Non-Lucrative Visa:
live in Spain, without working
The residence route for retirees and financially independent movers — prove sufficient means and private health cover, and live in Spain without a local employer. We prepare the application properly, from eligibility to the consulate.
How much income do you need for the NLV?
The threshold is set as a multiple of Spain's IPREM index (€600/month in 2026): 400% for the main applicant, plus 100% for each family member.
€28,800
per year — main applicant
400% of the monthly IPREM × 12. Shown as savings, passive income, pensions or a combination.
+€7,200
per year — each dependent
100% of IPREM per family member joining you (spouse, children).
One practical caveat we always flag: some consulates calculate the requirement on 14 IPREM payments instead of 12, which raises the figure to €33,600. The €28,800 figure is the regulatory standard — but we verify the criterion of your specific consulate before you apply, so there are no surprises at the appointment.
Basis: arts. 61–64 of the Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024) and the IPREM for 2026 (€600/month, frozen since 2023). Last reviewed June 2026 — IPREM figures and immigration rules change, and we confirm the current thresholds for your case before any application.
The four rules that decide NLV cases.
Buying a home no longer gives you residency
Spain's Golden Visa was repealed with effect from April 2025 — purchasing property no longer grants a residence permit. For most buyers who want to stay beyond tourist limits, the NLV is now the route: buy the home AND apply for the visa, as two coordinated steps.
Buying a property in Spain"Non-lucrative" means NO working — including remotely
The NLV does not allow gainful activity. If your plan is to keep working online for a foreign employer or your own clients, the visa designed for that is the Digital Nomad Visa — different requirements, different thresholds.
Digital Nomad Visa instead?Renewal requires real residence in Spain
Since the 2024 Immigration Regulation, renewing the NLV requires more than 183 days of effective residence in Spain per calendar year. If you plan to keep one foot in your home country, this rule — and its tax-residency consequences — needs planning from day one.
The tax side of movingPrivate health insurance, full coverage
You'll need private health insurance with full coverage in Spain, plus clean criminal records and medical certificates, all properly translated and apostilled. Most rejections we see come from paperwork details, not from the money.
From eligibility to the consulate.
From €1,200 + VAT — the final fee is confirmed after reviewing your situation, family members and country of application, before any work starts. Approval depends on the applicable legal requirements and the competent authority.
Initial eligibility review
Your personal situation, family members, country of application and intended move — reviewed before you spend anything on documents.
Document checklist + means & insurance guidance
Exactly what your consulate expects: financial means evidence, private health insurance documentation, criminal records, medical certificates, translations and apostilles.
Application strategy
How to present your means, when to file and at which consulate — including the 12-vs-14-payments criterion check.
We review the main documents before submission
The file is checked personally before it goes in. Most refusals are paperwork problems that were avoidable.
Consulate process guidance + follow-up
Practical support through the consulate stage and the preparation follow-up, until the decision.
What happens when you contact us
We review your enquiry, confirm whether we can help, explain the scope and fee, and you decide before we start.
- 1
Send your enquiry
Tell us what you are trying to do in Spain. You can contact us directly or use one of our tools first.
- 2
We review the context
One of our team reviews your message, service interest, location and any tool result you shared.
- 3
We clarify the next step
We may ask for more details, suggest a call, request documents or guide you to the right service.
- 4
We confirm scope and fee
If we can help, we explain what is included, what is not included and the fee before starting.
- 5
You decide
No automatic commitment. We only start once the engagement is confirmed.
No automatic commitment. We confirm the scope and fee before we start.
Tell us about your move.
Who is moving, what income or savings you can show, and when you'd like to be in Spain — with that we can tell you whether the NLV fits, what your consulate will expect, and the fixed fee.
Contact information:
Email: legal@expatabogados.com
Phone: +34 609 477 889
WhatsApp (messages only): +34 614 08 68 07