Posted on: 14th October 2021

Guide to the Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa

For many years now, Britons have preferred to spend their summer in vacation spots in Spain. They like taking advantage of the country’s warm weather and world-class beaches. Despite Brexit, many Britons consider moving to a hotter country like Spain and building a new life there. The Golden Visa programme is one of the ways to make it happen; a cheaper way to get the right to reside in the country is the Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa.

What is the Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa?

The Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa is one of the best options for people who would like to move to the country without spending large sums of money in the process as required, for example, for the Golden Visa.

Applicants have to prove to Spanish authorities that they have sufficient income to support themselves and any dependents for the duration of the visa as they won’t be allowed to work in the country. The Non-Lucrative Residence Visa is one of the most popular that Spain has to offer with the Entrepreneur and the Work Visas following suit.

Applying for the Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa

The application process for the Non-Lucrative Visa is straightforward. However, it should be noted that preparing the right papers will take some of your time. If you wouldn’t like to lose time, we suggest you seek help and advice from experienced professionals who can relieve you from the stress of preparing the visa application and eliminate the possibility of a mistake.

Depending on the workload of the local Spanish embassy or consulate, arranging an appointment might take some time. Therefore, it would be best to arrange a meeting as early as possible if you don’t want delays that could jeopardise your plans. You can get in touch with the embassy or the consulate via phone or an online form so we suggest visiting the relevant website.

Spanish authorities will get in touch to arrange the day of the interview. On that day, you will have to submit the requested documents, give your biometrics and pay the non-refundable fee which starts from €80 and rises depending on your country of origin.

As you can see below, there are many supporting documents but it shouldn’t take much time to collect them. Failure to collect them would mean that your application would not be compliant with the set criteria.

How much savings do I need to apply for a Non-Lucrative Residence Visa?

Applicants should show that they have a monthly income of at least €2,260 (£1,922). For every dependent family member, you include in the application, the requested income increases by €565 (£480) per month. It should be noted that Spanish authorities require one month to examine the application.

What if my visa application is successful?

First of all, congratulations on the new life opportunity. If your application has been successful, you have 30 days to personally collect the visa and the NIE number from the consulate or embassy. Successful applicants have 90 days to travel to Spain. Once you arrive in Spain , you have 30 days to apply for your Foreigners’ Identity Card (TIE) in the Foreigner’s Office and complete your registration in the local municipality.

The visa gives you the right to stay in Spain for 105 days. Therefore, you will need to apply for your Non-Lucrative Residence Permit in Spain. The permit is initially issued with a validity of two years. If you have proof that you stayed in Spain for at least 12 months during these 2 years, you are eligible to apply for a 5-year Residence Permit. After these five years, Spanish law allows you to apply for a permanent residence permit.

Is there a conflict between the Golden and the Non-Lucrative Residence Visas?

The answer is no. On the contrary, any investments you make as a holder of the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa in Spain can be included in your Golden Visa application.

Who can assist me during the visa application process?

The answer is that our fully qualified and experienced team at Holborn is ready to help you with any questions you might have regarding your relocation to Spain. Whether it is a visa query or a matter of taxation, we have the necessary experience to give you the right advice and save you money and time.

Get in touch with us today, and one of our advisers will contact you as soon as possible to answer every question.