Relocation & Mobility

Non-lucrative visa: living in Spain without working

The non-lucrative residence route is for people who want to live in Spain on their own income or savings, without working here. It is popular with retirees and with people taking a planned break from work. We build the file the way the consulate will read it — financial evidence, insurance and certificates checked before anything is submitted.

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This route suits

Retirees with a pension, investments or rental income
People with substantial savings who are stepping away from work
Couples and families moving together on the same means
Americans and other non-EU nationals planning a long-term base in Spain

It’s not designed for

Anyone who plans to keep working remotely — this route does not allow work in Spain, including for foreign employers or clients
People who want to set up a business or freelance activity in Spain
EU, EEA or Swiss citizens, who register under a different procedure

Key requirements

Sufficient financial means

The reference is 400% of the IPREM for the main applicant plus 100% of the IPREM for each additional family member, for the year. The IPREM is updated periodically, so we confirm the current figure at consultation. Evidence must be consistent and traceable.

Private health insurance

A policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with full cover equivalent to the public system — no co-payments (sin copagos) and no waiting periods (sin carencias).

Criminal-record certificate

Issued by the countries where you have lived in recent years, apostilled or legalised and, where needed, with a sworn translation (traducción jurada) into Spanish.

Medical certificate

A certificate stating that you do not suffer from diseases with serious public-health implications under the International Health Regulations. Wording and format requirements vary by consulate.

Correct consulate

You apply at the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your place of legal residence — not simply the nearest one or the one with the fastest appointments.

Passport and application forms

A passport with sufficient validity, the national visa application form and the residence form (EX-01), plus payment of the official fee (tasa).

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we confirm your situation in a consultation.

Last reviewed: 22 October 2026Legal basis: LO 4/2000 (LOEX) · RD 1155/2024 (Reglamento de Extranjería) · LO 1/2025 (end of investor routes)

How the process works

Route consultation

We confirm that non-lucrative residence is the right route for your plans, check the current IPREM reference and identify your consulate.

Document plan and review

You receive a checklist built for your nationality and consulate. We review every document — apostilles, translations, dates and financial evidence — before it is used.

Consulate application

You attend the consulate appointment in person with a complete, indexed file. Where any step legally requires a colegiado professional, it is handled by our named partner (abogado or gestor administrativo colegiado).

Follow-up and requerimientos

If the consulate issues a requerimiento (a request for more information), we prepare the response with you within the deadline.

Arrival in Spain

Once the visa is issued, you enter Spain within its validity and we book your TIE fingerprint appointment, padrón registration and the other arrival steps.

After approval

After entering Spain on the visa, you apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the police within the first month. The first authorisation is temporary and must be renewed before it expires, showing that you still meet the financial and insurance requirements and that you have actually lived in Spain. We track your expiry dates and start renewals early. After five years of continuous legal residence, long-term residence becomes possible.

Why files get refused or delayed

Criminal-record or medical certificates that are too old for the consulate’s validity window by the appointment date
Missing apostille, or a translation that is not a sworn translation (traducción jurada)
Health insurance with co-payments, waiting periods or limited cover
Inconsistent financial evidence — balances, statements and income letters that don’t tell the same story
Applying at the wrong consulate for your place of legal residence
A plan that involves working remotely, which the consulate may treat as incompatible with the route

Frequently asked questions

Can I work remotely on a non-lucrative visa?

No. The non-lucrative route is designed for people who will not work in Spain, and that includes remote work for foreign employers or clients. If you intend to keep working, the international teleworker (digital nomad) route is usually the one to look at. We can assess both at consultation.

How much money do I need for the non-lucrative visa in Spain?

The reference is 400% of the IPREM for the main applicant and 100% of the IPREM for each additional family member, calculated for the year. Because the IPREM changes and consulates can interpret evidence differently, we confirm the current figure and the accepted forms of proof at consultation.

Does the health insurance have to be Spanish?

It must be issued by an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and give full cover in Spain, without co-payments or waiting periods. Many travel or international policies do not meet this standard. We check the policy wording before you buy or submit it.

Can I apply for the non-lucrative visa from inside Spain?

As a general rule, the initial application is made at the Spanish consulate in your country of legal residence, not from within Spain. There are limited exceptions and changes under the 2025 regulation, which we review case by case.

Is the golden visa still available?

No. Since 3 April 2025, under Ley Orgánica 1/2025, Spain has ended all investor residence routes — property, financial investments and business projects alike. If someone is still offering it, treat that as a warning sign. For many former golden-visa candidates, non-lucrative residence is the realistic alternative.

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