Kingdom of Spain · residence general · Leads to settlement
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Residence visa for financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals not planning to work in Spain.
- 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
In short
As of 21 July 2026, the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) for Kingdom of Spain has typical processing of 4 weeks – 3 months. Sources: official Kingdom of Spain government pages, reviewed 21 July 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.
Venezuelan applicants
Venezuelan applicants with sustained overseas income (US-dollar earnings, foreign pension, or family support) use NLV as…
Colombian applicants
Colombian NLV applicants benefit from tourist-visa-free entry to Spain which simplifies in-person consular appointments.…
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian retirees and high-net-worth applicants use NLV as the standard non-working residence route into Spain, often a…
Russian applicants
Russian high-net-worth applicants increasingly use NLV post-2022, particularly as Portugal's D7 has tightened scrutiny. …
Chinese applicants
Chinese NLV applicants typically present overseas-investment income, rental income from non-Chinese property, or pension…
Iranian applicants
Iranian residents submit the NLV application in person through BLS in Tehran. At the current €600 monthly IPREM, show at…
Additional sources
Primary source
SEPE — Current IPREM amounts ↗ · Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Guaranteed means equal to 400% of IPREM for the principal applicant: €2,400 per month or €28,800 for the initial year at the current €600 monthly IPREM.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- ✓Add 100% of IPREM for each accompanying family member: currently €600 per month or €7,200 for the initial year.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- ✓Public or private health insurance contracted with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and covering all risks insured by Spain’s public health system.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- ✓No gainful work or professional activity in Spain.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- ✓A passport valid for at least 1 year, criminal-record certificates for the countries of residence during the previous 5 years, and a qualifying medical certificate.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
Common blockers
- !Financial evidence does not cover 400% of IPREM for the principal applicant plus 100% for each family member for the full initial year.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- !Health cover is not issued by an insurer authorised in Spain or does not cover the risks insured by Spain’s public system.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- !Foreign public documents are missing the legalisation or apostille and official Spanish translation required for the issuing country and filing location.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Originals and copies of bank, investment, pension, property-title, certified-cheque, or qualifying credit evidence showing sufficient guaranteed means.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- ·Health-insurance certificate, criminal-record certificate(s), medical certificate, and proof of residence in the responsible consular district.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
- ·National visa form, EX-01 residence form, photograph, passport original and biometric-page copy, and form 790-052/payment evidence.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗
Application pathway
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.
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.
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.
Submit the application and pay the applicable fees
File through the responsible Spanish mission or its designated provider and follow its current payment instructions.
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.
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.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicantRead 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
- Official guidanceApplicantCheck 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 4 weeks – 3 months. 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 SpainHow 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