Spain Retirement Visa for US Citizens

Spain’s Non-Lucrative visa is often referred to as the Retirement visa. Because it does not allow work, and instead relies on your income from passive sources, pensions, savings, etc, most applicants on this route come to Spain to retire.

The main applicant must be able to prove passive income that is 400% of the iPREM (Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator). This is €28,800 per year or €2,400 per month.

Bringing family increases the amount, and you must provide 100% of the iPREM for each additional family member (€7,200 per year, or €600 per month).

Spain’s Golden visa was discontinued for new applicants in 2025, so the Non-Lucrative visa is the main option for long-term retirees.

For shorter visits, US citizens can generally stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen Area. Nationals who require a visa can apply for a short-stay Schengen visa, subject to the same limit.

Those who wish to work (including freelance and consultancy), or whose income is not entirely passive, may consider other options beyond the Non-Lucrative visa.

Page Contents

• What is Spain’s Retirement Visa?
• Eligibility Criteria for the Spain Retirement Visa
• Financial Requirements for the Retirement Visa in Spain
• Application Process for the Spain Retirement Visa
• Required Documents for Spain Retirement Visa
• Visa Cost and Processing Time
• Benefits of the Retirement Visa in Spain
• Visa Renewal Options
• Path to Spanish Citizenship
• How Can Total Law Help With Your Spain Retirement Visa?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Non Lucrative visa

The Non Lucrative visa is designed for applicants who already have a passive income and so will not be required to work once they arrive in Spain. If you have passive income from the US or elsewhere outside of Spain or sufficient life savings, this route might be the right fit for you. A range of passive income forms can be used as part of this route, including royalties, interest on savings, dividends, and rental payments from non-Spanish properties.

In particular, you will need to satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

• You must have an annual passive income of approximately €28,800 (note that this figure can also be composed of or supplemented by your life savings). In the event that any immediate family members are also included in your application, you will require an additional €7,200 per family member.
• You will need to demonstrate that you have had a clean criminal record for at least the last 5 years.

If you choose to renew your visa, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have sufficient financial means to cover the full duration of the renewal period, which is typically 2 years. You can renew the permission until you are eligible for permanent residency (PR). You may be eligible to apply for PR after 5 years of continuous residence on a Non-Lucrative visa.

There are a number of stages involved in applying for a Spanish Retirement visa.

You will need to apply via your local Spanish embassy or consular office. In the US, these can be found in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC. There is also a consulate general in Puerto Rico.

After you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation receipt which will allow you to track your application’s progress.

Your application will now be processed. In the case of successful applications, you will be granted a visa. This should be collected within 1 month of receiving the notification that it is ready.

While the exact documents which you require for your application will depend on the visa for which you are applying, you will generally require a combination of the following evidence:

• Passport
• Criminal record check certificate
• Proof of Spanish private health insurance
• Health certificate
• Evidence of sufficient investment in the Spanish economy, if applicable
• Evidence of sufficient financial means, if applicable (e.g. bank statements, proof of passive income, financial records, etc.)

Note that, if any family members are also applying as part of your application, additional documentation will also be necessary. For example, they will also need to provide their passports, and you will also be expected to demonstrate proof of the family relationship and that the extra financial requirements have been met.

All the required documents must be translated into Spanish by an authorized translation service.

• Non Lucrative visa applications generally cost USD $141.90 for US applicants.
• Self Employed visa applications typically cost USD $201.7 for US applicants
• The Digital Nomad visa in Spain typcically costs USD $141.90 for US applicants. 
• You can travel to Spain and stay visa-free for up to 180 days. ETIAS is not yet in effect but will cost €20. You should check for updates if you are using this route to spend time in Spain during your retirement.

For some US applications, an admin fee is also charged at €160.

The waiting time is generally longer for the Non Lucrative visa and, while you should hear back within 5 weeks, this can increase to 3 months in some circumstances. In order to ensure that your application is processed as quickly as possible, make sure to submit all required documents at the time of application, ensure that your documents are translated into Spanish by an authorized translator, and quickly provide any additional information which is requested.

Spain offers US retirees an established route to long-term residence through its Non-Lucrative visa. Applicants who meet the financial and other requirements can live in Spain using pensions, savings or other qualifying resources, without needing a job offer or property investment. After five years of legal, continuous residence, they may qualify for permanent residency, subject to the relevant conditions.

Spanish residency also makes it easier to explore Europe, allowing short visits to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not automatically grant the right to live or work elsewhere in the EU.

Alongside these immigration benefits, Spain offers a varied cultural life and an established healthcare system. Retirees should arrange the healthcare cover required for their visa rather than assume they will immediately qualify for free public healthcare.

The Non Lucrative visa can be renewed upon expiry, provided that you continue to satisfy the eligibility criteria.

Under the Non Lucrative visa route, you are authorized to live in Spain for an initial 1-year period, after which you can apply for a 2-year extension. After this 2-year period has elapsed, you can apply for another 2-year extension. While this visa type cannot be renewed indefinitely, you can apply for permanent residency after living in Spain for at least 5 years.

After living in Spain legally and continuously for at least 5 years, you may be eligible for Spanish permanent residency. This means that you can settle permanently in Spain for the duration of your retirement. However, permanent residency is distinct from Spanish citizenship and does not grant the same advantages.

After 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain, you may now be eligible for Spanish citizenship. However, applying for Spanish citizenship has additional requirements, such as proving that you have sufficient proficiency in the Spanish language and sufficient knowledge of Spanish culture and society.

If you do obtain Spanish citizenship, you will gain a number of advantages. These include the ability to vote in Spanish elections and to apply for a Spanish passport. As Spanish citizenship grants automatic EU citizenship, you will also be able to live, work, and study in the EU without requiring a visa.