Is your visa's minimum income enough to live on?

Key rules

• Minimum, not budget: The official threshold can sit below what you need to live comfortably, especially in Madrid or Barcelona.
• Spending the funds: You may spend the money after approval, but you must still show means of support at renewal.
• Yearly changes: The IPREM and minimum wage are revised each year, so confirm current amounts with your consulate.
• Extra costs: Add private health insurance, deposits and a buffer on top of the minimum.

The short answer

The official figure is a minimum to qualify, not a budget to live on. In Madrid or Barcelona it is close to, or below, what a comfortable single life costs. Plan to have more than the minimum, and expect to show means of support again when you renew.

What the thresholds are

The thresholds depend on which visa you apply for.

• Non-lucrative visa: 400 percent of the IPREM per year for the main applicant, plus 100 percent of the IPREM for each extra family member. The IPREM stood at 600 euros a month (7,200 euros a year) in 2025, which put the main applicant's amount at 28,800 euros. The figure is revised every year.
• Digital nomad visa: 200 percent of the Spanish minimum monthly wage for the main applicant. Add 75 percent for a spouse and 25 percent for each child.
• Highly qualified professional route: there is no fixed savings figure. What counts is a job offer with a qualifying salary, and your qualifications.

Check the current amounts with your consulate before you plan, because the IPREM and the minimum wage change each year.

How the minimum compares with real costs

Rent is the main driver. A one-bedroom flat in Madrid or Barcelona often takes a large share of a monthly income at the visa minimum. Valencia and smaller cities are cheaper, but rents there have risen fast.

A couple or family needs a much bigger budget. The amount added per family member is small compared with what another person actually costs.

If you apply for the non-lucrative visa, budget above the bare minimum and add:

• private health insurance
• rental deposits and move-in costs
• a buffer for the unexpected

To compare, look at current rental listings in your target city and at national statistics on household spending.

Can you spend the money after approval?

Yes. The funds are not locked. But you must show means of support again when you renew your residence, so spending down to the minimum is risky. Keep a reserve. The required level may be different at renewal, so ask what will apply to you.

Proof

The non-lucrative visa is shown with bank statements (savings) or documents showing regular passive income. The digital nomad and highly qualified routes are shown with contracts, payslips or invoices. Consulates differ in what they accept, so ask yours for its exact list. The documents list below covers the basics, and the questions below answer common worries about spending and budgeting.

Documents you need

• Bank statements showing your savings, for the non-lucrative visa.

• Documents showing regular passive income, for the non-lucrative visa if you prove funds through income rather than savings.

• Work contracts, payslips or invoices showing your income, for the digital nomad or highly qualified routes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I spend the money I showed for my visa after approval?

Yes, the money you showed is not locked, so you can spend it after approval. You will still have to show means of support when you renew residence, so keep a reserve.

Does the non-lucrative visa need savings or monthly income?

The non-lucrative visa needs proof of sufficient funds, usually bank statements showing savings or documents showing regular passive income. The digital nomad route is different: it is based on income shown through contracts, payslips or invoices.

How much should I budget above the visa minimum?

Budget above the bare minimum, because Madrid and Barcelona rents can take a large share of it. Add private health insurance, deposits and a buffer. A couple or family needs more, since the visa adds only a small amount per family member.