Spain non-lucrative visa: requirements, income and steps

The non-lucrative visa is Spain’s residence visa for people who can support themselves without working. Spain has no visa called a retirement visa, and this is the one retirees use. It is also used by people taking a long break from work and by families living on investment income.

Who it suits

• Retirees living on Social Security, pensions and savings.
• People with investment or rental income who won’t work while in Spain.
• Spouses and children of the main applicant, who apply as dependants.

It doesn’t suit remote workers. The visa forbids work, and that includes working online for a US employer. Use the digital nomad visa for that.

The income and savings requirement

The amount is set as a multiple of the IPREM, an index the Spanish government uses for benefits and thresholds:

	Multiple of IPREM	Approximate amount a year
Main applicant	400%	€28,800 (about $33,000)
Each dependant	100%	€7,200 (about $8,300)
A couple	500%	€36,000 (about $41,000)

These figures use the IPREM of recent years, and the dollar amounts move with the exchange rate. Check the current figure with the consulate you will apply to.

What counts:

• Passive income: Social Security, pensions, annuities, dividends, interest and rental income, shown with award letters and statements.
• Savings: bank and investment balances. Consulates generally want to see funds for the whole first year, and many applicants show a comfortable margin above the minimum.

Salary from a job doesn’t count, because holding the job conflicts with the visa. Consulates differ on how they treat retirement accounts you haven’t started drawing from, so ask before you rely on one.

Other requirements

• Private Spanish health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with no copayments, no deductible and no waiting periods, covering you as the public system would. Travel insurance isn’t accepted. See health insurance in Spain.
• An FBI background check with an apostille, and a check from any other country you lived in during the last five years.
• A medical certificate from a doctor, in the wording the consulate asks for.
• The national visa application form, form EX-01 and the fee forms.
• Passport, photos and proof that you live in the consulate’s area.
• Sworn translations into Spanish of the documents that aren’t in Spanish.

Some consulates also ask for a letter explaining why you want to live in Spain, or for proof of where you will live.

How to apply

1. Find your consulate. Spain has consulates in several US cities, and each covers a set of states. You apply to the one for the state where you live.
2. Check how it takes applications. Some use an outside visa centre and some want an appointment at the consulate itself. Lists and procedures differ from one consulate to the next.
3. Time your documents. The background check and medical certificate are generally valid for about three months, and apostilles and translations add weeks. Request the FBI check first.
4. Submit the application in person and pay the fee. The fee for US citizens is higher than the standard fee.
5. Wait for the decision. The legal limit is three months, and many decisions come sooner.
6. Collect the visa within the period the consulate gives you, usually a month.
7. Travel to Spain while the visa is valid, register at the town hall, and apply for your TIE within a month. See NIE and TIE.

Renewing

The first authorisation lasts one year. Renewals have traditionally been for two years at a time, and you show the same level of funds for the renewal period. A new immigration regulation took effect in May 2025 and changed some renewal periods, so ask a lawyer what applies when your renewal comes up.

To renew, you generally need to have spent more than six months of the year in Spain. That has a consequence people miss: spending more than 183 days a year in Spain makes you a Spanish tax resident. See taxes in Spain.

After five years you can apply for long-term residency, which allows work. Before that, a non-lucrative resident who wants to work can apply to change to a work or self-employment permit, usually after the first year.

Mistakes that cause refusals

• Appearing to work. A current job, an active business or a LinkedIn profile that says you work remotely have all led to refusals.
• Insurance with copayments or waiting periods. The policy certificate should state plainly that there are none.
• Stale documents. A background check dated more than about three months before the appointment is commonly rejected.
• Missing apostilles or translations. Each official document needs both.
• Funds that are hard to read. Many small transfers between accounts raise questions. Clear statements and a short summary help.

What comes next

Read the steps for the whole move to see how the visa fits with housing, shipping and tax, and retiring in Spain if you are moving on a pension. An immigration lawyer can review your documents before the appointment.

Common questions

How much income do you need for the Spain non-lucrative visa?

The main applicant must show 400% of Spain's IPREM index, which in recent years has come to roughly €28,800 a year or €2,400 a month (about $33,000 a year). Each family member adds 100% of IPREM, roughly €7,200 a year. The index can change, so confirm the figure with your consulate.

Does Spain have a retirement visa?

Not by that name. Retirees use the non-lucrative visa, which is for anyone who can support themselves from pensions, Social Security, investments or savings without working in Spain.

Can I work remotely on a non-lucrative visa?

No. The visa doesn't allow work of any kind, and consulates have refused applicants who appear to be working remotely. People who work for employers or clients outside Spain should look at the digital nomad visa.

How long does the non-lucrative visa last?

The first authorisation is for one year. It is then renewed for longer periods as long as you still meet the requirements and have lived in Spain for most of the year. After five years you can apply for long-term residency.