Spain ranks in most lists of the best places to live for Expats. And, the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa is one of the most popular options for people wanting to move to this beautiful country. The concept is simple. The Spanish government is happy to welcome people from around the world who can financially support themselves. Because of that, this program doubles as the Spain Retirement Visa. We’ll look at the requirements, application process, fees, and more. And, we’ll explore Spanish citizenship pathways from the Non-Lucrative Visa Spain.
- What does non-lucrative mean?
- What are the advantages of the non-lucrative visa?
- What doesn’t the non-lucrative visa allow?
- Who can apply for a Spanish non-lucrative visa?
- Spain Retirement Visa
- Non-lucrative visa Spain requirements
- Financial requirements for the non-lucrative visa
- Health Insurance requirements for the visa application
- Medical certificate
- Police report
- Application process for the non-lucrative visa
- How much does the non-lucrative visa cost?
- How long does the non-lucrative visa application take to process?
- How long do you have to get to Spain after the visa is granted?
- What is the renewal process for the non-lucrative visa Spain?
- Remote work on the non-lucrative visa
- Freelancers, digital nomads, and contractors
- Can I transfer my non-lucrative visa for another visa or permit?
- Tax implications of the non-lucrative visa
- Is the Spanish non-lucrative visa for you?
What does non-lucrative mean?
Non-lucrative means that you can support yourself without earning an income in Spain. For this, you need to show sufficient savings in a bank account. Alternatively, you must be able to show guaranteed income, like a trust fund disbursement or pension. Another path is income from investments like dividends, rental income from an investment property, or interest earned.
You cannot carry out economic or professional activity in Spain. In short, you can live here as long as you are not a burden to the Spanish people or taking jobs from locals. In Spanish, the visa is called “residencia no lucrativa España”.
The Spanish non-lucrative visa is classified as an income visa. To see other options for this type of visa, please see our detailed article.
What are the advantages of the non-lucrative visa?
- There is no investment in the Spanish economy required for this visa.
- The visa is issued for a year but is available to be renewed for 2 x 2-year periods. This means it can meet the 5-year threshold for permanent residency.
- It can be a pathway to Spanish citizenship and an EU passport.
- You only need to spend six months per year in Spain to be able to renew the visa.
- The residency allows travel to any of the 26 SCHENGEN member nations without a visa.
- You can convert the non-lucrative visa to one of Spain’s Work Permits after the first year.
- Immediate family members can be included on your visa. Your dependants can attend school or study while on the visa.
- You can study in Spain while on a non-lucrative visa. This includes paid internships.
- You can make investments. These investments include shares in a business, stocks, and funds in Spain.
- It makes an effective Spain retirement visa.
- If you have all your documentation in place and meet the requirements, the visa is almost always approved. In this way, it is an easy visa to get for US citizens as well as other nationalities.
What doesn’t the non-lucrative visa allow?
There are four main restrictions or conditions.
- You cannot do any work that generates an income while in Spain. There is a grey area for remote work, but declaring you are working risks the application being rejected. Please see the section on Remote Work for more details.
- You can undertake paid internships as they are classified as education.
- You don’t have access to the public healthcare system. You must have sufficient private healthcare.
- No benefits are claimable by you or your family members on the visa.
- You must spend more than 183 days of the first year in Spain to be able to renew the visa. This can make you a legal tax resident in Spain.
Who can apply for a Spanish non-lucrative visa?
This program is open to citizens of any non-EU nation. What’s more, your family can be a part of the application. Eligible family members include your spouse or civil partner, and any dependent children.
This visa is ideal for:
- Retirees who want to live in Spain.
- Anyone with a pension, annuity, or endowment.
- Those with healthy savings accounts.
- Beneficiaries of income-producing investments.
- Anyone who can afford to live in Spain without working!
Spain Retirement Visa
Spain does not have a specific retirement visa. But, the non-lucrative visa fits the bill perfectly.
As long as you meet the requirements, you can retire to Spain on this visa and then transition to permanent residency after five years.
As a retiree in Spain, you’ll not be working. And, you will be able to show pensions and investments as evidence of your financial security for your retirement.
Non-lucrative visa Spain requirements
There are four requirements for the application. You’ll need to show that you:
- Can financially support yourself and any family members without working.
- Have sufficient healthcare insurance.
- Are in good health.
- Don’t have a police record for any serious crime.
We’ll cover each requirement in detail.
Financial requirements for the non-lucrative visa
You need to show that you have sufficient funds to cover you and your dependents for the duration of the visa.
To come up with the amount the Spanish government uses the IPREM or Public Income Index. It is the figure the government uses to calculate many official thresholds.
The monthly IPREM for 2020 is €537,84, giving an IPREM of €6,454 for a year.
The amount you need to show is 400% of the IPREM, so €25,816 in available savings or guaranteed income.
You’ll need an additional single annual IPREM of €6,454 for each family member on the application.
This table shows the total financial requirement for a range of applications.
| Who is applying | Amount Required |
| Single Applicant | €25,816 |
| Applicant + 1 dependant | €32,270 |
| Applicant + 2 dependants | €38,724 |
Submitting an application with the exact amount could raise questions. For this reason, the suggestion is to have €30,000 as a minimum for a single person application. If you include dependents on your application, add a similar buffer for them. Discuss this amount with your Spanish immigration lawyer; they’ll be able to give you advice specific to your case and application. If you don’t have a lawyer yet then we can recommend one.
We did a lot of research to find a great law firm to help you through this process. You can book a consultation with them here.
Generally, the savings can be in a bank account in your home country. But, for some nationalities, including China and Russia, the funds should be deposited into a local Spanish bank account.
Health Insurance requirements for the visa application
You and any dependents on the application must be covered in the case of any health requirements.
The health insurance policy must be:
- A private healthcare policy.
- Written by a Spanish insurance company.
- Full coverage in all of Spain.
- Free of co-payments.
- For the full year of the visa.
For more information on Expat health insurance, please see our detailed article.
Medical certificate
You’ll need a medical certificate that is less than 90 days old. It should say that you are in good physical and mental health. You must also be free from any contagious diseases.
This document must be translated into Spanish.
Police report
The report should be issued by the Police Department where you have lived for the at least the last year. Consult with your Spain immigration lawyer as the exact periods vary for different embassies. Again, the certificate must be less than 90 days old.
The report should show that you do not have a criminal record of any convictions that would prevent the visa being issued.
This document must be translated into Spanish and must be certified with the Hague Apostille process.
Application process for the non-lucrative visa
There are two parts to the process, one in your home country, and another in Spain.
Home country application process
The first thing to note is that your application must be submitted in your home country at the nearest Spanish Consulate or Embassy.
We strongly suggest using an experienced Spanish Immigration lawyer to submit your application. The application process is complicated and detailed.
The documentation, translation, and certification requirements are specific and unbending. Get any of them slightly wrong, and your application will be rejected. Importantly, if your application is rejected, your application fees will not be refunded. You will lose what you have paid.
Also, be aware, the application process can vary slightly for each consulate or embassy. An excellent Spanish immigration lawyer will help to ensure that your application succeeds first time around.
As well as the non-lucrative documents detailed in the requirements above, you’ll also need.
- Your passport and certified copies of each page.
- Two copies of the completed application form
- EX-01 – Formulario
- Tasas Extranjeria – Modelo impreso 790
- Your visa fees (see below for full details of the visa fees.)
On arrival in Spain
Once you arrive in Spain you’ll need to apply for a residence card within 30 days of arrival. You’ll receive a TIE, or foreigner’s identity card.
How much does the non-lucrative visa cost?
Visa fees for the non-lucrative visa vary by country of the applicant, due to reciprocity treaties. The fees must be paid in the local currency, usually by bank order. Here are some standard country fees in Euros for comparison.
- USA – €123
- Canada – €507
- Most others – €80
How long does the non-lucrative visa application take to process?
Application processing times will vary depending on where you apply. Most applications are processed between 2 and 5 weeks, but some countries can take up to 3 months.
Once the visa is granted, you have 4 weeks to collect your document, or the visa can be cancelled.
How long do you have to get to Spain after the visa is granted?
You have 90 days to arrive in Spain after your local consulate or embassy issues your visa.
What is the renewal process for the non-lucrative visa Spain?
The non-lucrative visa is renewable for two x two-year periods. This period is double the initial one-year of the visa.
The renewal process is similar to the application with a couple of key differences.
- You must have lived more than 183 days in Spain in the first year of the visa. This requirement can have tax implications.
- You can apply in Spain.
- The financial requirement is 800% of the IPREM (to cover the full two years).
- If you have kids of school-going age, you’ll need to show they attended school.
Remote work on the non-lucrative visa
Remote workers applying for this visa have had mixed results. There is no provision for remote work in the legislation, but it does fit the intent of the legislation. For this reason, some consulates are granting the visa and some are rejecting it.
Also, there are complications to do with tax residency and where you would report income, pay social security, and more. Please speak to a Spain immigration lawyer before proceeding with remote income in your application.
To guarantee success you should look to one of the standard ways of showing income for the non-lucrative visa application.
There are people who work remotely while on this visa without declaring it, but this is not legal.
Freelancers, digital nomads, and contractors
You can’t legally work on this visa while in Spain, regardless of where your clients are or where your income is generated.
If your business can be done from Spain then the self-employed Spain work permit (autonomo) may be a better fit for you.
Again, many freelancers and digital nomads who can show an income other than their location-independent business use this visa. But, it is not legal and could land you in trouble if the authorities figure it out.
Can I transfer my non-lucrative visa for another visa or permit?
Yes, but only after the first year. You can then apply for a Spain work permit while on a non-lucrative visa. The employment can be either as an employee of a Spanish company or as a self-employed individual.
You cannot transfer to the non-lucrative visa from, for example, a student visa. You must return home and apply there.
Tax implications of the non-lucrative visa
Please note – this advice is general in nature and is not specific to your circumstances.
To meet the renewal criteria, you must live in Spain for 183 days of the year or just over 6 months. If you live in Spain for more than 6 months of the year, you could be liable for registration as a Spanish tax resident.
This classification means that all your global income may be liable to Spanish taxation rates, payable in Spain. Different countries have tax treaties with Spain, avoiding double taxation, but it is worth investigating the implications of this ruling.
Is the Spanish non-lucrative visa for you?
This visa program is rightly one of the most popular for Expats in Spain. The flexibility and options make it a great way to move to the country and enjoy the lifestyle.
Be aware, as with many Spanish visa applications; there are hurdles. You’ll need to ensure you have all your documentation is perfect order and exactly to the standard required by your embassy. Get one thing wrong, and your application can be rejected. If your application is rejected, your application fee will be lost.
Using an experience Spanish immigration lawyer can save you time and money. We have partnered with an excellent immigration law firm here in Spain. Book your first consultation with them here to understand if you qualify and the next steps to start your new life in Spain.
With peace of mind about the application process, you can go ahead and start planning your Spanish adventure!
Hi.
We are a couple from Yerevan, Armenia. Both working in IT sphere remotely and we are interested in non-lucrative visa in Spain. By reading the information in your website I think we are eligible for this kind of visa (we have remote work and enough funds ). So there are a few questions I would like to ask:
1. Is our country in a list of eligible countries?
2. What other information can we provide in order to be sure that we are eligible?
3. What kind of help does your company provide in this process and what are your fees?
4. Can you provide a reference to an official governmental resource to read about this kind of visa from an official source?
Many thanks in advance,
Andranik
Hi Andranik, here is some information for you.
1. Yes, nationals of any non-EU country can apply and Armenia qualifies.
2. The exact documentation requirements depend on your situation. You must meet the financial requirements and how you prove this will depend on your source of income. You’ll need to show health insurance and get a health check. Finally, you’ll need a police clearance certificate. All documents must be translated into Spanish and all copies Apostilled. You must have everything 100% perfect and complete before you submit to avoid delays or rejection.
3. We partner with a highly qualified and experience Spain Immigration partner. We offer a no-obligation 30-minute consultation for €50 to explore your options – click here to book now.
4. Here is a link to the LA Embassy information page. Be aware, each embassy and consulate may have different requirements and that the requirements can change without notice. Using a good immigration lawyer will ensure that you understand exactly what is required and maximise your chances of success.
1. Do you need an address in Spain first to apply for the non lucrative visa?
2. Are savings in Premium bonds/savings account exempt from any tax implications if used to drip feed into a current bank account?
3. Is there a maximum age limit to apply
Thank you
Hi Sally. Here are the answers to your questions.
1) No, you can apply for the Spain non-lucrative visa from your home country.
2) Your tax implications will be specific to your case. Once you are resident in Spain for more than 183 days per year then you may be liable for Spanish taxation in some cases. Best to seek specific advice for this.
3) No, there is no maximum age limit as long as you meet all the visa requirements you are welcome to apply. In fact, many retirees use the non-lucrative visa as a Spain retirement visa.
Hi. Great summary. Much appreciated.
We are a couple in the US that would eventually like to retire in another country (in about 10 years). We have narrowed it down to two: Spain and Portugal. We both are fluent in Spanish and get by with Portuguese. We’ve been in Spain on vacation and loved it, and we are planning to go to Portugal sometime soon.
I am an IT software architect and have been working remotely for a US company way before work-at-home became prevalent here in the US given the COVID situation.
But, before we settle in a country, we’d like to “try them out” first. We have been exploring the non-lucrative visa in Spain, and it will fit the bill as we have enough savings to cover the core requirements. But also I will need to continue working remotely while there. I understand that the remote-work aspect is a very gray area, but it is something we want to explore more. My wife will not work, although she may qualify as an English teacher.
So, my three main questions are:
1. Can I move around Spain and live for two or three months at a time in a particular area with this visa? The idea here is to try each region for a bit to see which one we may eventually settle in.
2. Will Spain allow in the near future digital nomads like myself? Given the economic impact the COVID situation has caused, many countries are loosening the visa restrictions to allow people like myself work remotely. I understand that in Portugal they are seriously discussing this, and other countries have already implemented it (Barbados, Costa Rica, UAE, etc.). It makes sense as you are not taking jobs from local citizens but you are spending money there, helping with the economy.
3. Our ancestors are from Spain (about 4 generations ago). I heard that Spain has a different set of rules for people that are from former Spanish colonies, and can “accelerate” the visa/residency process. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks. Again, great article.
Nelson & Jackie
Hi Nelson and Jackie. Here are some general replies without knowing your circumstances fully. Your best bet would be to book a session with our Spain lawyer here for a no-obligation consulations.
1) Yes, you can move around Spain on a non-lucrative visa.
2) Many European countries are moving to attract digital nomads, but Spain has not announced any concrete plans as yet.
3) Spain has accelerated naturalization for citizens from ex-Spanish colonies. You can qualify in just 2 years if you come from one of the qualifying countries. See the Citizenship tab on our Move to Spain page for more information.
Can i learn spanish language to integrate and work remotely with non lucrative visa?
The non-lucrative visa does not legally allow you to work. However, you can certainly study Spanish to allow you to qualify for another visa or permit if you want to work in Spain.
HI! If I do not have a lot of savings in the bank, but can prove that I have reliable sources of monthly income such as social security, pension and annuity, with a total of more than $35,000 per annum, do I qualify to apply for the non-lucrative visa?
Hi Maria. Yes, as long as you can meet the minimum amount for the non-lucrative visa (currently €25,816 per annum) you can apply. You don’t need savings if you can show a guaranteed income.
Hi, Alastair.
We’ve both recently retired and we’d like to eventually retire to Spain. obviously since brexit we’ll need to apply for a Non-lucrative visa, and until my wife is eligible for her State Pension( June 2024) we just have my work pension, which is approximately €28.5k at the current exchange rate which I know is a little below the sum required for guaranteed income for a couple, but we also have savings exceeding £100k. so if I’m reading this correctly? The sums quoted are an either, or scenario, as in savings or income? Also would the fact that we already own the house (mortgage free) in Spain that we’d like to move to be taken into account as we’d have no mortgage/rent payments to impact on the guaranteed income side of things?
Many thanks, Tim
Hi Tim. Your case for a non-lucrative visa looks to be strong. Your income is, as you noted, just under the approved amount. However, I would suggest discussing your case with a Spanish immigration professional before proceeding to be sure.
Hi Alistair,
Thanks for your reply, I thought we had a reasonable case, but it’s nice to hear that you think so too, and when we’re ready to start the process, we’ll certainly look to follow your suggestion and take some professional advice before applying.
Many thanks again,
Tim
My wife and I, both US citizens, are considering the purchase of a second home in the Canary Islands. However, we are concerned about becoming tax-residents of Spain. Because we are retired, our “income” is from pensions, public and employer-based, and from savings, IRA’s and other investment accounts. For our “income”, the tax rates in Spain appear to be higher than in the US, particularly when you take into account that our IRA funds are not taxed until withdrawn. Does Spain tax dividends and interest in IRA’s? Does Spain tax pensions, both public and private? Thanks.
Hi William. The Canary Islands are an amazing retirement destination. We can’t give specific taxation advice,. I’d strongly suggest speaking to a qualified professional to understand how your personal circumstances will impact your financial postiion.
Hi there,
I have considered a non-lucrative visa for my planned relocation to Spain within the next few years, but having read this, I don’t think it’s right for me. Currently I’m freelance and my clients need to pay in GBP into a UK bank account (so autonomo probably won’t work for me). I’m worried about the legalities of using a UK address and bank account to earn money while being resident in Spain, and which type of visa I need.
I have an alternative option: I have been offered a job with a UK company (working remotely). I suspect it would be easier for the employer to pay me into a UK account, but then that creates the same worry as above – having a UK bank account and not being resident in the UK. And again, I don’t think a non-lucrative visa would be the best option for this.
Hi Jo. YOu can’t legally work on the non-lucrative visa and BREXIT has complicated UK/ Spanish relations. I’d suggest chatting to a qualified Spanish immigration expert to understand your best options.
I am a UK citizen came to Spain in November. I know I can stay 90 days from Jan 1st with Brexit but now that I am here and the situation is what it is in the UK and with travelling etc I would like to apply for the non lucrative visa. I have the funds, I could get the insurance policy but from what I have read it seems the only way to apply is if you are in the UK. Is there a way around this as even if I went back to the UK now I couldn’t travel to any embassy or consulate to apply. Or is there an alternative option now that I am in Spain? The residency option seems quite complicated and not such a good alternative for potentially only a one year stay.
Hi Cass. Yes, you do need to apply for the non-lucrative visa form your home country. Please check out our guide to other Spanish visas and residency options to find a fit for your circumstances. Or, book a no-obligation consultation with our Spain immigration expert here.
Hi does this non-lucrative visa allow you to come back and forward in and out of uk? I am a Live-In Carer I work 2wks in Uk then home to Spain for 2wks
Hi Louise. You can indeed move freely on the non-lucrative visa. However, you cannot legally work on this particular Spain visa.
Great article. many thanks.
I was looking at a non-lucrative visa however I feel my circumstances may be complicated.
I work for a UK company and will be working remotely. I earn around 60k a year but some solicitors have said I can include this as income and others have said no.
I have a house in the UK and will be renting that when I move to Spain.
I do have a criminal record that they class as serious, although at the time of conviction, this was not an offence in Spain although I believe it is now.
My questions are as follows.
1) Can I use my income as I will be working remotely, I intend to move to Murcia
2) How can I prove rental income as I won’t be receiving the income until I rent the house out which will be when I move and visa will need to be in place by this time. Will a rental agreement be sufficient?
3) Will my criminal record automatically mean I will be rejected. I was convicted in 2012
Many thanks
Hi Mark. I agree, your circumstances may be a bit complicated. You’d be best off discussing your specific circumstances with a qualified Spain immigration lawyer. You can book a meeting with the Where Can I live partner here.
Hi. Thanks for sharing the information. I live in the Netherlands and my parents are from non-EU country. Now they can only stay with me for 3 months every half an year. We are exploring the options to get them EU residence permits and eventually live with me in the Netherlands. If they are able to get this non-lucrative visa, do they have to live in Spain for 183 days for the first year? And how many days each year do they have to live there after the first year? Thanks a lot!
Hi Lexie. To renew your non-lucrative visa you need to have spent 183 days per year in Spain. The visa is valid for 1 year and is then renewable for two x two-year extensions. This gives you the five years you need to apply for Spanish permanent residency.
Hello Alastair. Not only you’re very clear with the information, but your availability to keep answering doubts here in the comments section really impressed me. Thanks for all of that.
I’ll be completely frank to you with my doubts, plan and situation and any advice you can give me will be very handy.
I’m 33 years old, I have a small passive income generated by rented properties (definitely below the 4x iprem rule) but with the practice of saving and investing throughout my life, which granted me today a liquid amount in bank savings of more than 2 years of the requested by Spanish authorities for this kind of Visa.
My plan: I’d like to apply (no doubts about the first request of the visa – I think I’m able to get it), live in Spain in a very frugal manner, in a way that I can manage myself with the short income of my rented properties and go on that way until I’m able to request citizenship (I can count with the shorter time benefits for requesting it, for ibero american citizens).
My doubts finally are:
1) do you think I would be able to renew my visa by showing my savings (or showing the same savings again, once that I would be showing the same “frozen” account I would had shown in the first time I would apply for this visa, but of course in a updated – and probably a little incremented in total amount value – document), even if the history of my Spanish bank account have a (much) lower traffic than the 4x iprem rule?
2) once that my yearly earnings are low, and considering that I’ll be taxed for it in my home country, would I need to also proof to be ok with Spanish taxation during the renewal? Is there an amount of yearly generated money that is exempt of taxation in Spain? Do you know if by filling taxation in my home country, can I avoid the necessity of filling to taxation also in Spain?
Thank you very much for any possible advice. Sorry for writing this much and hope to see your thoughts. My compliments,
Hi Jose. Where your circumstances don’t fit the exact requirements we strongly suggest talking to a qualified immigration specialist for the best advice. OUr Where Can I Live partner for Spain has a great track record with successful non-lucrative applications. Book a consultation here: https://wherecani.live/spain-immigration-lawyer Again, this is a general comment, but the renewal of the visa is sometimes simpler than the primary application because Spain has already accepted your position – so, make sure you are 100% prepared and covered for your primary application and you should have a smooth renewal process.
Taxation can be tricky so this is advice not specific to your situation. To renew your non-lucrative visa you must live in Spain for more than 183 days in a year, and generally, this makes you a resident in Spain for taxation. Be aware, this is general advice and you’ll need to discuss your exact personal circumstances with a taxation specialist. However, Spain has excellent tax treaties, and so the vast majority of people are not subject to double taxation, even if they have to submit a tax return in both countries.
Good luck with your application and we hope to welcome you to Spain soon.
Thank you very much! As I get closer to the time I wish to apply, I’ll surely look after specialized help and orientation. Your comments are important for keeping me with hope. Wish you all the best
Can i apply for the Visa once im in spain? Im English, currently living in France and intend to move to spain in about 10 days or so. Im hoping i can apply for this in Spain as i going back to the UK right now is going to be slightly difficult
Hi Sam. You cannot apply for a non-lucrative visa from Spain. You have to make the application from your home country before moving to Spain. However, if you are resident in France, you may be able to apply from the Spanish Consulate or Embassy in France which means you won’t have to return to the UK. I suggest you book a consultation with our Spain immigration experts to find out how best to proceed to give you the best chance of success.