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Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa — Valencia coast

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Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)

The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa is a residence route for people with passive income — rental income, pension, dividends, interest on savings and similar sources — who want to live in Spain without working locally. Officially known as the Non-Lucrative Visa (Residencia No Lucrativa), it's an ideal option if you want to make the most of Spain's climate, quality of life and healthcare system.

What Is the Non-Lucrative Visa?

The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa — officially the Non-Lucrative Visa (Residencia No Lucrativa) — is a residence permit designed for non-EU nationals who want to live in Spain without working or running a business locally. The visa lets you live legally in Spain for 1 year, and you can renew it as long as you continue to meet the requirements.

Important: This visa doesn't give you the right to work in Spain. You can live on passive income — rental income, pension, dividends, interest on savings and similar sources.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Financial Requirements (2025 figures)

  • •
    Main applicant: Minimum €28,800 per year in passive income (400% of IPREM)
  • •
    For each family member: An additional 100% of IPREM (around €7,200 per year)
  • •
    Accepted passive income sources: rental income, dividends, pension, bank interest, investment returns

2. Health Insurance

You must have valid, comprehensive private health insurance with no co-payments, recognised in Spain. The policy must cover all healthcare services for the full duration of your residence.

3. Proof of Accommodation

A document showing your address in Spain: a tenancy agreement, title deed or hotel reservation (for the initial entry).

4. Criminal Record Check

An apostilled criminal-record certificate from every country you've lived in over the past 5 years.

5. Medical Certificate

A medical certificate confirming you do not have any disease that could pose a public health risk.

Application Process

  1. 1.
    Document Preparation: Gather every required document and have it translated into Spanish (sworn translation + apostille).
  2. 2.
    Consulate Appointment: Book an appointment at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.
  3. 3.
    Application: Attend the appointment, submit your file and provide your biometric data.
  4. 4.
    Review: Your application is reviewed within 1–3 months.
  5. 5.
    Visa Approval: Once approved, you must enter Spain within 1 month.
  6. 6.
    TIE Card: After arriving in Spain you must obtain your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) within 30 days.

Advantages

  • ✓
    Schengen Travel Freedom: Travel across the Schengen area without the 90-in-180-day limit.
  • ✓
    Family Reunification: Your spouse and children can apply alongside you.
  • ✓
    Renewable: Renewable twice for 2-year periods after the first year.
  • ✓
    Path to Citizenship: Eligibility to apply for Spanish citizenship after 10 years.
  • ✓
    High Quality of Life: Access to Spain's climate, healthcare system and quality of life.
  • ✓
    More Accessible Than the Golden Visa: No property investment required.

Important Notes

  • ⚠️
    Residence Requirement: You must spend at least 183 days per year in Spain.
  • ⚠️
    No Work Rights: You cannot work in Spain on this visa (during the first year).
  • ⚠️
    Ongoing Proof of Income: You must provide updated proof of income at every renewal.

Manage Your Non-Lucrative Visa with Mi Casa Europa

With 25 years of experience, we manage your Non-Lucrative Visa application from start to finish:

  • ✓Pre-application eligibility assessment
  • ✓Document preparation and sworn translations
  • ✓Consulate appointment booking
  • ✓Health insurance arrangement
  • ✓TIE card application after arrival in Spain
  • ✓Help finding accommodation and settling in

Frequently Asked Questions

The Non-Lucrative Visa (Visa de Residencia No Lucrativa) is a Spanish residence permit for people who want to live in Spain without working there. It is designed for retirees, people with passive income, and the financially independent. As the name suggests, it is strictly "non-lucrative": salaried work, freelancing, and any business activity in Spain are prohibited. If your income or savings qualify, it is one of the most common legal routes to residency in Spain.
The core requirements are: proof of sufficient income or savings, full-coverage private health insurance valid in Spain, a clean criminal record certificate (apostilled and sworn-translated), a medical certificate, proof of accommodation, and a valid passport (at least 1 year of validity and 2 blank pages). You apply in person with the National Visa Application Form and the EX-01 residence permit request form. Document legalization chains vary by country, and file completeness directly affects approval odds — we map the exact document set for your case during a consultation.
For 2026, the main applicant must show 400% of IPREM: €2,400 per month, or €28,800 per year. Each additional family member adds 100% of IPREM: +€600/month (+€7,200/year) — so a couple needs €36,000/year and a family of three €43,200/year. Funds can be shown as regular income (pension, rent, dividends, investment returns) or as bank savings; consulates typically request 3–12 months of bank statements. Showing comfortably more than the minimum strengthens the application — we shape the right evidence strategy with you in a consultation.
No — that is the defining feature of this visa. Salaried employment, self-employment, and business activity in Spain are all prohibited on the NLV; you are expected to live entirely on non-Spanish sources such as passive income or savings. If you plan to work remotely for a foreign employer, the right product is the separate Digital Nomad Visa, not the NLV. We help you determine which visa actually fits your profile.
If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain — which the NLV effectively requires for renewal — you become a Spanish tax resident, and your worldwide income (pensions, dividends, rental income) is taxed under progressive IRPF rates of 19–47%. A wealth tax may also apply to net assets above €700,000, with significant regional variation. Importantly, the favorable Beckham regime is not available to NLV holders, because it requires an employment relationship and the NLV prohibits work — a key difference versus the Digital Nomad Visa. Tax outcomes vary substantially by personal situation and should be planned before relocating; we address this in consultation.
Official costs are relatively modest: the consular visa fee is roughly €80–160 depending on nationality and reciprocity, and the TIE residence card after arrival costs around €16–20. On top of that come sworn translations, apostilles, and your health insurance premium. Mi Casa Europa's advisory fee depends on the scope of your case and is shared during a consultation.
You apply in person at the Spanish Consulate covering your legal place of residence, or at its authorized visa center (such as BLS); appointments can be booked no more than 90 days before your planned travel. The file includes the visa application form, the EX-01 form, your passport, apostilled and translated criminal record and medical certificates, financial evidence, proof of accommodation, the health insurance policy, and photos. Insurance is one of the most common rejection reasons: it must be from a company operating in Spain, with full coverage, no copayments, and no deductibles — travel insurance is not accepted. Mi Casa Europa prepares the complete file with you end to end.
With a complete file, the consular decision typically takes 1–3 months. Once approved, you enter Spain within the visa's validity window (up to 3 months) and apply for your TIE card within 30 days of arrival. Including document preparation (apostilles, translations, legalization), the end-to-end process usually takes around 3–6 months. We build the timeline backwards from your target relocation date.
The initial permit is valid for 1 year, followed by two 2-year renewals (a 1+2+2 structure) reaching 5 years in total. After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for Long-Term Residence (Larga Duración), and after 10 years, citizenship. The critical rule: you must physically reside in Spain at least 183 days per year, or your renewal may be refused. Clarifying your long-term goal early lets us set the right strategy from day one.
Renewal is done inside Spain at the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería), starting 60 days before your permit expires (or within 90 days after, with a risk of penalty). You must prove your income and insurance still meet the criteria; since the first renewal grants a 2-year permit, two years of financial sufficiency must be shown (2 × €28,800 = €57,600). Meeting the 183-day residence requirement is a precondition for renewal. We track renewal calendars and files together with our clients.
Yes — the NLV is the primary route to Spain for retirees and passive-income earners; it is often informally called Spain's "retirement visa". A regular pension, rental income, or sufficient savings are all accepted ways to meet the financial requirement. A retiree with no intention to work in Spain, living on income from abroad, is exactly who this visa is designed for. We can assess whether your pension and savings combination qualifies in an initial consultation.

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Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV): Live in Spain on Passive Income | Mi Casa Europa