Spain non-lucrative visa: income proof, insurance and the no-work rule

The non-lucrative residence visa (visado de residencia no lucrativa) is the route Spain offers to people who want to live there on their own means without working. Retirees use it most, but anyone with enough savings or passive income can apply. It is strict on three points: how much money you show, what health insurance you hold, and the ban on any work, including remote work for a US employer. This guide follows the requirements published by the Spanish consulate in Washington and the Ministry of Inclusion's information sheets.

The rules changed on 20 May 2025, when the new immigration regulation, Royal Decree 1155/2024, took effect. The consulate notes that it brought significant changes to the visa procedure, so older guides may be out of date.

What the visa allows and what it forbids

The consulate describes it as a visa to reside in Spain without carrying out any gainful activity, provided you have sufficient and guaranteed means. It states that this visa is not a work permit and does not allow any type of work or professional activity, including remote (online) work. If you plan to keep working online for a US company or clients, the consulate sends you to the telework (digital nomad) visa instead.

You also sign a notarized affidavit as part of the application, committing not to do any paid work, on-site or remote, while living in Spain.

Family members who can come with you on the same route: your spouse or registered or stable partner, minor unmarried children of either of you, and adult children who are disabled and need support.

The money test: 400% of IPREM

The income requirement is tied to Spain's public income indicator, IPREM (Indicador Publico de Renta de Efectos Multiples), which changes each year. The consulate's figures for 2026:

• IPREM: 600 euros per month, 7,200 euros per year.
• Main applicant: 400% of IPREM, which is 28,800 euros per year (the consulate gives about $32,000).
• Each dependent family member: another 100%, 7,200 euros per year (about $8,000).

A couple therefore needs to show 36,000 euros a year, and a couple with one child 43,200 euros.

### How to prove it

The consulate asks for evidence that you can cover the first year of residence, or that you receive a regular income that does not depend on working in Spain:

• Bank statements for the last three months from all your accounts (checking, savings and investment). No translation needed.
• A certificate from each bank giving the bank's name and address, full account identification, opening date, the balance on 31 December of the previous year and the average balance over the previous 12 months, with a sworn translation into Spanish.
• Proof of periodic income, if you have it: Social Security benefits, public or private pensions, or a life annuity. The document must be recent, show the current amount and confirm you will keep receiving it for at least the next 12 months. Sworn translation required.
• Your latest tax return. No translation needed.

For applicants of working age, the consulate advises adding a letter from your employer confirming that you will no longer work for the company, or a letter accepting a sabbatical year.

Health insurance: no copays, no limits

This requirement trips up more Americans than any other. The policy must:

• Come from an insurer recognized and authorized to operate in Spain.
• Cover all the risks covered by Spain's public health system.
• Have no deductible, no copayment and no coverage limit, covering 100% of medical, hospital and outpatient costs.
• Show start and end dates, last at least one year, and stay in force for your whole stay.
• Be in Spanish or come with a sworn translation.

The consulate does not accept travel insurance with medical assistance or an insurance card alone. The consulate adds that Spanish insurance companies offer policies with unlimited coverage of 100% of expenses, the type it expects to see.

The rest of the file

The consulate's list also includes:

• National visa application form and a recent passport photo on a white background.
• A passport valid for at least one year with two blank visa pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are refused.
• Proof that you live in the consulate's district (for Washington: DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina), such as a driver's license or state ID. Apply at the consulate that covers your state.
• Form EX-01 and fee form 790-052 (initial temporary residence).
• A medical certificate issued within 90 days of applying, signed by a physician (not a nurse practitioner or physician assistant), stating that you have no disease with serious public health implications under the 2005 International Health Regulations.
• An FBI background check issued within the previous six months, with a Hague Apostille on the FBI signature and a sworn Spanish translation. State or local police checks are not accepted. If you lived more than 180 days in another country in the last five years, you need that country's record too.
• Advisable extras: a lease of at least three months or a property deed, and a school enrolment letter for children of compulsory school age.

Fees from 1 January 2026 for US citizens, paid to BLS: a visa fee of $140 and a residence permit fee of $13. The consulate says fees are revised quarterly with exchange rates.

After you arrive

The Ministry of Inclusion's information sheet on the initial authorization sets out what happens next:

• The visa itself is valid for up to three months.
• The initial residence authorization lasts one year, starting on the date you enter Spain.
• Within one month of entry you must apply in person for your foreigner identity card (TIE).

Renewal

Renewal is covered by the ministry's Sheet 7, last updated in May 2025:

• When: in the two months before your authorization expires. You can still apply within three months after expiry, though a penalty procedure may be opened.
• Where: online through the government's Mercurio electronic platform.
• Effect: applying on time extends your current authorization until a decision is made.
• Length: a renewed authorization lasts two years, unless you qualify for long-term residence.
• Fee: form 790 code 052, section 2.2.1, payable within ten working days of filing.
• Decision time: three months. If you hear nothing in that time, the application can be treated as approved by administrative silence, and you can ask for a certificate confirming it.

Requirements for renewal include:

• Sufficient means for the renewal period, again without working.
• Continuous health insurance throughout the previous period and going forward.
• Schooling for children of compulsory school age.
• No criminal record.
• Real and effective residence in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year.

That last condition matters. The non-lucrative visa is for people who actually live in Spain, not for a winter base. Living in Spain for more than half the year also has tax consequences, covered in our guide to Spanish tax residency.

Common mistakes

• Planning to keep a remote job. It is not allowed on this visa.
• Buying a policy with copays or a coverage cap.
• Getting a state background check instead of an FBI check, or an apostille on a notary's signature instead of the FBI's.
• Letting the medical certificate or background check go stale before the appointment.
• Spending too little time in Spain to meet the 183-day renewal condition.

Common questions

How much money do I need for the Spain non-lucrative visa in 2026? The Spanish consulate in Washington sets the minimum at 400% of IPREM, which is 28,800 euros a year for the main applicant, plus 7,200 euros a year for each dependent family member.

Can I work remotely for a US company on the non-lucrative visa? No. The consulate states the visa does not allow any work or professional activity, including remote online work. Remote workers should look at the telework (digital nomad) visa.

How long does the non-lucrative residence last? The initial authorization lasts one year from the date you enter Spain. A renewal lasts two years, according to the Ministry of Inclusion's information sheets.

Do I need to live in Spain most of the year to renew? Yes. The renewal requirements include real and effective residence in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year.