🇪🇸 Spain · Type D
Spain long-stay visa documents — Spain national long-stay visa.
Spain offers two main self-funded long-stay routes today: the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) for retirees and passive-income residents, and the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers. Both require collecting your TIE residence card within 30 days of arrival.
Start your long-stay kit — $49Type D kit · flat fee · monthly stay plan included
Which long-stay category applies to you?
- Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Retirees, passive-income earners; no work in Spain
Financial means: €2,400/month (400% of IPREM) + €600/month per dependant- Private Spanish health insurance with no co-payments and full coverage.
- Criminal-record certificate apostilled and sworn-translated.
- Digital Nomad Visa
Remote workers and freelancers employed outside Spain
Financial means: €2,762–€2,850/month (200% of SMI — verify the current figure at exteriores.gob.es before applying)- Employer must have existed for ≥ 1 year and allow remote work.
- Freelancers: no more than 20% of income from Spanish clients.
- Student(Visado de estudios)
Enrolled in a Spanish university or accredited programme
Financial means: 100% of IPREM (~€600/month) - Family reunification
Joining a legal resident in Spain
Core requirements at the consulate
The list below is the baseline every Spain consulate expects. Sub-types add documents (employment contract, lease, bank statements, etc.).
| Passport validity | ≥ 1 year beyond entry, 2 blank pages |
|---|---|
| Photos | 1 recent biometric photo |
| Insurance | Private Spanish health insurance, full coverage, no co-payments |
| Accommodation | Rental contract or empadronamiento commitment |
| Criminal record | Apostilled + sworn-translated, < 90 days old |
| Medical certificate | Stating no diseases under IHR 2005 |
After you arrive in Spain
- 1Apply for the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the local Oficina de Extranjería within 30 days.
- 2Register at the town hall (empadronamiento) at your residence.
- 3Obtain an NIE (foreigner ID number) — issued with the TIE.
Official sources
Spain long-stay visa — FAQ
- Has Spain's Golden Visa been eliminated?
- Yes. Spain's Golden Visa (investor residency) was officially repealed in 2025. The remaining self-funded long-stay routes are the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa.
- What income do I need for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
- The threshold is 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI), which sits around €2,762–€2,850/month depending on the current SMI revision. Always verify the figure at exteriores.gob.es before applying — the SMI is updated annually.
- Can I work in Spain on a Non-Lucrative Visa?
- No. The NLV strictly excludes any economic activity in Spain. You can earn passive income (pensions, dividends, rental) from sources outside Spain. To work, choose the Digital Nomad Visa or a work-authorisation route.
- When do I get my TIE card?
- You must request the TIE appointment within 30 days of arrival at the Oficina de Extranjería. The physical card is typically issued 4–6 weeks after biometrics.
- Do I need a real flight ticket for the long-stay visa appointment?
- For long-stay applications, consulates focus primarily on your accommodation contract, financial evidence, and purpose documentation. A flight reservation is a supporting document only — a verifiable one-way or onward booking (live PNR) is sufficient; a paid non-refundable ticket is not required. Submitting unverifiable documents can trigger refusal on grounds of false or misleading documentation under the applicable national visa rules of the destination country. Best practice is a hold-the-fare or refundable booking kept live until the decision. The SchengenDoc kit produces the monthly stay plan sample that accompanies your file.