Spain Non-Lucrative Visa: Live in Spain on Savings or Income, Without Working
You want to live in Spain on money you already have, with no work in Spain. The non-lucrative visa asks for means of 400% of Spain's public income indicator, which is EUR 28,800 a year in 2026, and it bans all work, including remote work. It is an income-based route, not an investment.
A visa that says no to work
The Spanish non-lucrative visa bans every kind of work, including remote work for a foreign employer. Applicants who plan to work online from Spain find out after they sign an affidavit that says they will not.
What it looks like from the outside:
- An income rule tied to a public index that changes each year.
- A sworn statement that you will not work.
- Document rules that vary by consulate.
How it feels:
- You worry you will not meet the means rule.
- You fear signing an affidavit you cannot keep.
- You feel unsure what your consulate will accept.
You do not have to guess what your consulate wants
We know how hard it is to prepare a file when each consulate sets its own checklist. You want someone who has read the rule on the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays with you until the file is filed.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on this page is read from an official source and dated.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe you should know the rule, and your consulate, before you sign anything.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A residence route without an investment | You do not buy anything to qualify | You keep your capital liquid |
| Means of EUR 28,800 a year for you (2026) | You know the exact bar | You plan a real budget |
| EUR 7,200 more for each family member | You can add your family to the file | The people you worry about are covered together |
| A visa valid for 1 year | You enter Spain within the visa window and then take your card | You see the first step clearly |
| Rules set by Royal Decree 1155/2024 | You can check the legal basis | You decide on facts |
Where it takes you: a first one-year residence card in Spain, renewable. This is a residence permit, not a passport, and it does not allow work.
Is it right for you?
An honest answer before you move funds.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You can show means of at least EUR 28,800 a year for you and EUR 7,200 for each family member | You want to work in Spain, including remotely: the visa bans it |
| You can take out unlimited-coverage Spanish health insurance for a year | You cannot show regular means or savings |
| You can sign an affidavit that you will do no work in Spain, on site or remote | You want a route that needs no insurance with full cover |
| You can prepare a clean FBI-style record certificate with an Apostille | You want a passport soon: residence is the first step only |
Not sure Spain is the best fit? Compare all European routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.
What you need
You need means of 400% of IPREM, full health insurance, a clean record and a sworn statement that you will not work. The Washington consular district page lists the documents below, and other consulates can differ.
- The national visa application form, one recent photograph and a valid passport (at least one year of validity, two blank pages).
- Proof of means: bank statements for the last 3 months, bank certificates, proof of regular income and your latest tax return.
- Health insurance that covers all the risks of Spain's public health system, with unlimited coverage and no copayment, valid for one year. Travel insurance is not accepted.
- A notarised affidavit that you will not take on any lucrative work or professional activity, on site or remote, while in Spain.
- A medical certificate issued within 90 days of submission.
- A criminal record certificate (FBI check for US applicants) with a Hague Apostille, issued within 6 months.
- Proof of accommodation (advised): a lease of at least 3 months or a property deed.
- Forms EX 01 and 790-052, and the visa fee.
The routes and rules
The visa is one route with a means test that scales with your family. The 2026 figures come from the Spanish consular page for the Washington district.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Means for the main applicant | 400% of IPREM: EUR 28,800 a year in 2026 |
| Means for each family member | 100% of IPREM added: EUR 7,200 a year in 2026 |
| Work | Not allowed on this visa, including remote work |
| Visa validity | 1 year; you enter Spain in that period |
| First card | TIE valid for one year, renewable; apply within one month of entry |
| Legal basis | Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025 |
Who can be included. Family members can be added if you show the extra means for each of them. Requirements vary by consulate, so we check your district before we file.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
You pay no investment, and the government fees are small. Set them against the cost of a wrong start: a refused file and a lost year.
| Fee (from 1 January 2026, Washington district) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, most nationalities | USD 106 |
| Visa fee, US citizens | USD 140 |
| Visa fee, Canadian citizens | USD 789 |
| Residence permit fee | USD 13 |
Source: Embassy of Spain consular page, Washington district. Fees are revised quarterly and differ by consulate. Insurance, translations and professional fees are on top.
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your card.
- Step 1: Find your route. Use Find my program. You get a shortlist and a cost view for your family in a few minutes.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We qualify your case and check your means, insurance and certificates against your consulate's list. When your case is qualified, we bring in the right local partner, who guides the file.
- Step 3: Your card in hand. The consulate decides, you enter Spain within the visa window, and you apply for your TIE card within one month of entry.
The consular page states a decision period of 3 months, which may be extended. Consular steps can take up to 3 months after the file is forwarded.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: Embassy of Spain consular page (Washington district), Royal Decree 1155/2024.
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Means rule | 400% of IPREM for the applicant and 100% for each family member; the 2026 IPREM gives EUR 28,800 and EUR 7,200 a year |
| Legal basis | Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025 |
| Fees | From 1 January 2026, revised quarterly |
| Consulates | Requirements vary by consular district |
| Investment golden visa | Not covered on this page |
What could change: the IPREM figure each year, the fees each quarter and your consulate's checklist. What we do about it: we re-read the official pages before each update and show the date.
After you have the card
You keep the card by keeping your means, your insurance and your promise not to work. The first card is valid for one year and is renewable.
- After entry: apply for the TIE within one month.
- Insurance: keep the full-cover policy for the entire stay.
- Work: the visa is not a work permit and allows no work or professional activity, including online.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing guides while the rules shift. You hold a brochure, a number from one adviser that contradicts another, and no date on any of it.
Or your family has a card in Spain, your route is one that exists, and your file went in clean. You feel relieved, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Relieved: your family has a base in Europe
- Confident: you chose a route that exists today
- Protected: the people you worry about are covered
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Spain non-lucrative visa really cost?
There is no investment. You need means of EUR 28,800 a year for you and EUR 7,200 for each family member in 2026. At the Washington district the visa fee is USD 106 for most nationalities (USD 140 for US citizens and USD 789 for Canadian citizens) and the residence permit fee is USD 13, plus insurance, translations and professional fees.
How long does it take?
The consular page states a decision period of 3 months, which may be extended. Consular steps can take up to 3 months after the file is forwarded.
Will my application be approved?
No route promises approval, and we make no approval claims. What we control is the file: means that meet the rule, the right insurance and clean certificates. We tell you before you pay if your case does not fit.
What is the Spain non-lucrative visa?
The Spain non-lucrative visa is a residence visa for people who can live on their own means and will not work in Spain. Royal Decree 1155/2024 sets the rules, in force since 20 May 2025.
Can I work remotely from Spain on this visa?
No. The visa does not allow any work or professional activity, including remote online work, and you sign a notarised affidavit to that effect.
How much do I need to show?
In 2026, 400% of IPREM for you (EUR 28,800 a year) and 100% (EUR 7,200 a year) for each family member. Proof includes the last 3 months of bank statements and your latest tax return.
What insurance do I need?
A policy that covers all the risks of Spain’s public health system, with unlimited coverage, no copayment and a one-year term. Travel insurance is not accepted.
Does it lead to citizenship?
It is a residence route. Citizenship follows separate rules that this page does not cover.
Do all Spanish consulates ask for the same documents?
No. The requirements vary by consulate, so we check your district’s checklist before we file.
What if the rules change after I apply?
The IPREM figure and the fees change each year or quarter. The status box shows the date we last read the source.
Do you recommend where to live in Spain?
No. We explain what the official page requires and bring in a local partner when your case is qualified.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
