Non-Lucrative Residence Visa

Live in Spain without working — ideal for retirees and passive-income earners

The Non-Lucrative Residence Visa is designed for non-EU nationals who wish to live in Spain long-term without carrying out any work or professional activity, including remote work for foreign companies. It is a straightforward residence route for those who can support themselves with savings, pensions, investments or other passive income.

At NomadTaxSpain, we help clients worldwide relocate to Spain through the non-lucrative route, combining immigration support with tax and residency planning so the process is smooth and compliant from day one.

What is the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa?

This visa allows you to reside in Spain for one year without work permission. It is then renewable for additional periods of two to three years, depending on current regulations and your specific case.

After five years of continuous legal residence, you may qualify for long-term residence. This residence category is intended exclusively for individuals who can cover their costs of living in Spain without working in Spain or abroad.

Who is this visa for?

This route is particularly suitable if you:

• Have sufficient financial means (savings, pensions, passive income, investments) to support yourself in Spain.
• Do not plan to work in Spain.
• Do not carry out remote work for foreign companies.
• Want to live in Spain long-term, possibly relocating with your family.
• Prefer a residence option that does not require employment, entrepreneurship or business activity.

Main requirements

To apply for the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa, you generally need to meet the following requirements and provide supporting documentation:

• Proof of financial means

  You must show that you have sufficient financial resources to cover living costs in Spain for at least one year.

  Spanish regulations require a minimum income equivalent to 400% of IPREM for the main applicant, plus 100% of IPREM for each dependent family member.

  Based on current reference figures, this is approximately:

  • €28,800 per year for an individual.
  • €43,200 per year for a family of four.

  These funds may come from pensions, passive income, savings, investments or other non-work-related sources.

• Private health insurance

  You must hold comprehensive private health insurance with a Spanish provider, with no co-payments and full medical coverage for the entire period of residence.

• No criminal record

  A clean criminal records certificate is required from the countries where you have lived in recent years (usually the last five years).

• No infectious diseases

  A medical certificate confirming that you do not suffer from diseases with serious public health implications under international regulations.

• Valid passport

  Your passport must be valid for at least one year and contain sufficient blank pages for the visa.

• Family members

  Spouses or registered partners and dependent children may apply as dependants. In this case, financial means must be increased in line with the number of family members.

  Proof of family relationship is required, typically via marriage certificates and birth certificates, duly translated and apostilled or legalised when necessary.

How the application works

Non-Lucrative Residence Visa applications are always submitted in person at the Spanish Consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. The process generally follows these stages:

1. Apply from your country of residence

   You submit your application at the relevant Spanish Consulate, including:

   • National long-stay visa application form.
   • Form EX-01 (non-lucrative residence application).
   • All supporting documentation in original and copy, properly translated and apostilled or legalised where required.

   The Consulate processes both the visa and the initial residence authorisation.

2. Consular review

   The Consulate checks general visa conditions and verifies that you meet the specific financial and health insurance requirements.

   If your file is incomplete, they may request additional documents within a set deadline.

3. Review in Spain

   Once the Consulate has validated your file, it is forwarded to the competent Spanish Immigration Office, which carries out the final assessment.

4. Decision

   The Immigration Office must issue a resolution within one month. In this procedure, administrative silence is generally considered negative, meaning that lack of response is treated as a refusal.

5. Visa issuance

   If your application is approved, the Consulate issues a non-lucrative residence visa that allows you to enter Spain within a specific period, usually 90 days.

6. Arrival in Spain and TIE

   After entering Spain on the visa, you must request your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) at the local immigration office or police station within 30 days.

7. Renewals

   The first renewal usually extends your residence for two to three years, provided you continue to meet the original conditions, maintain effective residence in Spain and hold valid private health insurance.

Important considerations

• Work is not permitted under this permit, including remote work for foreign companies.
• You must maintain effective residence in Spain; long absences may affect renewals and long-term residence.
• This residence counts fully toward the five years required for long-term residence.
• In some cases, you may later modify this residence to a work or self-employment permit from within Spain once you meet the requirements.
• It is possible to carry out studies in Spain while holding a non-lucrative residence permit.

Why choose NomadTaxSpain?

Our immigration and tax lawyers provide end-to-end support for individuals and families who want to relocate to Spain through the non-lucrative route. We combine legal precision with practical guidance so you understand every step and avoid common pitfalls.

Our service typically includes:

• Eligibility assessment and personalised application strategy.
• Preparation and review of all forms and supporting documentation.
• Guidance on consular appointments and presentation of the file.
• Follow-up with Spanish immigration authorities until a decision is reached.
• Post-arrival registrations such as NIE, padrón and TIE formalities.
• Ongoing tax and residency planning adapted to your profile.
• Support for family-based applications and subsequent renewals.

We help you relocate to Spain with confidence, knowing that both your immigration and tax position are being handled by a dedicated team.

Start your Non-Lucrative Residence application

If you are planning to relocate to Spain without working, our team will help you confirm eligibility, calculate the required financial means and prepare a clear roadmap tailored to your personal and family situation.