The Ultimate Guide to the Spanish Non Lucrative Visa
Are you interested in a long-term visa in Spain without a large real estate investment? Then the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa, which is also known as the Non-Profit Visa, may be the right choice for you.
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The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa allows you to stay in Spain if you are able to financially support yourself.
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The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa, AKA Non-Profit Visa, is the most efficient way to stay in Spain because there are no investment requirements. But with the Spanish non-lucrative visa you are not permitted to work for yourself or companies.
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The Spain non-lucrative visa is also nicknamed as the retirement visa since they are commonly used for retirees.
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The Spain non lucrative residence permit is essentially a permit to live in Spain without the right to work, and that you must be able to financially sustain yourself living on passive income, such as pensions, rent, or dividends.
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If this sounds like the right visa to you, keep reading to find out more information!
What is the Spain Non Lucrative Visa?
The Spanish non lucrative visa, also known as the non profit visa in Spain, is a long term residence permit in spain.
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With this type of residence permit you will not be allowed to perform any economic or professional activities in Spain.
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This is a very popular visa in Spain among expats who would like to live in Spain long term, more than 6 months out of the year, and can financially support themselves for at least one year.
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After the first year of having the residence permit, you will be able to renew it for another 2 years.
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Once those 2 years are complete you will be able to renew it again for another 2 years.
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And once those 2 years are complete, making it a total of 5 years in Spain, you will be able to apply for Spanish permanent residency, if you wish.
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With the Spain non lucrative visa, you will also be allowed to bring your family members with you. As long as you are able to provide the sufficient economic means to support you and your family.
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The economic means are based on a chart that gets updated every year.
This chart is known as IPREM.
What is IPREM?
When applying for a Non-Profit Residence, Spanish Immigration uses a calculation, literally called “the Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator” or Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples in Spanish (IPREM).
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For 2022, IPREM is:
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IPREM Mensual: €579.02 (monthly minimum income)
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IPREM Annual: €6,948.24 (annual minimum income, paid in 12 payments)
If you are applying for a Spain residence permit as an EU citizen, the general rule is that you have to prove you can economically support yourself with 100% IPREM, along with a percentage of this number applied to others who will be joining you on this residence permit.
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For non-EU citizens, you need to demonstrate proof of 400% IPREM with a 100% extra per additional applicant (spouse, child etc).
Why is Spain's Non lucrative Visa so Popular?
The Spain non lucrative visa, or non profit visa, is a very popular option for many people for the following reasons:
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it does not require a large real estate investment of at least 500,000€ like the Spanish Golden Visa requires
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this type of residence permit can lead to Spanish nationality if that is your end goal
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with the Spain non lucrative visa, you can free travel within the Schengen area, so long as it is less than 90 days
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this residence permit is a perfect option for people who would like to live in Spain with passive income - this means they can support themselves through a rental income, pensions, or dividends
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NOTE: many Spanish consulate are currently being very difficult in granting this residence permit if you intention is to continue working remotely.
We recommend that you contact our legal team and lawyers today for a free consultation so we can help you through the process. We speak fluent English.
What are the requirements of the Spanish non lucrative visa?
The largest requirement in receiving the non lucrative visa for Spain, or non profit visa, is being able to show financial means that you can support yourself and/or your family members.
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The Spanish government wants to ensure that if you are going to move to Spain, that you have the means to support yourself financially, and that you will not be turning to the Spanish government seeking financial assistance.
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The required amount of financial means is based on IPREM.
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IPREM is a chart, or indicator, that is used in Spain to determine the amount of financial means you will need to provide to support yourself, and your family members if they will be coming with you.
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Currently, in 2022 applicants must prove (at least 400% of the IPREM) that they are either receiving a passive income of about 2316€ as monthly income, or they must prove that they have savings in their bank account of at least 28000€.
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The more sufficient economic means you can demonstrate, the stronger your case will be for the non lucrative residency.
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And these amounts must be proven again when the residence permit is due for its renewal after the first year.
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However, if you are applying with family members, then in addition to demonstrating this amount, you will also need to prove an additional of about 7000€ per family member in order to quality for the spanish non lucrative visa.
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All the financial means must be submitted and demonstrated through the Euro currency.
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So your bank account must be submitted and you must receive a certificate validating its balance in Euros.
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In addition, you will need to demonstrate your bank accounts dating back to at least 6 months.
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The Spanish government wants to ensure that you have been able to sustain the required amount of money in your bank account for a long duration.
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Additionally, you will need documents that prove and support your monthly income. Such as proof of investment, whether it be a rental agreement that proves how much monthly income you will be receiving from rent. Or other means of passive monthly income.
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Also, the financial means that are saved in your bank account can also be demonstrated through multiple bank accounts, not all the money has to be in one bank account. The goal is to be able to prove that you have the sufficient economic means.
What Other Documents are Required During the Non Lucrative Visa Application Process?
The Spanish non lucrative visa is issued in increments of 1 year, then 2 years, then another 2 years.
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So we will be discussing what the required documents are upon applying for your first year.
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Visa Application Form
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The Spanish non lucrative visa application form must be filled out correctly with its respective information and signed. It is very important to fill out the information correctly, and to not leave anything incomplete - because you may risk voiding your application form due to errors.
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Our legal team and lawyers has helped hundreds of clients through the Spanish Non Lucrative Visa process, you can contact us for a free consultation. We speak fluent English.
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Passport Photo
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The required passport photo for the Spanish non lucrative visa is 3cm x 4cm.
It is very important that the applicant's complete face is visible, and that this photo is professionally taken with a white background.
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Travel Documents
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Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years. It cannot be expired nor older than this date.
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The applicant must have the original, and a photocopy of the passport biopage where all the information is.
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The applicant's passport must have at least 2 blank pages. These blank pages will be used to attach the new non lucrative visa.
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Police Clearance Certificate
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Applicants must be able to provide a clear criminal record from the country of origin. This document must be translated into spanish by a sworn translator.
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These criminal records must be provided from all the countries that the applicant has lived in for the last 5 years.
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Additionally, the criminal record document must be issued within 90 days of your appointment at the Spanish consulate or Spanish embassy for the Non lucrative visa.
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It is very important that you do not show up with certain documents and certificates that have passed the 90 days.
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This is also why it is very important to work with an expert legal team and lawyers so they can help ensure you of the timeline and expiration of your documents.
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Private Health Insurance
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One of the other required documents that you must show in applying for a Spanish non lucrative visa is that you have private health insurance.
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The Spanish government wants to ensure that if you come to live in Spain, that you will not become a burden on the Spanish government or medical system if you become ill.
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The health insurance policy that you elect, must be for at least one year, and they must be issued by private insurance companies that are registered and operate in spain.
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The insurance policy cannot have any copayments, it must ensure 100% coverage.
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Our legal team and lawyers have handpicked private health insurance companies that are the best in working with during your time in Spain. Through helping hundreds of applicants, we have been able to narrow down and provide the best options to our clients.
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Medical Certificate
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The appropriate form, non as the Ex-01 form, must be filled out by the applicant seeking the Spanish non lucrative visa.
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This form, along with a medical certificate must demonstrate that the applicant does not have any health problems that could potentially hinder them from entering Spain.
How to Apply for a Non Lucrative Visa?
This non lucrative visa should be applied to at least five weeks before deciding to come to Spain.
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The application process can take time. Especially with the long waits of receiving appointments from the Spanish consulate and Spanish embassy.
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However, you must make sure that the application process does not extend over 90 days (3 months). Because certain documents will begin to expire, which will invalidate your application process.
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The application form can be made through the Spanish embassy, or a legal expert, or lawyers, can help you through the process. Lawyers will ensure that you have a smooth process, and will help you in preparing the correct documents.
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The application form must begin from the applicant's country of origin. This means that tourists who have entered Spain cannot decide to begin the process for a non lucrative visa while they are in Spain. They must return to their country of origin and await processing.
Interview for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa
Having an interview at the Spanish embassy in the country of origin is an mandatory part of the application process.
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During this interview, applicants will meet with the visa consular at the Spanish embassy to review all the provided documents and to review the overall case.
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Also, during the interview, your biometric date will be recorded - such as a facial scan and fingerprints.
How to Renew the Spanish non lucrative visa?
After you have completed the first year of residence in Spain, you will have to renew your residence permit.
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The renewal will be for a period of two years this time, instead of one year.
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So since it is for two years, you will have to show double the financial means, unless you are receiving a monthly income.
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So based on the IPREM (at least 400% of the IPREM) amounts mentioned before, you will need to show double the amount of money in your savings account, depending on if you are renewing by yourself, or with family members. This amount depends on the number of family members.
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In addition, the non lucrative visa visa holder is also considered a tax resident in Spain at this time because they have spent more than 6 months in Spain.
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Thus making them liable to pay for income tax on their income, although it has been generated outside of the country.
What are the Benefits of Obtaining a Spanish Non Lucrative Visa?
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you do not need a large amount of money
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it is one of the fastest ways to obtain residency in Spain
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through the help of lawyers, it can be a very simple and easy process
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you can live in Spain all year long!
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you will be able to travel within the Schengen Area for 90 days
Frequently Asked Questions
If I apply for a Spanish non lucrative visa, do I have to live in Spain for a certain period of time?
Yes, at least for 6 months and 1 day - which is a minimum of 183 days.
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If you would like to be in Spain for less than this time, the Spanish Golden Visa may be a better option for you. The Golden Visa does not have a minimum number of days you need to be in Spain for - it only requires an entry into Spain for at least one day.
How much money do I need to apply for a Spain non lucrative visa?
This depends on the number of applications.
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If you are applying alone, you must demonstrate a monthly income of at least 2316€.
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Or that you have a savings of 28,000€.
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If you are applying with family members, this amount increases by about 7000€ per family member.
Do I become a tax resident in Spain with the non lucrative visa?
Since you will be living in Spain for more than 183 days (6 months and 1 day), you will officially become a tax resident in Spain.
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You will be required to pay income tax on your worldwide income.
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Our team of legal experts and lawyers in Spain can help assist you through this process. We speak fluent English.
What are the types of taxes in Spain?
To be a tax-resident in Spain, you must spend more than 183 days in the country during a calendar year or have your center of economic activities located there, if it is not stated otherwise in a tax treaty.
Tax-residents are subject to Personal Income Tax and pay income tax on their worldwide income.
PIT is levied at progressive rates by the state and each autonomous region. The lowest combined top marginal tax rate is 43.5% in Madrid (on annual income exceeding €60,000), and the highest is 48% in Catalonia (annual income exceeding €175,000.20) and Andalusia (annual income exceeding €120,000).
Savings income is taxed at progressive rates between 19% and 23%. This includes capital gains and investment income such as dividends and interests. Rental income is taxed at personal income tax general rates.
Non-residents are subject to Non-resident income tax at a flat rate of 24% on income from Spanish sources. If a non-resident is a resident within the EEA that has concluded a tax exchange of information agreement, he or she will be subject to a reduced rate of 19%. Regarding dividends, capital gains and interests, they are subject to a 19% tax, unless the tax rate is reduced under a tax treaty.
Spain has enacted extensive controlled foreign company (CFC) rules, under which income retained in a non-EU controlled foreign company may be attributable.
Municipalities levy a real property tax up to 1.3% on the cadastral value of property. Transfer of real properties, which are not subject to V.A.T., may be taxed at a 6% tax rate, although this may vary according to each autonomous region.
Inheritance and gift tax ranges from 7.65% to 34%, although it may be higher in some autonomous regions.
Net worth tax is levied at progressive rates between 0.2% to 2.5%. Each autonomous region sets its own minimum amount exempt and its own scale rates. Madrid does not levy net worth tax.
The V.A.T. standard rate is 21%. Certain goods and services are taxed at 10%, 4%, 0% or are exempt.
Regarding corporate taxation, resident entities are subject to 25% income tax on their worldwide income.
Can I work remotely in Spain with the Spanish non lucrative residence permit?
If I do not want to live in Spain for more than 6 months what should I do?
Since the Spain non lucrative visa requires you to stay in spain for more than 183 days, it may be wise to consider another residence permit in spain, such as the Golden Visa.
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Who should consider applying for the Spanish non lucrative residence permit?
This type of visa is especially attractive for:
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people who want to spend their retirement in Spain
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anyone who is born outside of Spain that has the necessary economic means to live in Spain without the need to work
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for those who plan to spend their first year in Spain without working and then return to work.
Summary of a Spanish non lucrative resident visa
If you wish to immigrate in Spain and you have sufficient income to support yourself and your dependents, you may apply for a Non-lucrative residence visa. This visa does not entitle you to work in Spain.
You must (prove at least 400% of the IPREM) have income of at least €28,000 annually, plus €7,000 per each additional family member. Income may be derived from investments, annuities, sabbaticals and any other sources of income.
The visa issued will have a validity of three months and fifteen days, with multiple entries and 90 days of stay in Spain. Within one month of your arrival in Spain, you must apply for a residence permit and a foreign national identity card.
The residence permit is usually issued for a period of 2 years, renewable, provided that you still meet the economic requirements and you have lived at least 183 days in Spain each year.
After 5 years of holding the temporary residence permit, you will be eligible for permanent residency.
The permanent residency will entitle you to live and work in Spain indefinitely.
After 10 years of legal residency (temporary or permanent) you may be eligible for naturalization. To become a Spanish citizen, you will be required to commit to renounce your previous nationality, have financial stability, no criminal record, attend an interview and prove your degree of integration into Spanish society, e.g. knowledge of Spanish language, culture, values and participation in Spanish social activities.
Note that nationals of the Philippines, Andorra, Spanish-American countries, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, as well as individuals with Jewish Sephardic origin, may be eligible for citizenship after two years of legal residency.
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Required Documents
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Not be in Spain with irregular immigration status.
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Be over 18 years old.
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Evidence of economic means sufficient to support your stay and, depending on the case, to support your family, during the length of stay you are applying for, without working.
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Negative criminal record issued in the last three months by the authorities of the country or countries where you have resided in the past 5 years.
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Medical insurance subscribed with a company legally entitled to operate in Spain.
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Notarized document explaining why you are requesting this visa, the purpose, the place and length of your stay in Spain and any other reasons you need to explain, with a certified translation into Spanish.
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Dual Citizenship
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Spain only recognizes dual citizenship for nationals who have acquired Spanish nationality at birth. Naturalized citizens must renounce their previous nationality, except those from countries with which Spain has concluded a double-nationality agreement.
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Currently, citizens of the following countries may become Spanish naturalized citizens, without giving up their previous nationality: Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Uruguay and Venezuela.
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Documents Required
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Original and photocopy of passport
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Medical Certificate
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Original Police Clearance Certificate
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Proof of income
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Evidence of Health Insurance
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Receipt of payment of fees
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Notarized document regarding purpose of stay
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