Visas

Non-lucrative Visa

One of the options for long-term stays in Spain is the non-lucrative visa. Note that this visa applies to non-EEA nationals only who wish to live in Spain without carrying out any work or professional activity for a Spanish company or employer.

It is one of the easiest visas to apply for (if you have sufficient funds) and a popular option for nonEEA nationals who wish to retire to Spain.

Like all visas, you should apply for it at a Spanish Consulate in your home country.

In this section, we look at the requirements for the non-lucrative visa in Spain and the practicalities of applying for it.

Yes, you must hold a valid residence permit in your country of residence in order to apply for this visa.

You should apply for it within 90 days of your planned date of arrival in Spain. When your visa application is approved, you have one month from the date of notification to collect it.

It’s generally better to apply for a non-lucrative visa in person.

However, if you have a justifiable reason, you may give power of representation via notarised authorisation to a third party to apply for the visa on your behalf.

Parents or legal guardians may apply for a non-lucrative visa if the visa applicant is under 18.

Do I have to collect the visa in person?
Yes, you do.

You need to prepare the following list of documents and present them to a Spanish Consulate:

  • The completed visa form – you can download it here.
  • A passport or travel document recognised by Spain. It should be valid for at least 12 months and contain a minimum of two blank pages. You also need to provide a copy of all the pages in your passport.
  • A passport photo.
  • If you are not a national of the country you currently live in, you need to show proof of a valid residence permit and provide a copy of it.
  • A certificate of criminal record issued by the country or countries where you have lived in the five years preceding your visa application. The certificate must have been issued within the last three months*.
  • A private health insurance policy with an insurance company with a licence to operate in Spain.
  • A medical certificate, issued by a medical centre in your home country or Spain and dated within three months of your visa application stating the following:
  • “This health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. (…) does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005.”*

Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself. In 2021, ‘sufficient funds’ were defined as having funds of at least €2,259.60 a month for a year (total €27,115.20).

  • If you are applying for dependents as well, you need to show proof that you have funds of at least €6,778.80 per dependent a year.

Yes, there is.

If your dependent is your spouse or partner, you need to provide your marriage or civil partnership certificate*. If your dependents are descendants, you need to provide their birth certificate*.

*These documents must be translated (sworn translation) and legalised through the consular representatives of the issuing country or carry the Hague Apostille unless they were issued by an EU member state.

You can provide proof in the following ways:

  • Original documents showing you receive regular income that makes the above financial minimum.
  • Original documents showing that you own assets that guarantee you receive the above financial minimum.

Note that if your income comes from shares in Spanish companies or any company based in Spain, you must prove that you do not carry out any employment at these companies and provide an affidavit to this effect.

Once you have the stamp for the non-lucrative visa in Spain in your passport, you have one month to enter Spain and apply for your Foreign Resident Card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at a national police station in your place of residence.

Digital Nomad Visa

Visa for foreigners who wish to carry out remote work or professional activities for companies located outside Spain through the exclusive use of computer, telematics, or telecommunication means.

Foreigners performing work on behalf of others can only work for companies located outside Spain.

Foreigners conducting self-employment activities (as freelancers) may also work for companies located in Spain, provided that the percentage of such work does not exceed 20% of their total activity.

To obtain this visa, it is necessary to have a graduate or postgraduate degree from prestigious universities, vocational training centres, or renowned business schools, or to demonstrate a minimum professional experience of three years.

The following family members of the teleworker can also obtain the visa:

  • Spouse or domestic partner.
  • Minor children and adult children who economically depend on the teleworker and have not formed their own family unit.
  • Dependent ascendants of the teleworker.

It is necessary to apply for a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE) at the same time as the visa application (see “Foreigner Identification Number”).

Required Documents

General (for international teleworkers and their family members):

    1. National visa application form. Each applicant or their representative must complete all sections of the visa application and sign it.
    2. Photograph. One recent colour passport-size photograph with a clear background, taken facing forward, without dark glasses, reflections, or garments that hide the face oval.
    3. Valid and current passport. Original and a photocopy of the page(s) with the biometric
      data of the passport. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
    4. Criminal record certificate. Applicants over the age of 18 must present the original and a copy of the criminal record certificate issued by the country or countries of residence in the last 2 years. Additionally, a responsible declaration of not having a criminal record in the last five years must be provided.
    5. Proof of residence in the consular district. The visa applicant must demonstrate their legal residence in the country where the application is being submitted.
    6. Identity and capacity proof of the representative. If the visa is applied for through a representative, a copy of the representative’s identity document or passport and the notarized power of attorney or document proving representation must be presented. The originals will be shown when submitting the application.
    7. Visa fee. Consult the visa fees here
    8. Health insurance: Original and a copy of the certificate of public or private health insurance contracted with an authorized insurance company to operate in Spain (the
      insurance company must be listed in the General Directorate of Insurance and Pension Funds of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism). The insurance must cover all risks insured by the public health system in Spain.

Note: It is not necessary to present health insurance if the coverage by the Spanish Social Security public system is proven. If an international Social Security agreement allows the insured teleworker from another country to carry out their activity in Spain, a certificate of coverage rights issued by the competent institution of the country in which the Social Security system is insured must be presented instead of health insurance.

Specific requirements for international teleworkers: Original and a copy of the following documents:

    1. Certificate from the company indicating:
      • For employed workers: the worker’s seniority in the company (which must be at least three months) and the company’s explicit authorization for the worker to work remotely.
      • For self-employed workers: the duration of the contractual relationship (which must be at least three months) and the terms and conditions under which the professional activity will be carried out remotely.
    2. Certificate from the Commercial Register (or equivalent organization in the country) reflecting the date of company establishment (which must be at least one year) and the type of activity it carries out.
    3. Responsible declaration (by the company or self-employed worker) stating the commitment to comply with social security obligations before starting the work or
      professional activity.
    4. For employed workers: evidence of the company’s registration with the Spanish Social Security system and evidence of the worker’s affiliation to the Social Security.
    5. For self-employed workers (freelance): evidence of affiliation to the RETA (self-employed workers’ regime).

Note: The requirement for registration with the Social Security can be replaced by the importation of rights from the country of origin if there is an international Social Security
agreement with Spain. In this case, the Social Security of the country of origin must issue a certificate of applicable legislation for teleworkers based on the agreement, providing temporary coverage in Spain. This circumstance should be included in the responsible declaration.

Important: Only some countries issue the mentioned coverage certificate for teleworkers. It is recommended to check international Social Security agreements and models of legislation certificates for bilateral agreements.

Documentation to prove economic resources:

    1. Teleworker: an amount representing 200% of the minimum wage (SMI) on a monthly basis.
    2. Teleworker’s family members: at least 75% of the SMI for the first re-aggregated person, and at least 25% of the SMI for each additional member.

To prove the mentioned amounts, any means of proof can be used (employment contract, firm job offer, or, in the case of professional activities, a commercial contract relevant to the work or professional activity to be performed, or others). The ownership, legality, and availability of the funds used as evidence must be demonstrated.

Documentation to prove academic qualifications or professional experience:

Original and a copy of the graduate or postgraduate degree from a prestigious university, vocational training institution, or renowned business school. Alternatively, documents that demonstrate a minimum professional experience of three years in functions similar to those of the position to be performed as an international teleworker. The experience must be equivalent to the required qualification and relevant to the performance of the authorized remote work or professional relationship.

For regulated professions, the necessary homologation of the degree required for the exercise of the profession must be proved.

If there are doubts about the equivalence of a vocational training degree in the Spanish educational system, the validation of the degree before the competent educational authority can be requested.

A visa for teleworking cannot be granted when the conditions of the application coincide with those of the intra-corporate transfer visa.

Specific requirements for international teleworker's family members:

  1. Documents proving the family relationship with the teleworker: birth or marriage certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as a domestic partner, or
    any other document proving the unregistered partnership relationship.
  2. For adult children, documents proving economic dependence and marital status of the child.
  3. For ascendants, documents proving that they are financially dependent on the teleworker.

Important: Information on the documentation submission procedure.

 To ensure an efficient processing of the visa application. You must:

  1. Submit all the required documents; otherwise the process may be delayed. Applications lacking essential documentation will not be accepted.
  2. In the event that any necessary document is not presented, a notification for pending documents will be raised. The required documents must be presented PHYSICALLY;
    documentation by email will not be accepted.

We appreciate your understanding and collaboration in this process.

Procedure:

This Consulate Office is authorized to accept visa applications from individuals residing in its consular jurisdiction.

  • Authorized applicants: The visa application must be submitted in person by the applicant or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. It can also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
  • Location of submission: The application is submitted in person at the Consulate Office. It is necessary to request an appointment through the website of BLS
    International. https://india.blsspainvisa.com
  • Proof of submission: The Consulate Office will provide the applicant with a receipt of the application with a code that allows checking the status of the procedure through the
    following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx
  • Rectification of the application: The Consulate Office may request the applicant to submit any missing documents or provide additional information necessary to process the
    application. The applicant may also be called for a personal interview.
  • Decision timeframe: The legal timeframe to make a decision is 10 days from the day following the date of submission of the application. However, this timeframe may be
    extended if additional documents are requested or an interview is scheduled.
  • Visa retrieval: The visa must be retrieved personally by the applicant or their representative without the need for an appointment within a maximum period of 1 month, starting from the day following the notification of a favourable resolution.
  • Visa denial: In the event of visa denial, the decision will always be notified in writing, with the reasons for the decision.
  • Appeals: In case of visa denial, the applicant can file an appeal for reconsideration with this Consulate Office within 1 month from the day following the date of notification of the denial. Alternatively, the applicant can file a contentious-administrative appeal with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within 2 months from the day following the date of notification of the visa denial or the rejection of the reconsideration appeal.
  • Visa validity: The visa is valid for 1 year or the same duration as the granted residence authorization provided it is less than 1 year. The visa certifies residence in Spain during its validity, and it is not necessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). However, the card can be requested from the Foreigners’ Office or the corresponding Police Station.

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