Non-lucrative residence
You can tell whether you qualify, how the money is counted, what you may not do, and whether this is the right route.
Spain's non-lucrative residence (residencia no lucrativa) is for people who plan to live in Spain on passive income or savings, without working there. It is the best-known route for retirees and financially independent movers.
Pick the article that fits your situation
Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
Explains the five conditions for the non-lucrative residence visa: enough funds, private insurance, a clean record, the right consulate and a promise not to work. It is for non-EU citizens who plan to live in Spain without working.
How Spain counts your money for the non-lucrative visa
Explains which savings, investments and regular income Spanish consulates usually accept as proof of means for the non-lucrative visa, what they tend to discount, and how to present your money. For applicants planning to fund their stay without working in Spain.
Applying for non-lucrative residence as a couple or family
Explains how the money you must show grows when your partner or children apply with you for non-lucrative residence, how a couple can combine funds, and which partners count as family. For applicants who are not moving alone.
Can you work or freelance remotely on a non-lucrative visa?
The non-lucrative visa does not let you work in Spain, and remote work for foreign clients is risky.
Is the non-lucrative visa right for you?
Helps you decide whether the non-lucrative visa suits you. It fits people with enough savings or passive income who will not work in Spain, and fits poorly early retirees, single-income couples and anyone who may want to work later.
Retiring to Spain on the non-lucrative visa, pension and tax questions first
For retirees planning to apply for Spain's non-lucrative visa. It covers how your pension counts as income, whether you will become a Spanish tax resident, and how to avoid a funds shortfall at your first renewal. Settle these before you apply.
About this topic
Key rules
- Main applicant funds: The main applicant must show funds equal to 400% of the IPREM per year, which is 28,800 euros at the 2025 IPREM of 7,200 euros.
- First permit length: The first non-lucrative permit lasts 1 year.
- No work: You cannot work in Spain on this permit.
- Insurance: You need private health insurance with full cover and no copagos.
- Clean record: You need a criminal record certificate from every country you lived in for 5 years.
Non-lucrative residence: the whole process, step by step
- Check you qualify and that the route fits: before you start
- Confirm you will not work in Spain, and pick the digital-nomad route if you earn from remote work: before you start
- Work out your funds and how they are counted, and add family members if they come too: before you gather documents
- Gather recent bank statements, covering the last 3 to 6 months with a stable balance and no sudden large deposits: shortly before you lodge the application
- Buy the insurance policy: before you lodge the application
- Get a police certificate from each country you lived in over the previous 5 years, apostilled or legalised, with a sworn Spanish translation if needed, and a medical certificate: no more than 3 months before you lodge the application
- Think through pension, tax residence and renewal questions; if you live in Spain most of the year you usually become tax resident: before you apply
- Lodge the application in person at the consulate where you legally live and pay the 80 euro consular fee: when the documents are ready; the consulate decides within 3 months
- Enter Spain on the visa and apply for the residence card (TIE) within 30 days of entering: after the consulate approves
- Show your funds again at the first renewal; if they have dropped, look at other statuses first: from 60 days before the 1-year permit expires
Documents you may need
Identity and residence
- Valid passport and passport-size photos — Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
- Medical certificate — Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
- Proof that you are lawfully resident in the country where you apply — Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
Income and work
- Recent bank statements — How Spain counts your money for the non-lucrative visa, Retiring to Spain on the non-lucrative visa, pension and tax questions first
- Bank statements for the accounts holding the family funds — Applying for non-lucrative residence as a couple or family
- Official letter from your pension payer or social security body showing your gross monthly pension — Retiring to Spain on the non-lucrative visa, pension and tax questions first
- Bank statements showing your pension payments arriving — Retiring to Spain on the non-lucrative visa, pension and tax questions first
Payments and receipts
- Receipt showing you have paid for the insurance policy — Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
- A bank certificate for any investment portfolio or term deposit you want counted — How Spain counts your money for the non-lucrative visa
Guarantees
- Private health insurance policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain — Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
Translations and legal papers
- Sworn translation into Spanish of each criminal record certificate — Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
- Sworn translation of any foreign partnership or relationship document into Spanish — Applying for non-lucrative residence as a couple or family
Other documents
- Police or criminal record certificate from each country where you lived — Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)?
Non-lucrative residence: questions that cross several articles
How much money must I show for a couple or family?
Add 100% of the IPREM, 7,200 euros, for each family member to the main applicant amount. The funds are explained in How Spain counts your money for the non-lucrative visa and Applying for non-lucrative residence as a couple or family.
Can I switch to a work permit after getting a non-lucrative visa?
Yes, you can apply to change to a status that allows work, such as the digital nomad permit or a work or self-employment authorisation, once you have held the non-lucrative authorisation for 1 year and if you meet its conditions. Social rooted-residence (arraigo) after two years is another route. The digital nomad permit is the usual choice if your clients are outside Spain.
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Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.