🇪🇸 Spain Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Also known as: NLV, non-lucrative residence visa, passive income visa, visado de residencia no lucrativa
Last verified: September 6, 2026
What is the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
The passive-income route, popular with American retirees and people living on investments. You need EUR 2,400 a month — 400% of the IPREM — plus EUR 600 for each family member. Because Spain passed no national budget for 2026 the IPREM rolled over unchanged, so unlike the digital nomad visa this threshold did not rise, making the NLV comparatively more accessible this year. The catch is absolute and frequently misunderstood: the NLV prohibits all work, including remote work for a US employer. If you intend to keep working you need the digital nomad visa instead, and getting this wrong can mean losing your residency. It does count toward permanent residence after five years and citizenship after ten.
This overview is written for Americans. Fees and paperwork differ by nationality; see the comparison below.
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa requirements, cost, and processing time
| Government fee | $150–$655 |
| Processing time | 4–16 weeks |
| Minimum annual income | $32,000–$33,400/year (about $2,667–$2,783/month) |
| Minimum savings | $33,400 |
| Job offer | Not required |
| Degree | Not required |
| Family can join | Yes |
| Path to permanent residency | Yes |
Amounts are approximate US dollar equivalents of figures set in local currency, verified against official sources for British citizens and Americans.
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa cost and processing time by nationality
| Applicants | Gov. fee | Processing | Min. income | Min. savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 British citizens | $655 | 8–16 weeks | $33,400/year | $33,400 |
| 🇺🇸 Americans | $150 | 4–12 weeks | $32,000/year | — |
Each row links to the full guide for that nationality, with the document checklist.
Documents needed for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
- Confirm you will genuinely not work
- Confirm your passive income meets the threshold
- Assemble twelve months of income and asset evidence
- Obtain an FBI background check and apostille it
- Complete a medical certificate
- Arrange private Spanish health insurance
- Get all documents sworn-translated
- Apply in person at your consulate
- Collect the visa and enter Spain within 90 days
- Obtain your NIE, empadronamiento and TIE
- Plan your tax position before year one ends
- Renew and build toward permanent residence
This list is the checklist for Americans. Other nationalities have their own steps, linked in the table above. The full ordered checklist, with timing, dependencies, and personalized due dates, is part of the plan.
Is the Non-Lucrative Visa right for you?
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Check my eligibilityFrequently asked questions
- What are the requirements for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
- The requirements we have on record are: income of about $32,000–$33,400 a year; savings of about $33,400. No job offer is needed. Some routes accept savings in place of income, so check the official source for how the two combine. Amounts are USD equivalents verified for British citizens and Americans; the official source lists the full document set.
- How much does the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa cost?
- The government fee is about $655 for British citizens and $150 for Americans (USD equivalent). Translations, apostilles, insurance, and courier costs come on top.
- What is the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa processing time?
- Typical processing takes 8–16 weeks for British citizens and 4–12 weeks for Americans after applying, plus the time needed to gather documents.
- What is the income requirement for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
- The minimum income is about $33,400 a year (roughly $2,783 a month) for British citizens and $32,000 a year (roughly $2,667 a month) for Americans, expressed in US dollars. The official threshold is set in local currency and moves with exchange rates, so confirm the current figure with the official source.
- How much savings do I need for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
- Plan for savings of about $33,400 (USD equivalent).
- Do I need a job offer for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
- No. The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa does not require a job offer from an employer in Spain.
- Can family members join on the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
- Yes. Accompanying family members are allowed, with additional documentation.
- Does the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa lead to permanent residency?
- Yes. It offers a path to permanent residency after the qualifying period.
- Is the NLV the same as the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
- Yes. NLV, non-lucrative residence visa, passive income visa, and visado de residencia no lucrativa are other names people use for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa.
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa guides by nationality
Other Spain visas
Always confirm requirements with the official government sources: exteriores.gob.es, exteriores.gob.es. This guide is general information, not legal advice.