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Kingdom of Spain · residence general · Leads to settlement

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Residence visa for financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals not planning to work in Spain.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyInitial 1 year; renewable for 2-year periods; leads to permanent residence after 5 years.
Processing time
Consular intake time varies by mission. Spain’s national procedure sets a 1-month decision period once the consulate has forwarded the residence-authorisation application; interviews or requests for additional documents can extend the overall timeline.
Government fees
Visa and residence-authorisation charges vary by nationality and responsible mission. The TIE fee and any translation, legalisation, or service charges are additional.
Typical duration
Initial 1 year; renewable for 2-year periods; leads to permanent residence after 5 years.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗

In short

As of 21 July 2026, the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) for Kingdom of Spain has typical processing of 3 months (Legal decision period, not a typical forecast; appointment time before lodgement is separate.). Sources: official Kingdom of Spain government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/spain/non-lucrative-visa#answer

What is the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) in Kingdom of Spain?

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is an unsponsored Spain route. Indicative government fees are Visa and residence-authorisation charges vary by nationality and responsible mission. The TIE fee and any translation, legalisation, or service charges are additional; indicative processing time is Consular intake time varies by mission. Spain’s national procedure sets a 1-month decision period once the consulate has forwarded the residence-authorisation application; interviews or requests for additional documents can extend the overall timeline; typical duration is Initial 1 year; renewable for 2-year periods; leads to permanent residence after 5 years. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations on 21 July 2026.

Overview

The Non-Lucrative Visa grants residence to non-EEA applicants who have sufficient guaranteed means and health insurance and will not carry out work or professional activity in Spain. A spouse or unmarried partner, dependent children, and dependent relatives in the ascending line who form part of the family unit can apply with the principal applicant.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Confirm your consular district and filing method

    Check the responsible Spanish mission’s live instructions for jurisdiction, appointments, submission method, and any external service provider.

  2. Prepare the forms and financial evidence

    Complete the national visa and EX-01 forms and document at least €28,800 for the principal applicant plus €7,200 per accompanying family member at the current IPREM.

  3. Translate and authenticate foreign public documents

    Follow the responsible mission’s rules for official Spanish translations and any apostille or consular legalisation required for the issuing country.

  4. Submit the application and pay the applicable fees

    File through the responsible Spanish mission or its designated provider and follow its current payment instructions.

  5. Collect the visa, enter, and obtain the TIE

    Collect an approved visa within 1 month of notification, enter during its validity, and apply for the Foreigner Identity Card within 1 month of entry.

  6. Renew on time and maintain residence

    A renewal is normally valid for 2 years. Current rules require real and effective residence in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year, continued insurance, and sufficient means for the renewal period.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to SpainFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Read Spain’s national NLV rules ↗

    Cross-check the statutory eligibility, evidence, and post-arrival requirements that apply nationally.

    Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check the current IPREM amount ↗

    Recalculate the 400% principal and 100%-per-family-member financial requirement using the current official IPREM before filing.

    Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: Visa and residence-authorisation charges vary by nationality and responsible mission. The TIE fee and any translation, legalisation, or service charges are additional.. A decision then typically takes 3 months (Legal decision period, not a typical forecast; appointment time before lodgement is separate.). Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I work on the Non-Lucrative Visa?+

No. This visa authorises residence without carrying out gainful work or professional activity in Spain; it is not a work permit.

How much money must I show in 2026?+

The legal rule is 400% of monthly IPREM for the principal applicant and 100% for each family member. With the current €600 monthly IPREM, that is €2,400 per month (€28,800 for the initial year) plus €600 per month (€7,200 for the initial year) for each accompanying family member. Verify IPREM again immediately before filing.

What happens after approval?+

Collect the visa within 1 month after approval is notified, enter Spain within the visa’s validity, and apply for the TIE in person within 1 month after entry.

How much extra income do I need to bring my family on the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?+

On top of the main applicant's passive-income threshold of roughly 400% of the IPREM, you generally need additional income of around 100% of the IPREM for each family member. Income below the threshold is a common blocker, so verify the current figures with the official Ministerio guidance.

What kind of health insurance do I need for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?+

You need private health insurance that covers Spain with no co-payments. A policy that includes co-payments is a common reason for refusal. Confirm acceptable coverage with the official source.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Spain

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations

Last checked: 21 July 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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