The Non-Lucrative Visa (visado de residencia no lucrativa) lets a non-EU national live in Spain without working there. You prove you can support yourself, you prove you are insured, and you prove you are of good character. Everything below comes from the consulate checklist and from the figures we track for this route.
The numbers at a glance
| Visa | Government fee | Processing | Money floor recorded | First permit | Permanent residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain: Non-Lucrative Visa | $130 | 1–3 months | $32,000 | 1 yr | PR after 5 years |
The government fee we record is $130 and processing runs 1–3 months. The first permit lasts 1 year, then renews. After 5 years of legal residence you can apply for long-term residence, and Spanish citizenship by residence takes 10 years in our data for most nationalities.
The money rule: 400% of IPREM
Spain does not publish a fixed euro figure for this visa. It ties the requirement to IPREM, a public reference index. The Consulate General of Spain in London asks for 400% of IPREM for the main applicant and 100% of IPREM for each family member, covering the first year. Our catalogue records that as about $32,000 a year for one person.
Two details trip people up. The money has to be yours and available: pension statements, investment income, rental income or savings all work, while a job offer or ongoing salary does not. And the consulate reads the figure as a floor for the whole year, so a large one-off balance that drains in month three will be questioned.
Can you work on the Non-Lucrative Visa?
No. Any work, including remote work for a foreign company, falls outside this permit. If you will keep earning, look at the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa instead ($80 fee, 1–2 months processing in our data), or read the side-by-side comparison.
The 2026 document checklist
This is the list the London consulate publishes. Other consulates use the same core set but differ on details such as which medical certificates they accept, so check the one that covers your address.
- National visa application form, completed and signed
- Form EX-01 (the non-lucrative residence application), completed and signed
- A recent passport-size colour photo on a light background
- Passport valid for at least 1 year, with two blank pages, issued in the last 10 years, plus a copy of the biometric page
- Proof of financial means covering the first year of the permit
- Health insurance certificate covering every risk Spain's public health system covers
- Criminal record certificate(s) for the past 5 years, legalised or apostilled and translated
- Medical certificate issued within the 3 months before you apply
- Proof that you live legally in the consulate's district
- Fee payment on form 790 code 052
Each family member files the same core set plus proof of the relationship, such as a marriage or birth certificate. Foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation and an official Spanish translation.
Where files go wrong
- Health insurance with gaps. The policy must cover all the risks the Spanish public system covers. Co-payments, waiting periods and repatriation-only travel policies are the usual reasons for a request for more documents.
- Stale certificates. The criminal record certificate must be no older than 6 months and the medical certificate no older than 3 months when you file. Order them last.
- The wrong consulate. You apply where you legally live, not where you happen to be. A tourist stay in another country does not make its consulate yours.
- Forgetting the second step. The visa lasts 1 year. Within a month of arrival you apply for your foreigner identity card, and renewals follow from there.
Check your income against Spain and its neighbours
Transita compares your income and savings with the Non-Lucrative Visa, Portugal's D7 and Italy's Elective Residence in one pass. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.
Build my workspaceHow it compares with Portugal and Italy
Spain sits between its two neighbours. Portugal's D7 asks for less money and Italy's Elective Residence asks for more, as the table shows.
| Visa | Government fee | Processing | Money floor recorded | Published income floor | Permanent residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain: Non-Lucrative Visa | $130 | 1–3 months | $32,000 | Not recorded | PR after 5 years |
| Portugal: D7 Passive Income Visa | $250 | 2–6 months | $11,000 | Not recorded | PR after 5 years |
| Italy: Elective Residence Visa | $125 | 1–3 months | Not recorded | EUR 31,000/yr (≈ $35,526/yr) | PR after 5 years |
For the wider picture, see our guide to every country with a retirement visa and the Portugal D7 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do you need for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa in 2026?
Spanish consulates set the bar at 400% of IPREM for the main applicant and 100% of IPREM for each family member, for the first year. Our catalogue records that as roughly $32,000 a year for a single applicant. The money must be passive income or savings, not wages.
Can you work on the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
No. The visa is for people who live on their own means without any work in Spain. If you plan to keep working remotely for a foreign employer or clients, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is the route built for that.
How long does the Non-Lucrative Visa take?
We record 1–3 months for this route. The London consulate states a decision period of 2 months from the day after submission, longer if they ask for an interview or extra documents.
Does the Non-Lucrative Visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes. It is renewable and we record a path to permanent residence after 5 years. Spanish citizenship by residence takes 10 years for most nationalities in our data.
Do I need private health insurance?
Yes. The consulate asks for a policy that covers all the risks Spain's public health system covers. A policy with co-payments or exclusions is a common reason files come back.
Related guides
official sources: NLV · exteriores.gob.es·Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78) · exteriores.gob.es