Table of contents
Spain’s non-lucrative visa lets you live in Spain without working, provided you have savings or passive income of at least €28,800 a year in 2026, plus €7,200 for each family member. You apply at the Spanish consulate for where you live, apply for a residence card within a month of arriving, and renew after a year, but the visa comes with two strict conditions: no work, which at least one US consulate extends to remote work, and enough time actually living in Spain to renew.
This guide covers the income test and where the figure comes from, the no-work rule, the documents for US and UK applicants, fees, the steps, renewal, family, taxes and the mistakes that cost people their permit.
Spain non-lucrative visa income requirement in 2026
You need 400% of IPREM for yourself and 100% for each family member, which is €2,400 a month or €28,800 a year for one person (Real Decreto 1155/2024, article 62). IPREM is a public index for benefits and thresholds; it has been €600 a month, €7,200 a year, since it was last set by the 2023 budget law (SEPE), and we found no 2026 figure replacing it.
| Household | Per month | Per year | About, in USD | About, in GBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One person | €2,400 | €28,800 | $32,236 | £24,112 |
| Couple | €3,000 | €36,000 | $40,296 | £30,140 |
| Couple and one child | €3,600 | €43,200 | $48,355 | £36,168 |
Conversions use the ECB reference rate of October 23, 2026; check the latest ECB rate before you apply.
The regulation accepts either enough money for the whole permit period or a regular income, so savings, pensions, rent and dividends can all count. Some sites print €43,200 for a couple; that’s the figure for a couple with one child.
A worked example: an early-retired British couple
Take a couple in their early sixties with workplace pensions of £2,200 a month between them and £60,000 in savings, moving before State Pension age. Their pensions come to about €2,628 a month at the October rate, below the €3,000 couple threshold. Their savings alone, about €71,700, exceed the €36,000 needed for the year, and the regulation accepts enough funds for the permit period, but whether a consulate will combine income and savings is something to confirm before applying.
The no-work rule, remote work included
The non-lucrative permit is for living in Spain “without carrying out work or professional activities” (article 61), in line with the Foreigners Act, and the means can’t depend on work. The regulation doesn’t mention remote work by name, but consulates do: Los Angeles says the visa “does not allow teleworking” (Los Angeles consulate), and London says applicants must not do gainful work without mentioning remote work specifically. Other consulates may word it differently, so treat remote work as excluded unless your consulate says otherwise.
Los Angeles also asks working-age applicants for proof that they’ve stopped working: a termination letter from an employer, or a notarised statement for the self-employed. If you want to keep working for clients abroad, Spain’s digital nomad visa is built for that.
After a year of residence you can switch to a work permit from inside Spain if you have a job offer that meets the conditions, under article 191 of the regulation, but you can’t simply start working.
Documents for US and UK applicants
The core list is set by the regulation; the details depend on your consulate. The Ministry’s information sheet sets out the general requirements.
| Document | US applicant (Los Angeles) | UK applicant (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record, last 5 years | FBI report, under 6 months old, federal apostille | ACRO certificate, under 6 months old, apostille and sworn translation |
| Medical certificate | Issued within 90 days, translated into Spanish | Issued within 3 months by a registered doctor |
| Health insurance | Spanish-authorised insurer, no copays, deductibles or waiting periods; travel insurance not accepted | Must cover all risks covered by Spain’s public system; an S1 registration is also accepted |
| Passport | Valid at least 1 year | Valid at least 1 year, under 10 years old, 2 blank pages |
| Proof of means | Bank statements, pension or investment income | Same |
Foreign documents generally need an apostille and a sworn Spanish translation unless they are already in Spanish. Other US consulates may word things differently, so download the list for the consulate covering your state; we couldn’t check Washington’s or New York’s pages.
What the non-lucrative visa costs
For one applicant, official fees come to about $140 or roughly £516 for the visa, plus €10.94 for the permit and €16.08 for the residence card.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, US citizens | $140 | Los Angeles, from January 1, 2026 |
| Visa, UK citizens | £516 | London fee list from January 1, 2026; confirm, as the list shows two lines for this visa |
| Permit fee (form 790, code 052) | €10.94 | €16.40 on renewal |
| Residence card (TIE) | €16.08 | €19.30 on renewal |
Visa fees are set by nationality, which is why British applicants pay far more (London fee list). Add apostilles, translations, a medical and health insurance for the year.
How to apply, step by step
- Check your means against the threshold for your household, with a margin for exchange rates.
- Buy health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain that meets your consulate’s terms.
- Order your criminal record and medical certificates so they’re under the age limits on the day you file.
- Get everything apostilled and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
- Apply in person at the consulate or its visa center for where you live; the visa application includes the residence permit.
- Wait for the decision. The immigration office has one month by law, but London quotes two months and Los Angeles three.
- Collect the visa, travel, and book your TIE appointment to apply for the card within a month of entering Spain.
Renewal, long-term residence and citizenship
The first permit lasts one year; each renewal lasts two years and needs more than 183 days a year of actual residence in Spain (articles 61 and 64). Apply in the two months before your permit expires, show your means again, and expect a decision within three months; if none arrives, the renewal counts as granted.
After five years of legal, continuous residence you can apply for long-term residence if you still have regular means and health insurance; absences of up to six months at a time, and ten in total, don’t break the five years. Spanish citizenship by residence takes ten years under article 22 of the Civil Code, or two for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal.
Bringing your family
Your spouse or registered or stable partner and minor children can be included, with €7,200 a year more for each (article 61). Partners need proof of at least a year living together unless you have children together, and adult children qualify only if they can’t support themselves because of disability or ill health. The regulation’s definition doesn’t include parents, though the Los Angeles page lists ascendants, so ask your consulate before planning around a parent.
Taxes once you live in Spain
Spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, or have your main economic interests there, and you’re a Spanish tax resident (Ley 35/2006, article 9). Since renewal requires more than 183 days in Spain, most non-lucrative visa holders become tax residents, so plan your tax position under the US or UK treaty before you move.
The Beckham regime, Spain’s flat-rate scheme for newcomers, depends on moving for a job, a directorship, a business or highly qualified work, so as we read article 93 it doesn’t fit a visa that bans work. Tax and pension questions specific to each nationality are covered in the US and UK relocation guides for Spain.
Non-lucrative visa claims that don’t hold up
- “A couple needs €43,200.” That’s the threshold for a couple with one child; a couple needs €36,000.
- “The golden visa is suspended.” It was abolished: the real-estate investor residence articles were emptied by Ley Orgánica 1/2025, in force from April 3, 2025 (BOE).
- “You can use the Beckham regime.” Its qualifying reasons all involve work, business or a directorship, which this visa rules out.
- “Remote work for foreign clients is fine.” The Los Angeles consulate says teleworking isn’t allowed.
Non-lucrative visa vs Portugal’s D7
Spain asks for far more than Portugal: €28,800 a year against about €11,000 for a single applicant on Portugal’s D7 visa. Spain’s permit bars work, while Portugal’s D7 permit lets holders work. Both can lead to permanent status after five years, and Spain’s permit renews for two years at a time and requires more than 183 days a year in the country.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to what applicants ask most.
How much money do I need for Spain’s non-lucrative visa?
€28,800 a year for one person in 2026, plus €7,200 for each family member: €36,000 for a couple.
Can I work remotely on a non-lucrative visa?
Not safely. The regulation bars work and professional activity, and the Los Angeles consulate says teleworking isn’t allowed; remote workers should look at the digital nomad visa.
How long does the non-lucrative visa last?
The first permit lasts one year and renewals two years each. After five years you can apply for long-term residence.
Does the non-lucrative visa need private health insurance?
Yes. Los Angeles requires a Spanish-authorised policy with no copays or deductibles; London also accepts a registered S1.
How long does the application take?
The law gives the immigration office one month, but consulates quote two to three months from filing.
Do I pay tax in Spain on a non-lucrative visa?
Usually, yes. Renewal needs more than 183 days a year in Spain, which also makes you a Spanish tax resident.
Spain’s non-lucrative visa suits people with solid passive income or savings who want to live in Spain full time without working: clear €28,800 a year with room to spare, stop working before you apply, and plan to spend most of each year in Spain so you can renew.
Sources
- Real Decreto 1155/2024 (Immigration Regulation), consolidated text
- Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (Foreigners Act)
- Information sheet 6: initial non-lucrative temporary residence
- IPREM annual amounts
- Non-lucrative residence visa (Los Angeles)
- Non-lucrative residence visa (London)
- Consular fees from 1 January 2026 (London)
- Fee form 790, code 052
- Immigration fees
- Ley 35/2006 (Personal Income Tax Act)
- Civil Code, article 22
- Ley Orgánica 1/2025
- Euro foreign exchange reference rates
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Immigration and tax rules change often and depend on your circumstances. Check the official sources above and speak to a licensed professional before you apply or move. Read how we research and review in our editorial guidelines.
Related guides
Cost of living in Spain: household spending, prices and bills in 2026
Retiring in Spain: five numbers that decide whether it works for you
Spain digital nomad visa: who qualifies, the 2026 income test and the Beckham tax option
Moving to Spain from the USA: visas, taxes in two countries, healthcare and driving
Moving to Spain from the UK: visas, healthcare, pensions and tax after Brexit