Document Checklist 2026
Non Lucrative Visa Spain Documents — Complete Checklist 2026
Every non lucrative visa Spain document you need — clearly explained with apostille rules, translation requirements, and how long each one takes. Our case managers build you a bespoke checklist based on your consulate's exact requirements so nothing is missed.
Core Documents
Non Lucrative Visa Spain Documents — Every Document Everyone Needs
The following documents are required for every NLV application. Individual consulates may request additional items — your bespoke checklist captures everything specific to yours. For a full breakdown of the income evidence requirements or health insurance requirements, see the dedicated pages.
📝 National visa application form (Modelo EX01)
We help with thisThe Modelo EX01 is Spain's standard long-stay visa application form, required for all non-EU/EEA applicants. It must be completed in full in Spanish, signed, and dated. Your specific consulate may also require a supplementary national visa application form in addition to the Modelo EX01.
We complete both forms on your behalf as part of our service, then review them with you for accuracy before submission. Errors on application forms are a common — and entirely avoidable — cause of rejection.
🛂 Valid passport (original + copies)
You obtain thisYour passport must have sufficient remaining validity — typically at least 1 year beyond your intended entry date. Submit the original passport at your consulate appointment, along with clear photocopies of all biographical pages, pages with stamps or visas, and the cover.
If your passport will expire within the next 18 months, we strongly recommend renewing it before beginning your NLV application. An expired or soon-to-expire passport discovered at your appointment will cause significant delays.
📸 Passport photographs
You obtain thisMost consulates require 2 recent passport-sized photographs meeting standard specifications (white background, recent likeness, no glasses). The exact size and quantity varies by consulate — your bespoke checklist will specify the exact requirements for yours.
📋 Criminal record certificate (apostilled + translated)
We help with thisA certificate of good conduct from your country of nationality — not just country of residence. Must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified sworn translator (traductor jurado). Most consulates require this to be dated within 3 months of your appointment date.
We advise on exactly when to apply based on your consulate's current appointment availability, so the certificate remains valid on your appointment date. For UK applicants, this is a DBS certificate; for US applicants, an FBI Identity History Summary; for Australian applicants, a National Police Check.
🩺 Medical certificate
You obtain this (GP)A signed letter from your regular GP or family doctor confirming that you do not have any illness or contagious disease that could represent a public health risk under international health regulations. This is a straightforward letter — no specialist examination or tests are required.
The certificate must typically be dated within 90 days of your consulate appointment and translated into Spanish. We provide a precise template to take to your GP, ensuring the letter contains everything the consulate requires.
🏥 Private health insurance certificate
We guide you (via partners)You need a certificate of insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Spain, confirming comprehensive cover with no co-payments and no excess for the full duration of your visa. The certificate must be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified translation.
We work with two specialist partner services — spanish-healthinsurance.com and 247expatinsurance.com — to ensure you obtain exactly the right policy. Costs typically range from €500–€2,000/year per person depending on age, cover level, and location in Spain.
💰 Proof of income
We help organiseBank statements showing regular income deposits (typically 3–6 months), combined with supporting evidence of each income source: pension award letters, investment dividend statements, rental agreements and rent receipts, or accountant's letters. Must demonstrate at least approximately €2,400/month for a single applicant. See the income requirements page for full detail.
We help you identify all qualifying income sources, organise and present the evidence clearly, and advise on how to explain any income that is irregular, multi-currency, or complex.
🏠 Proof of accommodation in Spain
You obtain thisEvidence that you have somewhere to live in Spain: a signed rental agreement for a property in Spain (typically 6–12 months minimum), a property deed if you own or are purchasing a home in Spain, or a letter of invitation from a Spanish resident who will host you.
The consulate simply needs to know you will not be homeless upon arrival. A short-term rental agreement is the most common and straightforward way to satisfy this requirement. We advise on the minimum terms and what the document must contain.
💍 Civil status documents (if applicable)
We help with thisIf you are including a spouse or partner in your application: marriage certificate or registered partnership certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish. If divorced: divorce decree, apostilled and translated. If including dependent children: birth certificates for each child, apostilled and translated.
The apostille and translation process for civil status documents can take several weeks — we advise on exact timelines and help co-ordinate the process as part of your application. See the family application service page for full detail.
🏦 Proof of savings (if applicable)
We help organiseIf you are relying on savings to meet the financial threshold: 3–6 months of bank and savings account statements clearly showing accessible balances. Investment account valuations may also be required for savings held in investment platforms. See the savings requirements page for full detail.
We help you identify which accounts to include, how to request official statements, and how to present your savings position clearly in your overall financial evidence.
Apostille Requirements
What Is an Apostille and Which NLV Documents Need One?
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an official authentication certificate attached to a document to verify its authenticity for use in a foreign country. It is issued by a designated government authority in the country where the document was issued — not in the country where it will be used.
Spain is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention, which standardised the apostille process. An apostille from a Convention country is recognised by Spain without further authentication. Not every non lucrative visa Spain document needs an apostille — bank statements, passport copies, and health insurance certificates typically do not. Criminal record certificates and civil status documents usually do.
How to get an apostille
UK applicants: Contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) — the Legalisation Office apostilles UK public documents. Standard processing takes around 2 weeks; priority options are faster. Online application available at gov.uk.
US applicants: Each state's Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents issued in that state. FBI background checks are apostilled through the US Department of State. Processing times range from 1 day (some states) to several weeks.
Australian applicants: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issues apostilles for Australian documents. National Police Checks are issued by the Australian Federal Police and apostilled through DFAT.
Our case managers advise you on exactly which documents need apostilling, the relevant authority for your country, current processing times, and how to build this into your overall application timeline.
Translation Requirements
Which Non Lucrative Visa Spain Documents Need to Be Translated?
All documents not already in Spanish must be translated into Spanish by a certified sworn translator (traductor jurado) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. AI-generated translations and unverified online services are not acceptable.
Documents that typically require translation include: criminal record certificates, medical certificates, civil status documents (marriage, birth, divorce certificates), pension award letters, and in some cases financial documents such as accountant's letters. Bank statements from a UK or US bank may not need translation if clearly laid out, but some consulates require it — your bespoke checklist will specify.
Our service includes up to €100 of certified translations in your service fee. For most applications, this covers the translations needed. For more complex cases — multiple civil status documents, multiple family members — additional translation costs may apply, and we advise you in advance.
Consulate-Specific
Why NLV Document Requirements Vary Between Consulates
Spain has consulates on every continent, and each applies the NLV requirements with its own interpretations. Our immigration specialists know the quirks of the consulates most commonly used by our clients.
UK consulates
London, Manchester, and Edinburgh each have slightly different documentation preferences. London is generally the most stringent and has the longest wait times for appointments. Manchester and Edinburgh can be more accessible for those in northern England and Scotland. We know what each expects and prepare your dossier accordingly.
US consulates
New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Houston are the four primary NLV-processing consulates in the US. Each has its own supplementary document requirements and application form. Appointment availability varies significantly — Houston and Miami have historically had shorter wait times than New York or Los Angeles.
Australia, Canada & Ireland
Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, Dublin, and Cape Town are the key consulates for applicants from Australia, Canada, Ireland, and South Africa. Each has local-specific documentation preferences — for example, the type of police check required varies, as does the apostille authority. We know each consulate's current requirements in detail.
Common Questions
Non Lucrative Visa Spain Documents — FAQ
What documents do I need for Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa?
The non lucrative visa Spain documents required are: completed Modelo EX01 and national visa application form, valid passport with copies, passport photos, criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated), medical certificate from your GP (translated), compliant private health insurance certificate, proof of income or savings, proof of accommodation in Spain, and civil status documents (marriage/birth certificates if applicable, apostilled and translated). Individual consulates may require additional items.
What is an apostille and which NLV documents need one?
An apostille is an official authentication certificate that verifies a document's authenticity for use in a foreign country. For the Spain NLV, documents that typically require an apostille include your criminal record certificate and civil status documents (marriage, birth, divorce certificates). Passports, bank statements, and health insurance certificates typically do not need apostilling. The apostille is obtained from the relevant government authority in the country where the document was issued.
Do all NLV documents need to be translated into Spanish?
All documents not already in Spanish must be translated by a certified sworn translator (traductor jurado) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This typically includes your criminal record certificate, medical certificate, civil status documents, and potentially pension letters or financial documentation depending on your consulate. Our service includes up to €100 of certified translations in your service fee.
How long does it take to get an apostille on a criminal record certificate?
In the UK, the FCDO typically processes apostille requests within 2 weeks for standard applications; priority is faster. In the US, each state's Secretary of State issues apostilles — processing times vary from 1 day to several weeks. In Australia, DFAT handles apostilles. Allow 3–6 weeks in total for obtaining the criminal record certificate, apostilling, and translating. We advise on exact timelines for your country when you begin your application.
What are the passport requirements for Spain's NLV?
Your passport must have sufficient remaining validity — typically at least 1 year beyond your intended entry date. You must submit the original passport at your consulate appointment, along with clear photocopies of all biographical pages, any pages with stamps or visas, and the cover. If your passport will expire within 18 months, renew it before beginning your NLV application to avoid delays.
What is the Modelo EX01 form for Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa?
Modelo EX01 is Spain's official long-stay visa application form, required for the Non-Lucrative Visa. It must be completed in Spanish and covers your personal details, passport information, intended stay, income, and accommodation in Spain. Your specific consulate may also require a supplementary national visa application form. We complete both forms on your behalf as part of our service, then review them with you before submission.
What proof of accommodation do I need for Spain's NLV?
You need evidence that you have somewhere to live in Spain: a signed rental agreement (typically 6–12 months minimum), a property deed if you own or are purchasing a property, or a letter of invitation from a Spanish resident. A short-term rental agreement is the most common solution. The consulate simply needs to know you will not be homeless upon arrival. We advise on the minimum lease terms and what the document must contain.
How long before my consulate appointment should I start gathering documents?
We recommend starting the document preparation process at least 3–4 months before your intended consulate appointment. Criminal record certificates can take several weeks from government agencies, then need apostilling, then translating. The medical certificate must typically be dated within 90 days of the appointment. We build your personalised timeline when you begin your application so every document arrives at the right time and remains valid.
Related Guides
Continue Your NLV Research
NLV Income Requirements
What counts as qualifying passive income, the exact threshold, and how to evidence it to the consulate.
NLV Savings Requirements
How savings can supplement or replace income, what account types qualify, and how to evidence them.
Health Insurance Requirement
Which policies are accepted for Spain's NLV, the no co-payment rule, and recommended providers.
NLV Blog & Guides
In-depth articles on Spain's non-lucrative visa — from document preparation to life after arrival.