We got our Spain Non-Lucrative Visas earlier this year. It’s a bit of a process but is completely doable (if you’re motivated!). Keep reading to find out how!
Spain is such a lovely country! It’s beautiful, the food is fantastic (and inexpensive) and is a great launching place to see the rest of Europe.
There are many types of Spanish visas, but this article focuses on the Spain long-stay visa known as the Non-Lucrative Visa (also known as the “retirement” or “non-working” visa.) It is a summary of the process we went through to successfully get ours.
You can also get my free PDF printable here if you want more step-by-step detail on obtaining a Non-Lucrative Spain Visa.
What Is a Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa is also known as the non-working visa or the retirement visa. It is designed for non-Spanish residents who want to spend an extended amount of time in Spain without being constrained by the typical 90-day visitor visa limitation.
This visa is for people who do not need to work in Spain and can show proof of sufficient means of financial support.
Watch The Spain Non-Lucrative Video Here
Those who are granted a non-lucrative visa in Spain can stay in Spain for one year and then renew for another year if desired (renewal requires the visa holder to reside in Spain for at least 181 days). After the second year, it can be renewed for another 2 years.
Holders of the long-stay Spain visa are also able to travel throughout the Schengen countries without limitation for the duration of the visa.
How Hard is it to Get a Non-Lucrative Visa for Spain?
Getting the non-lucrative Spanish visa takes some planning, organization, and time. But it’s well worth the effort. We fell in love with Spain while on vacation and decided to give it a go so we could spend more time there. It worked! Here’s how to get it done.
Steps to get the visa
- Make an appointment at the Spanish Consulate that services your geographical area. There are 8 consulate offices plus Puerto Rico so be sure to apply at the appropriate office. (Get my free Long-Stay Spain Visa handout here for more detail.)
- Get your documents in order. See below for a list of required docs.
- Get the documents translated. These docs must be translated by a Spain-approved translator.
- Get an official criminal background check. This must be done at the federal level, not by your state. And it must be apostillized (certified).
- Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the timeframe of your visa. You will be required to give the consulate your passport at the appointment. They will keep it until your visa is granted. (See my Non-Lucrative Spain Free PDF for more info on this.)
- Go to your appointment prepared. You must attend the application appointment in person. This is where they will go over every document with you in detail. The more organized and prepared you are, the better.
- Wait. This is the hard part. The Spanish government is entitled to take up to three months to process the application, but most are granted between 4-8 weeks. You will be notified by email, so check that regularly.
- Check in to Spain. This is the fun part! Once you have your visa, you must check into Spain to finalize the process. You will have 90 days to do this. When you get to Spain, go to the local office (usually a police station) where they will finish the process. They will fingerprint you and take your paperwork. Your final non-lucrative visa temporary residence card will be mailed to you at your Spain address within 30 days. You may have to pick it up in person.
Required Documents
- Visa Applications – Two different applications must be filled out. The general Visa application and the Non-Working Visa application. (Get my free PDF handout for more information.)
- Spain Health Insurance – You must have proof of a zero deductible Spain Health Insurance policy. There is no exception to this. An international health policy is not good enough.
- Proof of Funds – Spain requires you to be financially self-sufficient. The required amount does change at times, but at the time of this writing, you must show you have approximately $2,600/month to satisfy the requirements. (See my PDF here for more specifics on the many ways to prove this requirement.)
- Medical Certificate – You will need a statement from your doctor stating that you do not have any communicable diseases.
- Passport – Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months after your intended visa stay. You will be giving the consulate your passport during the application processing time.
- Passport Photo – Bring a passport photo in addition to your passport. The consulate needs this for their file during the non-lucrative application process.
- ID for place of residence – A driver’s license or any other state issued ID will establish the appropriate consulate jurisdiction.
- Payment – We paid cash so I am unsure whether a check is acceptable. I do not believe they take credit cards, but each consulate may be different. At the time of this writing, the fee was approximately $190.
- Marriage Certificate – This is necessary and must be apostillized (certified) by the issuing state if you are applying as a married couple.
How Long Can I Stay In Spain With a Non-Lucrative Visa?
The non-lucrative visa allows you to stay in Spain for one year. It can then be renewed twice for another year each time. Following that, you can be on the path to 5 year residency if you choose.
One advantage of having the long stay visa is that you will be able to travel throughout the Schengen countries for the entire year you have the visa. Otherwise, you are limited to the 90 day tourist visa limitations.
You must stay in Spain for at least 181 days if you plan to renew the visa. It is up to you to keep track of those days so pay attention to any time you spend away from Spain. (Like going home for the holidays or traveling to other European countries. These days will not count toward the 181 day requirement.)
And there you have it! An overview of how (and why) to get your Spain Non-Lucrative Visa. It’s worth the effort! Spain is one of the lovliest countries we’ve visited and are thrilled to be able to spend more time there!
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