Follow this step-by-step roadmap to secure your Non-Lucrative Visa for Spain. Each phase includes the documents, timelines, and actions required.
Phase 1: Preparation (Weeks 1-6)
Week 1-2: Assess Your Eligibility
Review the Non-Lucrative Visa requirements before preparing your application.
- Calculate your passive income: €2,400/month minimum (€28,800/year)
- + €600/month for each additional family member
- Identify your income sources: pension, rental income, dividends, savings
- Choose your Spanish consulate (based on your legal residence)
Week 3-4: Gather Documents
- Valid passport + copies of all pages
- Passport-sized photos (x4)
- Birth certificate (apostilled and translated)
- Marriage certificate (if bringing spouse)
- Children’s birth certificates (if applicable)
Week 5-6: Financial Documents
- Bank statements for the last 12 months (original + copy)
- Pension statements (public and private)
- Rental income contracts and deposit proofs
- Investment portfolio statements
- Tax returns for the last 2 years
- Letter from bank confirming balances (on official letterhead)
Phase 2: Application (Weeks 7-12)
Week 7: Health Insurance
- Purchase private health insurance with full coverage in Spain
- No co-pays, no deductibles, no pre-existing condition exclusions
- Policy must be valid from the first day of your intended stay
Week 8-9: Legalise Documents
- Apostille all documents from Hague Convention countries
- Sworn translate all foreign documents into Spanish
- Obtain medical certificate from licensed physician
- Obtain criminal record certificate (apostilled + translated)
Week 10-11: Consulate Appointment
- Book appointment at your local Spanish consulate
- Submit EX-01 application form + all original documents + 2 copies
- Pay the visa fee and the separate initial residence-permit fee (form 790, code 052), following your competent consulate’s current payment and receipt instructions. The London Consulate’s NLV instructions distinguish these two fees: London requires the visa fee in local currency at submission and provides separate instructions for paying the residence-permit fee, including proof of online payment where used. Check the applicable amounts and procedure with your consulate; London’s local arrangements are not universal.
- Provide proof of accommodation in Spain (rental contract or property deed)
Week 12 onward: Await Decision
Track your application status. If you receive a refusal, review the common Non-Lucrative Visa refusal reasons. For applications handled by London, the consulate states a legal decision period of two months from the day after submission, which may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested. If approved, collect the visa within one month from the day after notification and enter Spain within the validity dates shown on your visa. See the London Consulate’s decision, collection and validity guidance; follow your competent consulate’s instructions.
Phase 3: Arrival (TIE Application Within One Month)
- Register for the padrón (municipal census) at your local ayuntamiento
- Apply personally for the TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) within one month of entry into Spain, under Article 63.5 of RD 1155/2024. This is the NLV TIE application deadline, not a deadline to receive the card or complete every arrival task.
- Open a Spanish bank account
- Register for public healthcare (if eligible) or maintain private insurance
- Apply for a Spanish driving license (if applicable)
Phase 4: Renewal (Before Expiry)
- Apply during the two months before your residence authorisation expires. An application within the three months after expiry also extends the previous authorisation until a decision, but may lead to sanction proceedings. See Article 64.1; these periods are calendar months, not fixed numbers of days.
- Prove continued income and health insurance
- For renewal, Article 64.2(f) requires real and effective residence in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year, not merely at least 183 days. Article 64.6 also provides for assessment of integration efforts, particularly where a renewal requirement is not evidenced; seek individual advice rather than assuming an automatic exemption.
- First renewal: valid for 2 years. Second renewal: valid for 2 years. Then apply for long-term residence.
Explore our Non-Lucrative Visa application support.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.