01What it is and who it is for
The non-lucrative residence permit (autorización de residencia temporal no lucrativa) lets you live in Spain without any employment or self-employed activity. It is designed for retirees, people living on investments, rental income or savings, and anyone who can support themselves and their family without a job in Spain. It is governed by articles 61 to 64 of Royal Decree 1155/2024, Spain's current immigration regulations, in force since 20 May 2025.
You apply for a residence visa at the Spanish consulate that covers the place where you legally live. That single application also triggers the residence permit, which is decided by the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) in the Spanish province where you plan to settle. Once the visa is issued you travel to Spain and, within one month, apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), the physical residence card.
Since Brexit this has become one of the most common routes for British nationals who want to retire or spend most of the year in Spain. It is also widely used by Americans, Canadians, Australians and Latin Americans with a stable income. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need it: they have their own system.
02Requirements
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03Documents
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04How we handle it online
- Case review
We go through your finances, family and plans by video call, calculate exactly how much you need to show and tell you whether the non-lucrative visa is the right route or whether another one, such as the digital nomad visa, fits better.
- Document check
You send us scanned documents. We check that bank letters, insurance and police certificates meet the consulate's standards and tell you what needs an apostille and a sworn translation.
- Consulate-ready file
We prepare the forms, a covering letter and an indexed bundle of documents, so you attend your consulate appointment with a complete application.
- Follow-up until approval
We deal with any requests for further information from the immigration office or the consulate and advise you on entering Spain and booking your TIE appointment.
- Renewals and changes from Spain
When renewal time comes, we file it electronically for you. If you later want to work, we look at switching to a residence and work permit.
05Timescales and validity
The immigration office has one month to decide on the permit once it receives the file from the consulate; silence means refusal. After a favourable decision the consulate has up to one month to issue the visa. The Consulate General in London states an overall legal period of about two months, longer if you are called for interview or asked for more documents. Once the visa is granted you must collect it within one month and enter Spain while it is valid.
The first permit lasts one year. You renew in the two months before it expires (or up to three months after, with a possible fine), and the renewal is granted for two years. To renew you must still have the income and insurance, have any school-age children in school and have lived in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year. Renewals are decided within three months; if there is no answer, the renewal is deemed granted.
After five years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term residence, which does allow you to work.
06Do I need to attend anything in person?
As a rule, the initial visa is lodged in person at the Spanish consulate or its visa application centre in the country where you live (in the UK, the Consulate General in London uses BLS International). A few consulates accept a representative or online filing, but that is the exception. We prepare the entire file for that appointment. Once in Spain, your fingerprints for the TIE are taken in person at a police station. Renewals and later changes are filed by us electronically, with no need for you to travel or book appointments.
07Common mistakes and reasons for refusal
- Calculating the means for the main applicant only and forgetting the extra 100% of IPREM per family member.
- Relying on income from work, including remote work for a foreign employer. That is what the digital nomad visa is for.
- Insurance with co-payments, waiting periods, coverage caps, travel-only cover or an insurer not authorised in Spain.
- Police certificates that are out of date, not apostilled or without a sworn translation.
- Applying at a consulate that does not cover your place of residence.
- Spending more than six months a year outside Spain and then being unable to renew.
08Frequently asked questions
Can I work on a non-lucrative visa?
No. Neither employed nor self-employed work is allowed, and that includes remote work for clients or employers abroad. After at least one year of residence you can apply to switch to a residence and work permit, provided you meet the requirements for that permit (a job offer or a self-employment project).
How much money do I need in 2026?
With the 2026 IPREM of €600 a month, the main applicant must show €2,400 a month, which is €28,800 for the first year. Add €600 a month (€7,200 a year) for each dependant, so a couple needs €36,000 a year. These are minimums and the consulate may look at your overall situation.
Can I apply from Spain while visiting as a tourist?
As a general rule, no. The non-lucrative permit is applied for as a visa at the consulate covering the country where you legally live. There are specific situations where it can be obtained without a visa, for example someone who stops being the family member of an EU or Spanish citizen and meets the requirements. We assess this case by case.
Can I bring my family?
Your spouse or registered or stable partner, your children under 18 and adult children with a disability or who cannot support themselves for health reasons. Parents are not on the list of family members for this permit, so they would need their own route.
Will I become a Spanish tax resident?
If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, generally yes, and renewal requires exactly that level of presence. Speak to a tax adviser about your pensions and investments before you apply.
As a British pensioner, can I use my S1 instead of private insurance?
The Spanish Consulate General in London accepts proof of S1 registration with Spanish Social Security as health cover for this visa. Other consulates may apply different criteria, so we check this for your specific case.
Does this lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
Yes. After five years you can apply for long-term residence. Non-lucrative residence counts as legal residence for Spanish nationality, which generally requires ten years (two for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal).
How long does it take?
By law, the immigration office has one month to decide on the permit once it receives the file from the consulate; silence means refusal. After a favourable decision, the consulate has up to one month to issue the visa. Some consulates, such as the Consulate General in London, state an overall period of about two months, longer if you are called for interview or asked for more documents. You also need to allow time to get an appointment, and once the visa is granted you have one month to collect it.
Do I need more money at renewal?
The monthly amount is the same: 400% of IPREM for you and 100% for each dependant, using the IPREM in force when you renew. What goes up is the total, because your means must cover the whole renewal period, which is two years: with the 2026 IPREM of €600 a month, that is €57,600 for the main applicant and €14,400 for each dependant. You must also have kept your health insurance, have any school-age children in school and have lived in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year.
Can my spouse work?
No. The regulations define non-lucrative residence as permission to live in Spain without any employed or self-employed activity, and that applies to the family members authorised with you. If your spouse or partner wants to work, they need a residence and work permit and must meet the requirements for it; the regulations allow that switch to be made from within Spain without a visa. We look at the right timing and route with you.
09Legal basis
- Royal Decree 1155/2024, articles 61, 62, 63 and 64 (non-lucrative temporary residence)
- Royal Decree 1155/2024, articles 26, 38 and 39 (residence visas)
- Royal Decree 1155/2024, article 191 (switching to a residence and work permit)
- Organic Law 4/2000, articles 25 bis and 31
Information reviewed on 03.10.2026 against the law in force. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for advice on your own case.