the Application Processing Time?
- Can I Apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa From Spain
- How Much Does the Spain Non Lucrative Visa Cost?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Eligibility Criteria for the Non Lucrative Residence Visa?
Overview
The eligibility criteria for the non lucrative visa Spain is highly dependent on your ability to financially support yourself and any dependent family members joining you for the duration of your visa validity period. This means that generally, you must either have a large savings pot, a regular income earner from businesses or property income abroad, or be living on a pension.
Please note that this visa is not applicable for British nationals or EU citizens, even if they have a Spanish residence permit (TIE).
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Financial means to support yourself and family members, outlined in detail below
- A clean criminal record check certificate for at least 5 years, and have complied with international, Schengen zone and Spanish immigration law
- Must rent or own a property to live in whilst in Spain
- Have a legal residence permit in your country of origin or other non-EU/EEA country
- Have private health insurance or eligibility to access public healthcare in Spain
Dependent Family Members Requirements
Family members of applicants who wish to obtain a non lucrative residence permit and visa must meet the following requirements:
- Have a clean criminal record check certificate from the past 5 years
- Have either a marriage certificate or birth certificate to prove familial relationship to the main applicant
- Be accounted for financially when calculating the minimum monthly income requirements
- Not have entered illegally or be refused entry to Spain or any other Schengen country
- Not intend to work or earn an income in the Spanish market
Financial Eligibility Requirements
In order to be approved for a non-lucrative visa in Spain, you will need to submit extensive information about your personal financial situation and your various streams of income.
This is because the non-lucrative visa is not a work permit or other form of visa that allows you to earn an income in Spain, so the government needs to ensure that you have sufficient economic means to spend time in Spain without needing to get a job in the Spanish market.
The financial terms of the non lucrative visa Spain are as follows:
- You have a minimum annual income of €28,800, which is 400% of the Public Indicator of Multiple Effects Income Index (IPREM). This works out as a minimum non working monthly income of €2,400
- An additional 100% of the IPREM – i.e. €7,200 per family member
Sources of sufficient funds or income streams that qualify for the non-lucrative visa are:
- Dividends from shares in a limited company or from investments
- Endowment or annuity income
- Interest from savings
- Passive income
- Rental income obtained from properties located abroad
- Royalties
- Trust funds
Non Lucrative Visa Spain Financial Requirements Explained
Please note that you are allowed to apply if you can prove that your financial means allow you to subsist on around $32,000 per year plus $8000 for each family member across multiple streams of income or savings.
For example, if you earn $25,000 per year through a rental property income in the US, and have $15,000 in savings, then you will likely be eligible for the non-lucrative visa and will be able to include one family member in your application.
However, most applicants apply for the non-lucrative visa with the intention of gaining permanent residency in Spain, or staying in Spain for longer than one year – which is why it is renewable for up to 3 years.
Due to the nature of the visa, this means that ideally, Spanish authorities need to ensure that you will be able to afford not just your first year in Spain, but also be likely to afford the minimum IPREM requirement after your first year – at the time of your first visa renewal.
Therefore, although the current minimum amount is €28,800 plus €7,200 per family member for one year, in order to be better assured that your visa will be accepted, you ideally want to prove you have more financial means than this or prove that you can guarantee this minimum for at least 2 years. This is so that the Spanish authorities can be assured that you will not get stuck in Spain without a visa due to insufficient funds.
If you do intend to only spend 1 year in Spain with the non lucrative visa and can meet the minimum financial requirements for one year, you may have to include a signed letter to confirm your intention to stay in Spain for only one year and include a return flight ticket or other form of confirmation to prove you will leave Spain at the end of your visa’s validity period. However, there are many other types of visas available that may be more suitable for one year stays.
Financial eligibility can be tricky to navigate if you are bringing multiple family members with you to Spain, or if you have income generating streams that are complex or inconsistent. Our team at Total Law can help you navigate Spain’s IPREM requirements and make sure that the non-lucrative visa in Spain is the right option for you.
Contact us online or call us on +1 844 290 6312 today for expert advice.
What Documents Do I Need for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa?
The documents required by each applicant for a Spanish visa will vary depending on whether or not you have family members joining you, what passport you are using to apply, and how complicated your personal or financial means are.
Generally, most applicants from the US will be required to submit the following documents:
- The national visa application form, completed in full
- Non-working residence visa application form, completed in full
- Valid passport with at least 1 year validity
- Two identical passport-size photographs (3x4cm)
- A notarized document confirming your reasons for staying in Spain, where you intend to live, and how long you intend to stay in the country
- Medical certificate confirming you do not have a condition that could threaten the health of the general public, issued within 3 months of applying for the visa
- A police certificate confirming you have a clear criminal record for the past 5 years, issued within 3 months of applying for the visa
- Proof of sufficient financial means, for example with recent bank statements, confirming:
- You have a minimum monthly income of requirement
- Proof of investments or other income sources such as rental properties
- Pension or annuity documents
- Comprehensive private health insurance, authorized by the Spanish government and covering up to €30,000 of medical expenses per person, with no deductibles or copayments
- Marriage certificates or birth certificates to prove your relationship to your family members, if you are applying with dependents
- If applicable, proof of family financial dependence (for example, for elderly parents of the main applicant) or notarized consent for minors from the other parent if relevant.
All documents must be valid, apostilled and translated into Spanish.
How to Apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa Spain from USA
To apply for the Spanish non lucrative visa, you must ensure that:
- You can meet all of the eligibility criteria (speak to an immigration professional first, if you are unsure about your eligibility)
- Gather all the required documents
- Fill out the application form in full
- Ensure all of your documents are translated into Spanish
- Be ready to pay the visa fee
It is advised that you begin the process at least 5 weeks prior to travelling from your home country.
Once you and your family are ready to apply for the visa, you will need to book an appointment with the immigration office at your nearest Spanish consulate or embassy.
You can do this through their website or by phone. Each family member that is part of the application will be required to attend their own individual appointment. Children under 18 can have their applications submitted by the parent(s) or legal guardians.
Please note that depending on where you live in the United States, you may be required to travel quite far to your nearest consulate.
Spanish consulates and embassies in the USA are based in the following locations:
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Chicago, Illinois
- Houston, Texas
- Los Angeles, California
- Miami, Florida
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- New York, New York
- San Francisco, California
- Washington DC
Once you have booked your appointment at a consular office or Spanish embassy, you will then need to attend the interview to submit your documents and to provide biometric data (facial image and fingerprints), unless you have travelled to the Schengen area in the past 5 years, in which case you will have already supplied your biometric data. Depending on your circumstances, the embassy may request additional documents or evidence, which you will be required to submit.
You will then pay your visa fee after the appointment and wait for your application to be approved.
What is the Application Processing Time?
Usually, the application process time takes approximately one month, though you should plan for longer in case of any issues or visa rejections. Sometimes, the process can take up to three months. Do not book your travel to Spain until you have had your visa approved.
Once your visa is approved, you will also be initially granted your non lucrative residence permit. You can then enter Spain and must then travel to Spain within three months of your visa approval.
How To Apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa From Spain
Unfortunately, applications for non-lucrative visas from within Spain are not permitted. The visa is only available for those who are residents abroad at the time of application.
If you are currently in Spain and wish to switch to a similar type of visa, the new Digital Nomad Visa may be suitable. We appreciate that visas in Spain can be complicated – if you are a US citizen in Spain and would like to discuss and clarify your visa options, you can pick up the phone today and talk to one of our expert immigration lawyers on +1 844 290 6312, or get in touch online.
How Much Does the Spain Non Lucrative Visa Cost?
For US citizens, the cost of the non-lucrative visa fee is usually approximately €516 per person.
Translating English documents into Spanish usually costs around $65-$120 dollars.
You will be required to travel to your nearest embassy to attend an interview. For many applicants, this will require you to travel out of state and could come at a significant cost. You must ensure this is factored into your budget when applying for the visa.
You will also need to purchase private health insurance and ensure your private medical insurance covers you for at least €30,000 worth of expenses.
How Can Total Law Help?
Many US citizens and foreign nationals are eager to move to Spain to retire. With its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and high quality of life, Spain is a very attractive destination for those who wish to retire or live in Spain.
With so many different visa options available to US citizens and other non-EU nationals who wish to spend time in Spain, it can be difficult to know which option is the best for your personal circumstances.
Perhaps you are already in Spain and are not sure about how to change across to the non-lucrative visa, or perhaps you have been doing small amounts of work in Spain and are unsure whether you would qualify for the visa.
That’s why Total Law is here. We have a team of expert immigration lawyers waiting to discuss your circumstances and offer a full guide on the next steps you need to take.
Contact us online or call us today on +1 844 290 6312. We are here to help.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You are not entitled to engage in any form of income generating work or enterprise in the Spanish market using the non-lucrative visa.
If you have an overseas income stream, you are entitled to manage this from Spain and use it as a way to prove financial means during the visa application process. If you are an employee of a foreign company, you may find the new digital nomad visa to be a more suitable option for your circumstances.
If you intend to partake in the Spanish job market, you will be required to obtain a work visa.
Yes, there are multiple ways that you can prove your financial eligibility for the non lucrative residency visa. Sources of financial means or income streams to become a non-lucrative visa holder are:
- Dividends from shares in a limited company or from investments
- Endowment or annuity income
- Interest from savings
- Rental income obtained from properties located abroad
- Royalties
- Trust funds
If you are applying for the non lucrative residency permit with just your savings, you may have to prove that you have at least two year’s worth of savings, or €57,600 (approximately $64,000).
This is because the Spanish government needs to be able to guarantee you can continue to live in Spain after 1 year, and if you do not have an income stream this might mean you have challenges meeting the IPREM financial requirements for the second year of your visa renewal, causing challenges in your ability to continue living in Spain with a non lucrative visa.
