Non-Lucrative visa Spain 2023
Information about Non-Lucrative visa Spain 2023
Name: | Non-Lucrative Residence in Spain |
Duration: | 1 year (Renewable the NLV next year) |
Approval time NLV: | 1-3 Months | Financial requirements: | €28,800 for one person in one year |
- 🏆 The basic requirements to obtain a non-lucrative visa
- 🏆 How to prove that you have sufficient funds to stay in Spain with the NLV?
- 🏆 How to calculate your income/savings for the non-lucrative visa?
- 🏆 How to apply for the NLV visa?
- 🏆 What happens if I do not have health insurance when I apply for the non lucrative visa?
- 🏆 What happens if I lose my job?
- 🏆 How long can I stay in Spain on a non-lucrative visa?
Spain is one of the favorite destinations for many Americans, British and Europeans looking for a new country of residence, but they face many problems in obtaining residency in Spain, which our team of lawyers will help you solve. The advantages of moving to Spain are its year-round good weather, delicious cuisine, quiet cities and welcoming people. The non-lucrative visa Spain is the easiest way to come to Spain although you have to fulfill some requirements, the main one is that from 2023, the IPREM increased to 600 euros, which means that the current minimum income requirement for a non-profit visa stands at 2,400 euros per month and the same income of 600 euros for each dependant.
What is a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa?

A non-lucrative residence visa is a unique type of residency permit in Spain for non-European citizens who intend to travel to Spain for long term life. This residence permit is non lucrative in that you will not be permitted to do any economic and professional activity in Spain.
The non-lucrative visa is the most commonly used visa to live in Spain because it is not necessary to invest in a property in Spain as is the case with the golden visa. However, the applicant must prove that he/she has enough money to be able to live in Spain for at least one year without any professional activity.
After the initial year of residence in Spain, the non-lucrative visa is renewed every 2 years and then 2 more years until having 5 years of stay, where whoever wants can obtain the permanent residence. Subsequently, anyone wishing to have a permanent stay can apply for a permanent residence permit in Spain. In addition, Spain’s non-lucrative visa allows you to bring family members as long as you have enough money to support them.
The basic requirements to obtain a non-lucrative visa
These are the basic requirements to obtain the NLV in Spain:
- Funds to support their stay in Spain, this figure is updated each year with the IPREM. In 2023 it is €28,800 per person.
- Proof that you do not work anywhere in the world.
- Proof that you do not have a criminal record or that it has been a long time since you committed any crime, this point is a bit subjective depending on the consulate. One of our lawyers would have to assess your situation.
Why Spain’s Non Lucrative Residence Permit is one of the Most Sought-After Visas
There are many benefits of acquiring the non-Lucrative visa for Spain. Some of these advantages are listed below:
- It is not necessary to make investments in the Spanish economy before moving to Spain with a non-lucrative visa.
- You can use this visa to obtain permanent residence, if you can live 5 years without working in Spain.
- This visa allows short trips to any Schengen State, trips of up to 90 days, without the need for another visa. The Schengen countries comprise 26 member states, including Austria, France, Belgium and Germany.
- After living in Spain for one year you can get public health care by paying a monthly fee.
The main requirements for the non-Lucrative visa are as follows:
Funds to support your stay in Spain
In order to reside in Spain it is necessary for applicants to demonstrate that they have sufficient money, since with this visa it is not possible to work in Spain or work remotely. This is the main requirement, since the Spanish government does not want to have extra expenses for these people.
To verify that sufficient funds are available to support oneself in Spain, the Spanish government uses the IPREM, an indicator to determine a person’s minimum annual income. The NLV applicant must have at least 400% of the value of the IPREM in his/her bank account each year. Currently, the value of 400% of the IPREM per month for 2023 is €2,400. This gives a total of 28,800 euros (minimum) per year for any non-lucrative visa applicant in Spain.
Apart from the €28,800 needed for the main applicant. If you come with family members you need to prove €7,200 for each family member coming with you, this check has to be done at each renewal of your non-lucrative visa and adjusting the IPREM of that year. All foreign bank withdrawals must be in Euros or in any currency but converted into Euros.
How to prove that you have sufficient funds to stay in Spain with the NLV?
Different documents are admitted as proof of your financial means during the period of your stay in Spain.
Among these documents are:
- Bank statements for the last 6-12 months prior to the date of application at the Spanish consulate.
- Proof of other sources of income or investments, if you have a rented house, if you receive dividends from several companies…
A validation document from your bank is required to prove the validity of your credit cards or the value of the property.
The amount of money requested may be in several bank accounts. Bank statements cannot be more than 6 months old. Finally, the principal visa applicant must have the savings in his or her name or on his or her behalf. Persons claiming to be dependents of the principal non-profit visa applicant for Spain must provide a marriage certificate or a birth certificate duly apostilled and translated by a Spanish sworn translator to prove that they are related to the principal applicant.
How to calculate your income/savings for the non-lucrative visa?
You can show that you have enough money in different ways, here are some ways:
- Proving that you have sufficient savings in bank accounts.
- Prove that you have a pension
- Proving that you receive dividends
- Proof that you receive rent from a property you own.
All of these can be combined, for example. If you have 15.000€ of savings and receive a pension of 15.000€/year you can apply for the non-lucrative visa.
Documents required to file an NLV application

In order to apply for the non-lucrative visa, a series of documents that our lawyers will help you to obtain must be submitted. The initial non-lucrative visa (granted for ONE YEAR) must be applied for at the Spanish consulate where the applicant resides.
Below is a list of the main documentation required for the visa application to be processed and approved successfully.
Non-lucrative visa application form in Spain
The non-lucrative visa application forms must be submitted correctly completed and duly signed. Incorrect or incomplete details on your visa application forms will lead to the rejection of your application. You have to be very careful in the details you are filling in to avoid mistakes, our team of lawyers can help you in all this process to avoid problems, every year we file more than 200 non-lucrative visa applications and all of them with success.
Passport photo
Applicants must provide a passport photo during the application for a Spanish non-lucrative visa. The passport photo must have a white background and be taken by a professional, no selfie type photos can be submitted. The applicant’s face must be visible and the size of the photo must be 3×4 cm.
Your Travel Document
Non-lucrative visa applicants for Spain must have the original and photocopy of the first page of their passport. Their passports must be valid and issued within the last ten years prior to their application. The passport must also have a minimum of 2 blank pages to stamp the Spanish non-lucrative visa.
Police Clearance Certificate
NLV applicants must have a criminal record certificate duly translated into Spanish by a sworn translator who can verify that they do not have a criminal record. The criminal record that must be shown is for the last 5 years and in all countries in which the applicant has lived for at least 6 months.
Private Health Insurance for the NLV
Applicants for the non-lucrative visa Spain, like other Spanish visas, must obtain private medical insurance. The insurance policy must be individual for each applicant, as the visa is individual for each person. The Spanish government does not want to pay any extra costs for non-profit visa applicants, so the private medical insurance has to cover all illnesses and not include any co-payments.
The health insurance must be for one year or more and must be issued by a private, Spanish insurance company. The insurance policy cannot have any extra cost and has to be paid one full year in advance.
Other documents that must be presented are the Ex-01 form duly completed by the NLV applicants and a medical certificate of good health, where it certifies that it does not have any health problem that could lead to health problems to the people of Spain.
When and where to apply for a non-lucrative visa for Spain
The Spanish non-profit visa must be applied for at least five weeks before traveling to Spain, although the Spanish consulate has up to 3 months to approve your visa. The visa application can be made through the Spanish embassy, a consulate or even a certified company that offers visas on behalf of Spain, it all depends on your country of origin.
Non-lucrative visa application process Spain
The visa application process has to be done in the country of residence and wait for approval before traveling to Spain. Tourists who are in Spain cannot apply for the non-profit visa Spain. Applicants who are approved for the visa get the non-lucrative stamped in their passport, when they are already in Spain they have to apply for their TIE, which is the residence card in Spain. Applying for the visa in their country of residence is a good way for the applicant to avoid wasting time.
Non-lucrative visa interview
The interview when you submit all the documents and forms for the non-lucrative visa application for Spain, is an indispensable requirement. The interview is done while you present all the documentation for your visa, depending on the person the interview is done quickly or if they do not trust the applicant they try to ask many more questions to know that everything they present is correct, the normal profile for the consulate is a retiree who wants to live in Spain. In this type of profile the interview is quick.
This only happens for people who have not visited the Schengen area in the last five years before the visa application, they will have their biometric data such as facial image and fingerprints recognized.
Spanish Non-Lucrative Cost
The Visa cost is also paid at this stage of the application. The amount of the visa non lucrative cost must be confirmed as it depends on each country and its consulate. For example the non-lucrative visa cost in the UK in 2023 is 516 pounds and the cost in the USA is $125 (The costs of the process are updated every year and vary depending on your nationality, our team of lawyers can help you, contact us).
NLV application processing time
The documents are analyzed by the Spanish government delegation within the first month of the application. The review can take up to 3 months, if your application takes longer than 3 months it has been rejected by “administrative silence”.
If your application is approved, you will have the visa stamped in your passport. The next step is to travel to Spain alone or with your family to begin the process of obtaining the TIE, the foreigner’s identification card.
How to apply for the NLV visa?
You can apply for the non-lucrative visa with one of our lawyers who will help you at all times in obtaining all the documentation to be perfect the day of the presentation at the Spanish consulate. The whole process will be easy and fast as our clients comment in our MySpainVisa reviews on google or trustpilot.
Obtain your TIE to complete the residency process in Spain.
The visa comes with the NIE Spain stamped. This number is the identification number of a foreigner who intends to open a bank account in Spain, buy a property… The NIE number is unique for each foreigner and never expires.
After entering Spain with a non-lucrative visa stamped in your passport, you have 3 months to apply for a foreigner identification card (TIE). The process of obtaining the TIE involves registering in the municipality where you will reside in Spain. Afterwards, you will have to book an appointment at a police station to register your fingerprints and after a few days you will be able to pick up the TIE card.

Important details to know for your NLV Spain after the UK’s exit from the EU
The application for the non-lucrative visa for Spain can be denied if you do not have proof that you do not have enough money to live in spain without working. You must provide proof of 800% IPREM in your bank account during the visa renewal because it is done for 2 more years. If you find a job in Spain, it is possible to transition your visa to a work permit.
The holder of this visa Spain becomes a tax resident in Spain because in order to have his visa renewed next year he has to stay 183 days in Spain. Therefore, they must pay tax on their worldwide income in Spain.
The benefits of living in Spain on a non-lucrative visa in Spain?
Obtaining a non-lucrative visa for Spain has many benefits:
- It is the fastest way to obtain residency in Spain.
- It is a relatively simple procedure if you have the help of a lawyer.
- It allows you to live in Spain 365 days
- You have the possibility to travel 90 days within the Schengen zone.
How to find a place to live in Spain when you already have the NLV? Once you have your visa approved there are many places to live in Spain, so we recommend the best cities to live in Spain and the cheapest cities to live in Spain.
What should you avoid during an NLV application?
You have to make sure that you are going to fill out all the forms correctly, you are going to obtain the required documents legally, on the day of submission of all the documents the consulate officer will ask you several questions to check that the information you have provided is correct. We recommend you to work with one of our lawyers to help you in the whole process of applying for your non-lucrative visa, remember that we have a 99% success rate in these applications.
FAQ NLV Spain
If I apply for a NLV, must I live in Spain for a certain period of time?
Yes, this visa for renewal next year requires you to stay a minimum of 183 days a year in Spain.
How much money is needed for a non-lucrative visa Spain?
For the main applicant, you need to prove 400% of the IPREM which in 2023 is 2.400€.
For the members of the family it is necessary to prove 100% of the IPREM, which in 2023 is 600€/month.
With the Non-Lucrative Visa you become a tax resident in Spain?
To renew the non-lucrative visa the following year you have to stay in Spain at least 183 days in the year, therefore you will be a tax resident in Spain, you will pay tax on your worldwide income. We always recommend talking to our tax experts to solve your doubts.
Can I work with a non-lucrative visa in Spain? or remotely?
The non-lucrative visa is an entry permit to Spain for residence purposes without working, therefore, with this visa you cannot work anywhere, only live on savings or passive income such as dividends, pensions or rents. If you want to work you will need to obtain a digital nomad visa.
Non-lucrative visa spain taxes, what do I need to know?
If you do not want to stay more than 183 days in Spain and you want to avoid paying taxes but obtain Spanish residency we recommend the Golden Visa.
Why choose us for your Non-Lucrative visa Spain 2023?
We are a Spanish law firm with more than 10 years of experience. We are specialists in immigration and real estate. We respond in less than 3 hours to all your questions or we schedule a call to resolve all the doubts of the client.
We are experts in obtaining Non-Lucrative visa Spain 2023 so many clients speak well of us on the internet. If you need help with Non-Lucrative visa Spain 2023, contact us!
Would we be eligible for a non-lucrative-visa. As a married couple our income is 42,000 pounds per year. We also have 20,000 pounds in savings. We hope to sell our house for 450,000 and buy in Spain.
Please give me some indication of the possibility of this visa. We are both 75 years old and in good health,
Thank you
you can obtain the non-lucrative visa without any problem. We can help you through the whole process and explain the non-lucrative visa requirements so that your visa will not be denied.
Hi
I have more the $100000 on savings and CD accounts, Also will receive a retirement pension over $2000 a month. Would retire on April of 2025, When I have to start the application process for the NLV?, I reside in Florida, USA. I’m an American Citizen , with Cuban Origin. Fluent in Spanish and English. I would like to buy a property on Galicia or Catalunya. Do I have to wait for the Visa? My stepson and His daughters are Spanish citizens, I can live with them until I buy my place. Can I apply for a foreigner identification card (TIE) registering in the municipality where they reside, even I would reside in a different municipality or autonomous region? I have visited Spain in 2022 and 2023.
We have sent you an email to advise you on the whole process.
Hi
If I wanted to move to Spain as a dependent of someone who had a NLV, what paperwork would I have to provide and would the visa be printed in my passport?
The visa is individual for each person, therefore you would have your visa in your passport, only that you have to prove that you are a dependent of another person, with a copy of marriage certificate, if you are a child under the age of X person…
If we use your services, are you considered a sworn translator or would we need to find that in addition?
In our law firm we have a spanish sworn translator, therefore, you do not need to hire or look for another sworn translator. We will assist you in the whole process so that the non-lucrative visa is a success!
I have a villa in murcia and like to stay longer if I get a NLV how often can I go back to England for please
If you get the NLV in Spain you can travel as many times as you want to the UK but if you want to renew the visa next year you have to stay at least 183 days in Spain. It does not have to be consecutive.
CAN I APPLY FOR A SPANISH NON LUCRATIVE VISA WITH A SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT
Yes, you can apply for the non-lucrative visa, no matter what passport you have, but you must meet the requirements for this visa.
DearSir/Madam, I have just become a widower looking for a new start in the sun.I am hoping to be able to get NLV. I am a British pensioner. I have I believe all the requirements financial, police,etc. There are two points I need answered could you please explain the S1 form and give me an approximate estimate of your costs? Thanking you.
Kind regards,
Dave B
We have sent you an email with all the cost details to obtain the non-lucrative visa Spain.
I would like to start a NLV to Spain but am looking for the total cost with working with your firm. Please email the information thank you.
We have sent you an email with all the costs and for you to speak with one of our non-lucrative visa lawyers.
Do we need to be married to obtain the NLV …. The property we live in is in joint names and several bank accounts are also joint
We have been a couple for 12 years and both qualify for S1
Could you please provide your costs for the work needed
Many thanks
It is not obligatory to get married you can be civil partnership. If you are neither of the two cases it is possible to come to Spain but you will have to prove more money, since you come as independent persons and for the renewal of the non-lucrative the second year you will have to prove the double of the 400% of the iprem.
My wife and I are interested in getting a non lucrative visa to live in Spain in about a year from now. We will be living off our pension income. We currently reside in Florida in the United States. Can you give us an educated estimate of how much your services will cost and exactly what services that you will provide? When should we start the process, if July of 2024 is our projected date for the move to Spain? Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
We have emailed you all the costs of the non-lucrative visa.
Hi ,my partner and I own a property in Spain we would like to get a NLV we are not retired we would eventually rent out our family home . How much in savings would we need for me and my husband to get NLV for the full 5 year process? . Is it true that the 5 years is being reduced to 3 years ? . Thank you
As I have told you by email, you meet all the requirements to obtain the non-lucrative visa. Since you have more than 40.000€ per year for a married couple.
Hi,
My partner and I have a property in Tenerife and are planning to live there permanently within the next six months. If we acquire an nlv would this enable us to obtain free healthcare on the Island or do we still have to have private medical insurance? I am of pensionable age with assets and my partner who is 62 also has assets.
If you as a British citizen can get the S1, you can get the Spanish public health care. If you are not British you will not be able to get the S1 and therefore you will have to have a private health insurance in Spain.
We live in Scotland and our Spanish Consulate is in Edinburgh.
We are British citizens, retired and wish to apply for the Non Lucrative Visa. Funding is available to meet the basic requirements for financing etc. and there are no issues with Criminal records.
Two questions for you:
1. Do we need a Spanish address to qualify?
2. What are your normal total fees for successfully completing our application?
Best regards
Keith and Rosaline Griffiths
We have sent you an email explaining the whole process to obtain the non-lucrative spain visa from uk.
Regarding your question: yes, you need to have an address in spain.
Hi. I have cash savings of 180, 000 euros. Will this be sufficient for a couple to get the non lucrative visa. I will also be letting my property in the Uk, this will give me about 30,000 euros a year, but I cannot let it out until I have the Visa.
You will not have any problem with those savings to obtain the non-lucrative visa in Spain, if you need help in the NLV process, filling out the application form… We can help you.
Saludos,
I am seriously considering retiring in Spain starting in September/October of 2024 (15 months from present). From what I read, it appears to be a relatively easy process to apply for the NLV but I don’t want to make any mistakes and so would consider using a service such as yours. Can you please tell me an approximate fee for you to take care of this whole process for me and also please explain exactly what you do for that fee.
I lived in Ecuador for two years and Costa Rica for one year. My Spanish is mostly fluent, although my written language is less so. Thus I’m writing in English. I have also lived in Austria for two years so have been in Schengen from July 2018 to July 2020.
For now, I’m just researching locations such as Portugal, Italy and Spain. I’d really prefer Spain since I can speak the language more than sufficiently to thrive (as long as what is spoken is similar to Spanish from Central and South America which I know isn’t always the case in Spain.)
Please send me an estimate of what your fees would be.
Thanks so much.
~Todd Mitchell
We have sent you an email to explain the whole process and answer any questions you may have.
Hello, my wife and I are looking to move to Spain in the near future. I currently have a Forces Pension (£13850 gross) being paid with state pension not due until 2040, my wife nothing until she receives the state pension in 2036. How do I calculate the required savings to meet the IPREM for the Non Lucrative Visa for both of us?
Kind Regards
Jason
One of our attorneys will contact you to help you with everything to obtain the Non lucrative residence.
Dear MSV. We have a house in Spain and would like to obtain a NLV. I understand the process however think it would be better handled by an expert lawyer. However can you let me know what the fees would be for undertaking this process on behalf of my wife and myself
Kind regards
Mr M Healey
One of our attorneys will contact you to help you with everything to obtain the NLV.
Hello, having visited Lanzarote many, many times myself and my Irish partner would now like to retire there. Could you please advice us on the procedures, time scale, and whatever finances would be required. We are both retired ,financially comfortable and in excellent health. As of this time we are not sure weather to purchase a property or to rent. Look forward to your reply.
One of our attorneys will contact you to help you with everything to obtain the Non lucrative residence.
Your answers do not tell me anything except “someone will contact me.” (Legal avoidance).
US citizen, retired, widow, vivo en
Indiana por the past 3 anos. No criminal record Fui un prison social worker). Fui un legal resident de Nicaragua por 5 anos y returned to the US in 2019. Toured Spain in 2022 por un mes. Savings account- presently mas de $22,000, monthly retirement $1801. Can I, or do I qualify for non-lucrative visa? Plan to reside in Ourense o Oviedo, Spain
One of our lawyers will contact you to help you through the entire process of obtaining your non-lucrative visa.
Hi Looking to apply for NLV for spaim. I have a conviction from 16/09/2018 forProduce of controlled Drug class B Cannabis. Will the application be refused because of this even though it is not an offencre in spain.
Regards
Ant
It is likely that your application for the non-lucrative visa will be denied … although the consulate has the last word, if you want to try it do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you in the whole process.
Hi I was born in Ireland and have an EU Irish passport I live in the Uk.I’m retired but my husband still works and holds a uk passport.We travel to Spain a couple of times a year to visit my sister in law and husband who have lived in Spain for fifteen years.We would like to rent a property out there for the next couple of years until my husband retires then hopefully make a permanent move what paperwork would we need to make this happen please?
Kind regards
Sandra Maidment
Sandra,
One of our lawyers will contact you to answer your questions about non lucrative visa spain.
Regards,