Spain Non-Lucrative Visa for UK Citizens

Before Brexit: freedom of movement

Until 31 December 2020, UK citizens enjoyed the same rights as all other EU nationals — the freedom to live, work, and retire in any EU member state without a visa or formal application process. Hundreds of thousands of British nationals moved to Spain under this arrangement, with no documentation required beyond a passport.

Those who were already legally resident in Spain before the deadline and registered under the EU Settlement procedure in Spain were able to keep their residency rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. This protection applies only to those who were already resident before 31 December 2020.

After Brexit: the NLV is the solution

Since 1 January 2021, British nationals are treated as third-country nationals in Spain. This means UK citizens can visit Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa — but they cannot live there permanently without formal residency status.

The Non-Lucrative Visa has become the most popular residency route for British applicants. It is specifically designed for those who do not need to work in Spain — retirees, early retirees, and those living on passive income. British nationals now account for a significant proportion of all NLV applications made globally each year.

The NLV is applied for from the UK, through the Spanish consulate covering your area of residence. You do not need to be in Spain to apply.

Qualifying UK income sources

• UK State Pension — pension forecast letters from HMRC or official State Pension statements. Continues to be paid to a Spanish bank account after you move.
• Private / workplace pensions — annual pension statements and/or regular payment evidence from your pension provider. Both defined benefit and drawdown arrangements can qualify.
• UK bank statements — 6 months of statements showing regular income credits. Current accounts, savings accounts, and ISAs all acceptable.
• Investment income — dividends, interest, and capital drawdowns from UK investment portfolios, ISAs, and general investment accounts.
• Rental income from UK property — evidenced by tenancy agreements, rental income statements, or HMRC self-assessment records showing rental income.
• Annuity payments — regular annuity payment statements from your provider.

How to present UK income for Spanish consulates

All financial evidence must be converted to EUR at the European Central Bank (ECB) rate at the time of submission. Spanish consulates will assess your income in euros, not pounds sterling. Exchange rate fluctuations can affect whether you meet the threshold — we account for this in your application.

All UK documents must be accompanied by sworn Spanish translations. All official documents (particularly government-issued certificates) must be apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office before translation.

The threshold for 2026 is approximately €2,400/month for a single applicant. With the GBP/EUR exchange rate in mind, UK applicants typically need to demonstrate income in the range of approximately £2,000–£2,100/month — though this fluctuates. Your case manager will confirm the exact figure based on rates at the time of your application.

Note that the London consulate has historically applied the income requirement more strictly than some other UK consulates. If you are close to the threshold, early specialist advice is particularly important.

Which DBS certificate do you need?

UK applicants require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate as their criminal record check. Confirm with your specific Spanish consulate which level is required — requirements can vary between consulates and change from time to time. As a general rule, a Basic DBS check is the most commonly accepted, but some consulates request an Enhanced check.

If you have lived in other countries for more than 6 months in the last 5 years, your consulate may also require a certificate of good conduct from those countries, in addition to your UK DBS certificate. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Our specialists will advise you based on your specific residential history.

Apostille and translation — the essential steps

Your UK DBS certificate must go through two additional stages before it can be used in your NLV application:

1. Apostille: Your DBS certificate must be apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office (formerly the Foreign and Commonwealth Office). This confirms the document is genuine and is recognised internationally. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks for postal applications, or same-day for in-person applications at the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes.
2. Sworn Spanish translation: After apostilling, the certificate must be translated into Spanish by a certified or sworn translator. My Spanish NLV arranges this as part of your service — official translations up to €100 are included in your service fee.

The certificate must typically be no more than 3 months old at the date of your consulate appointment. Timing is critical — we advise you on exactly when to apply for your DBS to ensure it remains valid on your appointment date.

What is not accepted

• NHS entitlement letters or confirmation of NHS registration
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — no longer valid for UK citizens in most circumstances anyway
• Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
• Standard travel insurance policies
• Short-term or holiday medical cover

None of these satisfy the requirement. Submitting the wrong insurance documentation is one of the most common reasons for NLV application failure at the consulate stage.

What you need

You must hold comprehensive private health insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Spain, with:

• No co-payments (copagos) of any kind
• No excess or deductibles
• Full coverage for all of Spain (not just one region)
• Minimum 1 year of coverage from the visa start date
• Coverage equivalent to Spain's public health system

Policies typically cost between €500 and €2,000 per person per year, depending on your age and the level of cover. We work with two trusted partner services — spanish-healthinsurance.com and 247expatinsurance.com — to arrange a fully compliant policy as part of your application.

Your pension continues to be paid

Moving to Spain on the NLV does not affect your entitlement to the UK State Pension. Your pension continues to be paid by the UK Government after you become a Spanish resident. You can arrange for it to be paid directly to a Spanish bank account in pounds sterling or in euros — speak to the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) International Pension Centre when making arrangements.

Your State Pension also continues to increase with the UK triple lock guarantee (whichever is highest: earnings growth, inflation, or 2.5%) — your pension is not frozen simply because you live in Spain, as Spain has a bilateral social security agreement with the UK post-Brexit.

State Pension as NLV income evidence

Your UK State Pension qualifies as passive income for the NLV income threshold. You can use it to satisfy part or all of the financial requirement, alongside other income sources such as private pensions, investment income, or savings.

Evidence you will need: your most recent State Pension forecast letter from HMRC or your annual State Pension award letter. These must be translated into Spanish (included in your service fee up to €100) and presented alongside your bank statements showing regular pension credits.

Note: once in Spain, your worldwide income — including your UK State Pension — may be subject to Spanish income tax if you spend more than 183 days per year in Spain. We strongly recommend taking independent tax advice before relocating.