The retirement visa, officially known as the Visado de Residencia No Lucrativa (Non-Lucrative Residence Visa or NLV), is a type of residence permit in Spain that enables you to have a legal residence in the country for 1 year (renewable).
This kind of visa does not allow you to work and is normally referred to as the retirement visa because it is made for people with enough financial means to come and enjoy the country without working.
Nevertheless, it allows you to convert into a work permit after the completion of the first year in the country with it.
Besides, it offers a great advantage: to include your partner and children in the same application, so that you can move to Spain with your family.
If you want to know the application process and the requirements, read below.
Can I work remotely with this visa?
No. The retirement visa prohibits any professional or work activity, paid or unpaid, whether it is carried out in Spain or remotely for a foreign employer or clients.
When you apply, you must sign a declaration stating that you will not carry out any lucrative activity during your stay, and this covers teleworking.
If your plan is to keep working remotely for a company or clients outside Spain while you live here, the visa you need is the digital nomad visa, not the non-lucrative or retirement visa.
Confusing the two is one of the most common mistakes applicants make, so make sure you pick the right route for your situation.
Who can apply for a retirement visa in Spain?
To apply for a non-lucrative visa, you need to be a foreigner from a country that is not in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
If you are a non-EU citizen not planning to work in Spain and have over 30.000€ in your bank account, you can obtain this permit.
Also, you can’t be residing in Spain illegally and must wish to stay in Spain for more than 90 days with no intention to work.
If that is the case, you can obtain this residency if you meet the list of requirements we explore in the next section.
Spain retirement visa requirements
The retirement visa or non-lucrative visa has some specific requirements that you must meet to apply for it, set out in the Reglamento de Extranjería approved by Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025.
These requirements are:
- Having sufficient means to maintain yourself for your stay in Spain. This is measured with the IPREM index. In particular, 400% of the IPREM annually for yourself (28,800€) and an additional 100% of the IPREM (7,200€) in case you are coming with an additional family member.
- Having medical insurance comparable to the health services in Spain, this is: a health insurance with no copayments, with full coverage, contracted with an insurance entity authorised to operate in Spain.
- Having proof of accommodation in Spain for the period of your stay.
- Don’t be a menace to peace and security.
- Don’t be inadmissible in any Schengen country.
- Pay the respective fee for the procedure (tasa 790/052).
How much income do you need to retire in Spain?
As we specified above, the amount of money required to retire in Spain is the same amount required to obtain the residency that allows you to stay in the country as a retiree, the retirement visa.
Hence, depending on whether you are coming alone or with a family member, the amount of money you need to prove is different.
If you are coming alone, you will need to have and demonstrate 400% of the IPREM, which under Real Decreto 1155/2024 equals 28,800€ annually and 2,400€ monthly.
If you are coming with someone, you will need to prove 100% of the IPREM per extra family member, which equals an additional 7,200€ annually and 600€ monthly.
Documents required for the Spanish retirement visa
Once you see that you meet all the requirements, it is time to prepare all the documents you will need to apply for your retirement visa.
- Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application. You can find the template here.
- The EX-01 form filed and signed.
- A passport-type photograph.
- Valid passport. Original and a photocopy.
- Proof of financial means. The applicant must submit the originals and a copy of the documents proving that they have sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of residing in Spain for the initial year of the residence permit.
- Proof of public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorised to operate in Spain.
- A medical certificate that states that you do not have any disease that can be a menace to public health.
- Criminal record certificate covering the last 5 years (from your country of origin and any country where you have resided during that period), issued no more than 3 months before your application date, legalised or apostilled per the Hague Convention, and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
- Proof of accommodation in Spain: a rental agreement, property deed, or a notarised invitation letter from a host if you are not renting or owning property yet.
- Visa and residence permit fees.
Now that you have all the documents, what should you do? Continue reading to get the answer.
How to apply for a retirement visa for Spain
After reading the information above, you should know what the retirement visa is, whether you can apply, and which documents you must present.
But where? How? What comes next? Let us show you the step-by-step guide of the application process for your retirement visa.
- First, you must go to the nearest Spanish consulate in your country of residence to apply for the visa. Here you must submit all the documents that we introduced above.
Once applied, the administration will have 1 month to give you an answer. Once they approve your visa, you have 3 months to come to Spain.
- Once in Spain, within one month, you should get your TIE (foreigner identity card).
- Also, once in Spain, you should register at your local town hall to get your empadronamiento (certificate of registered address), which you will need for the TIE appointment and for many other everyday procedures.
And that’s all. It seems simple; however, some retirement visas get denied because of very common mistakes related to the extensive list of documents you need to show. Make sure everything is correct before submitting your application. To do so, we recommend you contact an expert who can help you through the procedure.
If your application is denied, you are not without options: you can file a recurso de reposición (appeal for reconsideration) before the same consulate, or a recurso contencioso-administrativo before the courts, generally within one month of the denial.
Retirement visa validity and Renewal timeline
Here’s a quick overview of how the renewals and timelines in Spain under this visa work:
| Period | Validity |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Initial residence permit (1 year) |
| Years 2–3 | First renewal (2 years) |
| Years 4–5 | Second renewal (2 years) |
| Year 6+ | Eligible for permanent residency |
Associated costs
Applying for and maintaining a retirement visa involves several separate costs.
Amounts are set by the administration and can change from year to year, so always check the official portal before paying:
- Tasa 790/052 (residence authorisation fee, paid when you apply for the visa): amount varies by consulate and nationality. You can check and pay it through the official Tasa 052 form on the Sede Electrónica de las Administraciones Públicas.
- TIE issuance fee (paid once you are in Spain, to obtain your physical residence card): this is a separate charge from the visa fee above, managed through the Policía Nacional (model 790/012)
- Private medical insurance: cost varies depending on your age, provider and coverage; get a quote from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. Expect anything between 50 to 90€ per month.
- Apostille, sworn translation and legalisation fees: needed for your criminal record certificate and other foreign documents, cost depends on the country and the number of documents.
Where should you apply for the Spanish retirement visa?
Frequently asked questions about the retirement visa for Spain
Is there an age requirement for the Spanish retirement visa?
Can US citizens retire in Spain?
Can UK citizens retire in Spain after Brexit?
Can I buy property in Spain with a retirement visa?
Can the Spain retirement visa lead to permanent residency?
Yes, the retirement visa can lead to permanent residency. The first authorisation gives you residency for one year, and the renewal of the NLV grants you residency for two more years at a time, as shown in the timeline above.
You can get your permanent residency after 5 years of legal residence in Spain. So, to get it, you will have to ask for the retirement visa and renew it two consecutive times. This will get you the eligibility for the NLV pathway to permanent residency.
If you have any doubts or want to apply for the retirement visa, our experts will be happy to help you. In immigration in Spain, we have experience with these proceedings. Don’t hesitate to contact us today!
Common reasons for retirement visa rejection
- Insufficient financial resources
- Not having the right health insurance
- Having criminal convictions
- Doubtful proof of housing or direct lack of accommodation
- Having unclear intentions
- Damaged or invalid passport
- Prior visa denials
