What income do I need for the Spain NLV in 2026?

The main applicant must demonstrate ≥ €2,400/month — 400% of the 2026 IPREM (€600/month). Add €600/month per dependant. The IPREM is fixed in the annual Real Decreto and is unchanged from 2025. Consulates assess on an annual basis, so most files show €28,800+ in proven savings or pension income.

Can I work in Spain on the NLV?

No — and this is the visa's defining restriction. The NLV strictly excludes any economic activity in Spain, whether employed or self-employed. Remote work for a foreign employer is in a grey zone many consulates increasingly refuse; if you need to work remotely, the Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route.

Has Spain's Golden Visa been eliminated?

Yes — the Golden Visa (investor residency) was repealed on 3 April 2025. The remaining self-funded long-stay routes for non-EU applicants are the NLV (passive income) and the Digital Nomad Visa (remote work).

Why does my NLV file get refused even when I meet 400% IPREM?

Spanish consulates apply discretion. The most common refusal grounds at exactly 400% IPREM are: pure-savings files with no income stream, health-insurance policies with co-payments or waiting periods, civil documents missing apostille or sworn translation, and motivation letters that read like Type C tourist letters. The €2,400 threshold is the legal floor — successful files usually clear it with a 50–100% buffer plus a clean motivation letter.

When and how do I get the TIE card?

Within 30 days of entry you must book the TIE biometrics appointment at the local Oficina de Extranjería. Bring your visa, passport, padrón certificate, and TIE form (EX-17). The physical card is typically issued 4–6 weeks after biometrics. You cannot leave Spain without a return-to-Spain authorisation until the TIE is issued.

Does NLV time count toward Spanish citizenship?

Yes. After 5 years of continuous legal residence (≥ 183 days/year), NLV holders may apply for permanent residency. Spanish citizenship by naturalisation requires 10 years of residence (2 years for Latin Americans, Filipinos, Andorrans, Equatorial Guineans, Portuguese, Sephardic Jews).

Can my non-EU spouse and children apply on the same NLV file?

Yes — the NLV supports family reunification at the initial filing when the income threshold covers the whole household (€2,400 + €600 per dependant). Each family member files their own forms; the main applicant's financial proof carries the family.

What's the difference between the NLV and the Digital Nomad Visa?

The NLV is for passive income, prohibits work in Spain, and references IPREM (€2,400/month threshold). The DNV is for active remote workers, permits work for foreign employers, and references SMI (~€2,762–€2,850/month threshold). DNV holders may have up to 20% of income from Spanish clients; NLV holders may not.

🇪🇸 Spain · NLV

Spain Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) — 2026 requirements

The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (Visado de Residencia No Lucrativa, NLV) is the national long-stay residence visa for non-EU nationals with sufficient passive income to live in Spain without working. It leads to a 1-year residence permit, renewable for two-year blocks, and opens permanent residency after 5 years.

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What is the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?

The NLV is governed by Article 46 of Royal Decree 557/2011. It is the Spanish equivalent of Portugal's D7 — a self-funded, non-working residence route built around the IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples) reference figure.

NLV holders may live anywhere in Spain, enrol dependants in the school system, access private healthcare under the visa's mandatory insurance policy, and travel freely within the Schengen Area. The defining restriction is that no economic activity may be carried out in Spain — neither employment nor self-employment.

Within 30 days of arrival you must apply for the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the local Oficina de Extranjería. Renewal at year 1 requires proof of having spent ≥ 183 days in Spain in the preceding year.

Financial requirements — 2026

Spanish consulates assess NLV financial means annually, not monthly. Most applicants show savings or a combination of pension + savings rather than a single monthly income stream. The IPREM is fixed in the annual Real Decreto and was held at €600/month for 2026.

Requirement	2026 figure
Main applicant	€2,400/month — 400% of the 2026 IPREM (€600/month) Source: BOE — Real Decreto IPREM 2026
Per dependant	+€600/month (100% of IPREM) Source: BOE — Real Decreto IPREM 2026; consular guidance
Annualised proof	≥ €28,800 main + €7,200 per dependant — typically shown as savings Source: Consular practice — first-year proof is annual, not monthly
Recommended buffer Reference, not fixed minimum	Most successful files show 24 months of funds, not 12 — refusals frequently cite "insufficient" even at exactly 400% IPREM Source: Consulate practice — observed pattern, not codified

Required documents

National visa application form (Modelo) signed by every applicant ≥ 18
EX-01 form (Solicitud de autorización de residencia temporal no lucrativa)
Modelo 790 código 052 — visa fee payment receipt
Passport valid ≥ 1 year beyond entry, with 2 blank pages
One recent biometric photo (Spanish photo size)
Financial proof — bank statements, pension certificate, brokerage statements showing ≥ €28,800/year + €7,200/year per dependant
Private Spanish health insurance contract — full coverage, NO co-payments, repatriation, no waiting period, valid for ≥ 1 year
Criminal-record certificate from every country of residence in the last 5 years, apostilled and sworn-translated into Spanish
Medical certificate stating the applicant has no diseases under International Health Regulations 2005
Proof of accommodation — rental contract, property deed, or hotel reservation covering the entry period
Motivation letter (carta de motivación) explaining residence purpose, addressed to the consulate

The motivation / cover letter

The carta de motivación is required, not optional. Spanish consulates use it to assess whether your file matches the NLV's spirit — non-working passive residence in Spain. The letter must name Article 46 of RD 557/2011, state your income source, list your dependants and accommodation, and explicitly commit to not carrying out economic activity in Spain.

"Al Sr./Sra. Cónsul General de España: Por la presente solicito el visado de residencia no lucrativa al amparo del artículo 46 del Real Decreto 557/2011. Acredito ingresos mensuales pasivos de €3,180 procedentes de pensión privada de [Proveedor] y rendimientos de cartera de inversión, junto con €78,400 de ahorros disponibles en cuenta documentada. He contratado el seguro médico privado [Aseguradora — póliza Nº…] sin copagos y con cobertura completa en España, y he firmado un contrato de arrendamiento de 12 meses en [Dirección, España]. Me comprometo a no realizar actividad laboral ni profesional alguna en España y a solicitar el TIE en los 30 días siguientes a mi entrada."

SchengenDoc generates the full letter — sub-type, legal references, financial framing, accommodation paragraph and compliance commitment — from a 4-step form. See a full sample kit before you build yours.

Step-by-step application

1
Confirm your consulate jurisdiction
Spanish consulates are strict on jurisdiction. Apply at the consulate covering your legal residence — not your citizenship. US applicants resident in CA must apply at the Los Angeles consulate, not New York.
2
Compile and translate civil documents
Criminal-record certificates from every country of residence in the last 5 years must be apostilled in the issuing country and then sworn-translated into Spanish by a traductor jurado. Allow 6–8 weeks.
3
Buy compliant health insurance
The NLV health-insurance requirement is the single most common refusal trigger. The policy must have NO co-payments, NO waiting period, full coverage in Spain, repatriation, and be issued by an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. Travel insurance does not qualify.
4
Document your financial means
12 months of bank statements showing ≥ €28,800/year + €7,200 per dependant. Most successful files lean on savings + pension rather than pure savings; pure-savings files often face refusal even at exactly the IPREM threshold.
5
Book your consulate appointment
Appointment slots are scarce at many consulates (LA, NY, London). Book as soon as you have civil documents in hand; medical and financial proofs can be added closer to the date.
6
Enter Spain and apply for the TIE
On entry the NLV is valid for 90 days. You have 30 days from entry to book a TIE biometrics appointment at the Oficina de Extranjería. Bring empadronamiento (town-hall registration) certificate.
7
Maintain Spanish residence and renew
First-year renewal requires proof of ≥ 183 days in Spain in the preceding year and continued financial means. Renewal grants a 2-year card; the second renewal grants another 2 years; year 5 opens permanent residency.

What does the Spain long-stay kit cost?

Most Spain relocation consultants charge €900–€1,500 for a long-stay file. Lawyers in Spain typically charge more for the same paperwork stage. SchengenDoc generates the same document set — motivation letter, monthly stay plan, financial-means statement and country-specific checklist — for a flat fee.

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Spain NLV — FAQ

What income do I need for the Spain NLV in 2026?: The main applicant must demonstrate ≥ €2,400/month — 400% of the 2026 IPREM (€600/month). Add €600/month per dependant. The IPREM is fixed in the annual Real Decreto and is unchanged from 2025. Consulates assess on an annual basis, so most files show €28,800+ in proven savings or pension income.
Can I work in Spain on the NLV?: No — and this is the visa's defining restriction. The NLV strictly excludes any economic activity in Spain, whether employed or self-employed. Remote work for a foreign employer is in a grey zone many consulates increasingly refuse; if you need to work remotely, the Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route.
Has Spain's Golden Visa been eliminated?: Yes — the Golden Visa (investor residency) was repealed on 3 April 2025. The remaining self-funded long-stay routes for non-EU applicants are the NLV (passive income) and the Digital Nomad Visa (remote work).
Why does my NLV file get refused even when I meet 400% IPREM?: Spanish consulates apply discretion. The most common refusal grounds at exactly 400% IPREM are: pure-savings files with no income stream, health-insurance policies with co-payments or waiting periods, civil documents missing apostille or sworn translation, and motivation letters that read like Type C tourist letters. The €2,400 threshold is the legal floor — successful files usually clear it with a 50–100% buffer plus a clean motivation letter.
When and how do I get the TIE card?: Within 30 days of entry you must book the TIE biometrics appointment at the local Oficina de Extranjería. Bring your visa, passport, padrón certificate, and TIE form (EX-17). The physical card is typically issued 4–6 weeks after biometrics. You cannot leave Spain without a return-to-Spain authorisation until the TIE is issued.
Does NLV time count toward Spanish citizenship?: Yes. After 5 years of continuous legal residence (≥ 183 days/year), NLV holders may apply for permanent residency. Spanish citizenship by naturalisation requires 10 years of residence (2 years for Latin Americans, Filipinos, Andorrans, Equatorial Guineans, Portuguese, Sephardic Jews).
Can my non-EU spouse and children apply on the same NLV file?: Yes — the NLV supports family reunification at the initial filing when the income threshold covers the whole household (€2,400 + €600 per dependant). Each family member files their own forms; the main applicant's financial proof carries the family.
What's the difference between the NLV and the Digital Nomad Visa?: The NLV is for passive income, prohibits work in Spain, and references IPREM (€2,400/month threshold). The DNV is for active remote workers, permits work for foreign employers, and references SMI (~€2,762–€2,850/month threshold). DNV holders may have up to 20% of income from Spanish clients; NLV holders may not.

Compare other long-stay visas

Looking for a broader overview of all Spain long-stay sub-types? See the full Spain hub