Spanish Non-lucrative visa for the whole family
SpainBridge guides UK and USA residents through every step of obtaining a Spanish residence permit, from the first call to the plastic card in your hand. One team, one process, zero stress.
Non-Lucrative Visa quick overview
1
1 year
Your initial permit runs for one year. Then you can extend it twice for 2 years.
2
1 application for the whole family
Spouses and children under 18 can be included on your application.
3
A path to Spanish citizenship
Apply after 10 years of legal residency.
4
The best option for retirees
For those who have a stable pension or passive income.
The Non-Lucrative Visa is open to anyone who can demonstrate their passive income. That includes:
The Non-Lucrative Visa is open to anyone who can demonstrate their passive income. That includes:
Passive income
Pension (UK, USA or other)
Availability of savings
Investment income: dividends, interest, capital distributions
Real estate in Spain
Rental income from property you own
Trust distributions or inheritance income
Annuities or structured financial products
Important: This visa does not permit any form of work, including remote work. If you work remotely, the Digital Nomad Visa is the right option.
Documents and requirements to apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa
Minimum passive income or savings
€28,800/year for 1 main applicant and €7,200/year for each family member. You can prove it with bank statements, rent earnings, etc.
Private health insurance
Spanish public healthcare isn't available to Non-Lucrative residents. Full-coverage private insurance is a hard requirement for the application.
A place to live in Spain
Proof of accommodation, either a rental agreement or property ownership, must be included in your application file.
You are not allowed to work
No freelance work, no remote employment. If any form of income-generating activity is part of your life, discuss it with us before applying.
Spend 183+ days per year in Spain
Unlike the Digital Nomad Visa, this permit requires you to genuinely live in Spain.
Clean Criminal Record
Proof that you have no criminal record. The document must be the original with an apostille and it is valid for 3 months.
Non-Lucrative vs Digital Nomad Visa
| Non-Lucrative Visa | Renewal | |
|---|---|---|
|
Who it's for
|
Retirees, investors, people with passive income | Remote workers and freelancers |
| Can I work? | No | Yes, for non-Spanish employers |
| Minimum income | €28,800 in savings (single applicant) | €2,849/month active income |
| Initial permit | 1 year | 3 years |
| Renewal | 2 years, then 2 years | 2 years |
| Time in Spain | 183+ days/year required | No minimum stay |
| Family included | Spouse + children under 18 | Spouse + children under 25 + parents 65+ |
| Path to PR | 5 years | 5 years |
| Processing time | ~4-6 months | ~1-3 months |
| Where you apply | Spanish consulate in your home country | Spanish consulate or from within Spain |
The journey we will take together
1
Free case analysis
- Day 1: we analyse your situation and develop a personalised relocation strategy. By the end of the call, you'll know exactly which documents you need and what type of passive income you can show.
2
Agreement & payment
- Day 2: we sign the service agreement and start working. Once payment has been made, we create a personal chat in your preferred messaging app so we can communicate directly.
3
Document preparation
- 2+ weeks: we get all necessary documents, order certified translations into Spanish and complete the application forms. The timeframe depends on which documents you already have.
4
Booking an appointment at the consulate
- 1 day: parallel to the collection of documents, we book an appointment at the consulate to submit the application.
5
Submission & review
- Up to 90 days: we submit your application. If the authorities request additional information, we will prepare a response together.
6
Approval & entry into Spain
- 1 week: once approved, you receive a Type D visa, your entry visa for Spain. You fly in and we guide you through the next steps: getting the TIE card.
7
Biometric appointment
- Up to 40 days: once approved, we monitor availability and book your fingerprint appointment at the Spanish police station. Your plastic resident card (TIE) will be ready within 30 days of this appointment.
How others did it
Elizabeth
Unemployed
January 29, 2026 – submission
March 24, 2026 – approval
Elizabeth has a long-distance relationship with her partner living in Spain. To experience living together, they decided to move to Spain. After the call, she decided to try and apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa. As this visa prohibits work in Spain, we have collected evidence of financial independence. Elizabeth used the income from the recent sale of her property, as well as dividends from her investment portfolio. She submitted her application at the Spanish Consulate in London in late January. After a wait of nearly a month, she received her visa and officially moved to Spain in March.
Bernard
Investor
February 2, 2026 – submission
April 8, 2026 – approval
Bernard and his family of three wanted to take a break and spend a year living in Spain.
As this was a family of three, the financial requirements were significantly higher. We focused on demonstrating a stable, passive income, showing rental income from several properties and regular dividend payouts from his company holdings. The application was successful, granting them a one-year stay to explore the country while they decide on their next legal steps for permanent relocation.
Rose
Retired
October 16, 2025 – submission
December 2, 2025 – approval
Elizabeth decided to spend her golden years enjoying the climate of the Costa del Sol. Her primary challenge was documenting consistent passive income. We collected information about her monthly pension and the rental income from a long-term rental in Chicago, explaining everything in a cover letter. That was enough to get approval.
Mark
Investor
December 16, 2025 – submission
February 9, 2026 – approval
After exiting his startup, Mark sought a change of pace in Barcelona. His income strategy was centered on a diversified portfolio of stock holdings. We focused on proving his "passive" status by highlighting recurring dividend payouts from his long-term investments in UK and international companies. We provided detailed statements from his brokerage accounts and verified that the dividends were sufficient to cover his cost of living without any need to work in Spain. The consulate approved his application on the first attempt.
Sarah & David
Crypto Investors
January 21, 2026 – submission
March 18, 2026 – approval
This couple wanted to relocate from California to Valencia. Their primary income source was a long-term crypto-staking portfolio, they also had some savings. Cases like this are rarely taken on, as crypto income is often viewed skeptically by consulates. However, given that they had some savings set aside, we decided to give it a try. We worked closely with them to structure their evidence: we provided clear tax records (showing realized capital gains and staking rewards), bank statements showing consistent "cashing out" cycles, and legal declarations confirming the passive nature of their holdings. We have also attached an explanation letter to all the financial documents. Finally, the residence permit was approved.
NON-LUCRATIVE VISA PRICELIST
Pro Plan
We handle the entire process from start to finish, leading your case to a successful visa and residency approval.
Price:
€3 150
Cost per main applicant
Cost per main applicant
€850
Cost for each family member
Cost for each family member
Payment terms:
50% upfront payment;
50% before submitting
A formal contract is signed before payment is made.
The price includes:
- Personalized document checklist tailored to your specific case
- Online consultations on the document collection process
- Document review by our Immigration Lawyer
- Standard Spanish translations
- Coordination and management of sworn translations
- Completion of all application forms and declarations for the applicant
- Case status monitoring
- Handling of additional information requests or basic appeals
- TIE (residency card) assistance: appointment booking and completion of forms
- In-person accompaniment in Spain (up to 4 visits)
- Access to our network of verified relocation partners in Spain
FAQ
The requirement scales with your family size:
- €28,800 – single applicant
- €36,000 – 2 people
- €43,200 – 3 people
- €50,400 – 4 people
- €57,600 – 5 people
Yes, our company's lawyer reviews your documents at every stage and before the application is submitted. You will receive feedback and can be confident that your case has been prepared correctly.
No. The Non-Lucrative Visa must be applied for at a Spanish consulate in your country of residence. Once approved, you'll receive a Type D entry visa, travel to Spain, and then apply for the physical residency card there.
No. The Non-Lucrative Visa prohibits all forms of work, including remote employment for foreign companies. If working remotely is part of your plan, the Digital Nomad Visa is the right option. We're happy to discuss which fits your situation on a free call.
Owning property is not a requirement, but it does strengthen your case. It satisfies the proof of accommodation requirement. Note that the old Golden Visa (residency through property investment) was cancelled in April 2025. Buying property alone no longer grants residency.
Yes. After 5 years of continuous legal residency in Spain, you can apply for permanent residency. After 10 years, British nationals can apply for Spanish citizenship, which includes an EU passport and freedom of movement across Europe.