Spain Non-Lucrative Visa · 2026
Retire in Spain.
Your visa, handled.
Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa lets non-EU nationals live in Spain without working — ideal for retirees, families cashing in property equity for a fresh start, sabbatical-takers, and anyone with pensions, savings, or passive income. We handle everything online, end-to-end, with NLV specialists managing your case from start to finish.
What Is the NLV
Spain's visa for living in Spain without working
The Non-Lucrative Visa (Visado de Residencia No Lucrativa) is a residence authorisation that lets non-EU nationals live in Spain without working. It's designed for retirees on pensions, families selling up and relocating on property equity, professionals taking a career break or sabbatical, and anyone with savings, rental income, dividends, or other passive income. You don't need a job offer — just proof you can support yourself without entering the Spanish labour market.
Live anywhere in Spain
Costa del Sol, Valencia, Madrid, Mallorca, the Canaries — the NLV is national, not regional. Choose anywhere to settle.
Fund yourself from abroad
Pensions, savings, investment income, dividends, rental properties, royalties — any passive income generated outside Spain counts.
Bring your family
Spouses, registered partners, and dependent children can join the same application. Family discount available.
Path to permanent residency
Initial 1-year visa, then 2-year renewals, leading to permanent residency after 5 years and Spanish citizenship after 10.
Quick Facts (2026)
Requirements
Who qualifies for the Spanish NLV?
Six core conditions. If you meet all six, you're eligible. We'll confirm it on a free eligibility check before you pay anything.
Non-EU nationality
The NLV is for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. EU nationals already have the right to live in Spain under freedom of movement.
Sufficient passive income or savings
€2,400/month for a single applicant (400% of IPREM), plus €600/month (100% IPREM) for each dependant. Savings may replace monthly income if the total equals or exceeds the annual amount.
No work in Spain
The NLV is explicitly non-working. You cannot be employed in Spain or perform professional activities for Spanish clients. If you want to work remotely for a foreign employer, the Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route.
Private health insurance
Full-coverage private health insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Spain. No co-payments, no exclusions, coverage equivalent to Spain's public health system. Travel insurance is not accepted.
Clean criminal record
Police background check (FBI, DBS/ACRO, RCMP, etc.) from every country you've lived in for 6+ months over the last 5 years — apostilled and sworn-translated into Spanish.
Medical certificate
A signed medical certificate, dated within 90 days of submission, confirming you don't suffer from any disease that would pose a public-health risk under the International Health Regulations (2005).
How It Works
Five steps from enquiry to approval
The NLV is applied for at the Spanish consulate in your country of legal residence — you must apply from outside Spain. We manage every step through our 24/7 online dashboard.
Eligibility check (free)
We review your income, savings, nationality, consulate jurisdiction, and family situation. If anything needs strengthening, we flag it before you pay a cent.
Document preparation
Personalised checklist. We coordinate bank statements, pension proofs, apostilled criminal-record certificates, medical certificate, apostilled marriage and birth certificates (for family), and sworn Spanish translations (worth €100, included).
Visa-compliant health insurance
We arrange an NLV-compliant private health policy — full coverage, no co-payments, accepted by every Spanish consulate. The wrong insurance is the single most common NLV rejection reason; we make sure yours is right.
Consulate appointment & submission
We prepare and pre-check your full dossier, book your consulate appointment (London, Manchester, Edinburgh, LA, Miami, NYC, Chicago, Houston, DC, SF, and more), and brief you on what to expect on the day.
Approval, travel & TIE
Once your 1-year visa is stamped, you travel to Spain and register for your TIE residence card within 30 days at your local police station. The TIE appointment is booked directly by you — it's a simple in-person step we'll guide you through, but it isn't something we can handle on your behalf.
Pricing
Transparent, staged fees
Pay in stages — not upfront. Every milestone is tied to a concrete delivery. Family discounts available on request.
Non-Lucrative Visa
Full new application, 1 adult
Paid in three stages
- To get started€400
- Before application & document submission€400
- After the visa has been approved€699
- Full application preparation & submission
- Documents delivered to your doorstep
- Official sworn translations (worth €100) included
- Eligibility check & document checklist
- Visa-compliant health insurance arranged
- Personal case manager via 24/7 dashboard
- Family discount available
NLV Renewal
Extend your NLV for the next 2 years
Paid in two stages
- To get started€300
- After the renewal has been approved€399
- Full renewal preparation & submission
- We submit your renewal online for you
- Extends your NLV residence for 2 years
- Current-criteria compliance check
- No residency gap — we file on time
- Family discount available
The Detail Most People Get Wrong
Get the health insurance right — or get rejected
More NLV applications fail on the wrong health insurance than on any other single reason. Spanish consulates require a full-coverage policy with no co-payments, no exclusions, no waiting periods, and coverage equivalent to Spain's public health system. Travel insurance is rejected outright. We arrange a visa-compliant policy through our sister service as part of every NLV application — so your dossier lands right, first time.
See visa-compliant insurance →Frequently Asked
Questions we hear every day
How much income do I need for the Spanish NLV in 2026?
For a single applicant you must demonstrate approximately €2,400 per month — equivalent to 400% of the Spanish IPREM. Each dependant adds +€600/month (100% IPREM). Savings may replace monthly income if the total equals or exceeds the annual figure.
Can I work in Spain on the Non-Lucrative Visa?
No. The NLV is explicitly non-working — you cannot be employed in Spain or provide professional services to Spanish clients. You must support yourself from passive income generated outside Spain. If you want to work remotely for a foreign employer, the Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route.
How long does the Spanish NLV last?
The initial visa is issued for 1 year by the Spanish consulate in your home country. Once in Spain you obtain your TIE residence card, which is then renewed for 2 years, and again for another 2 years. After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for permanent residency; after 10 years, Spanish citizenship (with a language and civics test).
Can I bring my family on the NLV?
Yes. Spouses, registered partners, and dependent children can be included. Each additional family member requires an extra 100% of IPREM (~€600/month) in income or savings. Family discount available on our service fees.
What kind of health insurance do I need?
A full-coverage private policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with no co-payments, no exclusions, and no waiting periods. Travel insurance is not accepted. The wrong insurance is the #1 reason NLVs are rejected — we arrange a compliant policy as part of every application.
How much does your NLV service cost?
€1,499 total for a new 1-adult application, paid in three stages (€400 to start + €400 before submission + €699 on approval). Renewals are €699 total (€300 + €399). Sworn translations worth €100 included, documents delivered to your door, family discount available.
Do I need to live in Spain full-time?
Yes — to renew you must spend more than 183 days per year in Spain. Spending more than 183 days also makes you a Spanish tax resident, meaning your worldwide income becomes taxable in Spain. We include a pre-application tax briefing so there are no surprises.
You May Also Need
Other services for Spain expats
Required for NLV
Spanish Health Insurance
NLV-compliant private health insurance — full coverage, no co-pays, accepted by every Spanish consulate.
→ spanish-healthinsurance.com
Working remotely?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
If you work remotely for a foreign employer or clients, the DNV is the right route. 3-year permit, Beckham Law eligible.
→ myspanishdnv.com
Broader coverage
Expat Insurance Spain
Life, home, car, and other expat policies — all in one place, tailored for people moving to Spain.
→ 247expatinsurance.com