Spain’s non-lucrative visa for UK citizens

Who the visa is for

Spain’s Consulate General in London describes this as a visa to reside in Spain without carrying out any work or professional activity, provided you have sufficient and guaranteed means to live on. It says plainly that the visa is not a work permit.

The spouse or unmarried partner, dependent children and dependent relatives in the ascending line may also obtain the visa. Spanish consular guidance adds that it does not apply to citizens of EU or EEA states or Switzerland.

Law firms point out that income from employment, freelancing or remote work is not what this visa is designed around, and that people who plan to work remotely should look at Spain’s digital nomad visa instead.

The income requirement in 2026

The consulate’s formula is 400% of Spain’s IPREM (a public reference indicator) for the main applicant, plus 100% of IPREM for each family member in the applicant’s care. IPREM has been frozen at €600 a month since 2023, so the 2026 amounts are as follows.

Formula: Spanish consulate guidance. IPREM value: VidaCaixa and Bankinter, which both report it unchanged at €600 a month since 2023. The figure changes only if the government updates IPREM.

You can show income, savings or a mix, but each consulate sets out how it wants the money evidenced, including account history and where the funds come from. Follow your own consulate’s current checklist exactly.

Documents you will need

The consulate’s published list for the visa includes:

• the national visa application form;
• the EX-01 form for the non-working residence authorisation;
• a recent passport-style photograph;
• a passport valid for at least one year, with two blank pages, issued within the last ten years;
• proof of financial means, as above;
• proof of health insurance.

Consulate checklists usually add further items, such as a criminal record certificate and a medical certificate. The exact list and any translation or legalisation rules change, so use the current one for your consulate and do not rely on a summary, including this one.

Health insurance

Proof of health insurance is a required document. Applicants typically buy a full-coverage private policy valid in Spain, and law firms report that some consulates have specific expectations on co-payments and annual limits, so check before you buy.

The London consulate’s checklist also refers to registering an S1 form. If you will be receiving a UK State Pension, ask the consulate whether an S1 can serve as your health cover. Our healthcare guide explains the options.

How the process works

According to the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the application is made in person at the Spanish consular office covering where you live, or through an external service provider designated for that consulate.

1. Check your income and savings against the table above.
2. Get health insurance quotes that meet your consulate’s requirements.
3. Book an appointment and submit the full document set in person.
4. If the visa is granted, collect it within one month of notification. If you do not, the procedure is treated as abandoned.
5. Enter Spain within the visa’s validity, which is never more than three months.
6. Complete your registration for a residence card once you arrive, following the instructions that come with your visa.

Processing times vary by consulate. We do not publish a figure because we could not verify a reliable one.

Renewal and living in Spain

Summaries by Spanish immigration lawyers say the first non-lucrative permit lasts one year, and that a renewal is granted for two years. They also say that under Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 2025, renewal requires you to show you have effectively lived in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year.

That matters for tax too. Spending more than 183 days a year in Spain is one of the tests that normally makes you a Spanish tax resident, with tax on your worldwide income. Read our tax guide before you move.

The regulation itself is published in the Spanish official gazette (BOE). If your plans depend on the renewal rules, read the relevant articles or ask a Spanish immigration lawyer.

Common questions