Residence in Spain without working
Non-Lucrative Residence in Spain
Live legally in Spain without carrying out employment or professional activity. Get legal assistance to review your financial means, health insurance, documentation and family situation before preparing your Non-Lucrative Residence application.
Non-working residence permit
What is the Non-Lucrative Residence in Spain?
The Non-Lucrative Residence authorisation allows qualifying non-EU nationals and eligible family members to reside in Spain without carrying out employment or professional activity.
It is commonly considered by people who have sufficient savings, passive income, pensions or other financial resources that allow them to support themselves in Spain without needing to work.
The initial authorisation is requested from outside Spain through the corresponding Spanish consular procedure and is processed together with the residence visa.
Who may apply?
Who is the Non-Lucrative Residence designed for?
The route may be appropriate for non-EU nationals who intend to establish their residence in Spain without depending on employment or professional income generated through work activity.
Financially independent applicants
Individuals with sufficient savings, investments, regular passive income or other financial resources to support their residence in Spain.
Retirees and pensioners
Applicants receiving pensions or other stable resources who want to establish residence in Spain without taking up employment.
Families relocating to Spain
The principal applicant may be accompanied by eligible family members when the relationship and additional financial requirements are demonstrated.
Requirements
Main requirements for Non-Lucrative Residence in Spain
The application should be reviewed as a whole, taking account of nationality, financial resources, health coverage, criminal-record documentation and family circumstances.
Non-EU applicant
The route applies to third-country nationals who are not covered by the EU citizen residence regime.
Sufficient financial means
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient resources to support themselves and their family for the requested residence period without working.
Health insurance
The applicant must have public or private health insurance contracted with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain.
Criminal-record requirements
Adult applicants must provide the applicable criminal-record documentation for the relevant previous residence period.
Medical certificate
A medical certificate must confirm that the applicant does not suffer from diseases that could have serious public-health repercussions under the applicable international health regulations.
Valid passport
The application requires a passport or travel document recognised as valid in Spain and meeting the applicable validity requirements.
No irregular stay in Spain
The applicant must satisfy the applicable immigration-status requirements and must not be in a situation that prevents the granting of the authorisation.
Application fees
The applicable administrative and visa fees must be paid as part of the procedure.
Financial requirement
How much money is required?
Spanish regulations calculate the minimum financial requirement using the IPREM. The principal applicant must demonstrate 400% of the monthly IPREM, plus 100% for each dependent family member.
For 2026, official Spanish consular information indicates €2,400 per month for the principal applicant and an additional €600 per month for each dependent family member.
Principal applicant
Indicative 2026 monthly minimum corresponding to 400% of the IPREM.
One-year reference
Approximate 12-month amount for the principal applicant based on the 2026 monthly threshold.
Each family member
Indicative additional monthly requirement corresponding to 100% of the IPREM for each dependent family member.
Per family member / year
Approximate additional 12-month reference for each accompanying dependent family member.
Work and professional activity
Can you work with a Non-Lucrative Residence permit?
Residence without employment or professional activity
The authorisation is specifically designed for people who can reside in Spain without needing to undertake work or professional activity.
Consider the Digital Nomad route
If your intention is to move to Spain while continuing to work remotely for foreign companies or clients, the international teleworking residence may be a more appropriate immigration route.
Documentation
Documents commonly required for Non-Lucrative Residence
The exact documentary requirements may vary according to the Spanish consular office, nationality, country of residence and the personal circumstances of the applicant.
Application & passport
Official application forms together with a valid passport and the identity documentation required by the consular procedure.
Financial evidence
Bank certificates, financial assets, regular income or other admissible evidence showing sufficient resources for the requested residence period.
Health insurance
Evidence of public or private health insurance contracted with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and meeting the applicable coverage requirements.
Criminal record certificate
Adult applicants must provide the criminal-record certificates required for the countries in which they have resided during the applicable previous period.
Medical certificate
A qualifying medical certificate confirming compliance with the public-health requirement applicable to the residence procedure.
Family documentation
Marriage, partnership, birth or dependency documents may be required when eligible family members apply together.
Apostille or legalisation
Foreign public documents may need to be apostilled or legalised before they can be accepted in the Spanish procedure.
Official translations
Documents issued in another language may need an official Spanish translation when required by the applicable procedure.
Family residence
Eligible family members may apply with you.
Family applications require proof of the qualifying relationship and sufficient financial resources for each accompanying relative.
Non-Lucrative Residence with family
Moving to Spain together
The Non-Lucrative Residence route can include eligible family members, provided that the family relationship and the applicable financial and documentary conditions are demonstrated.
Application process
How to apply for Non-Lucrative Residence in Spain
Eligibility review
Review your nationality, financial resources, health coverage, family circumstances and intended residence in Spain.
Prepare documentation
Collect the financial, criminal-record, medical, insurance and civil-status documents required for your application.
Consular application
Submit the initial residence and visa application through the competent Spanish consular office for your place of residence.
Enter Spain & obtain TIE
After approval and entry into Spain, complete the applicable residence formalities and apply for the Foreigner Identity Card within the required period.
Duration and residence
How long is Non-Lucrative Residence valid?
Initial year
The initial temporary non-lucrative residence authorisation is valid for one year, with validity beginning from the applicant’s entry into Spain.
Month for TIE
After entering Spain, the foreign national must generally apply personally for the Foreigner Identity Card within one month.
Long-term residence horizon
Continuous legal residence can contribute toward eligibility for long-term residence once the applicable legal requirements are met.
Immigration lawyer
Direct legal assistance with your Non-Lucrative Residence application
Your application is reviewed according to your actual financial situation, family circumstances and documentation rather than through a generic checklist.
How we can help
Prepare a clear and properly documented residence application
Non-Lucrative Residence applications depend heavily on financial evidence, health insurance, foreign documents and consistency between the applicant’s circumstances and the purpose of the permit.
Related immigration services
Other routes for living in Spain
Frequently asked questions
Non-Lucrative Residence Spain: common questions
It is a temporary residence authorisation for qualifying non-EU nationals who want to live in Spain without carrying out employment or professional activity and who have sufficient financial resources.
The principal applicant must demonstrate financial means equivalent to 400% of the monthly IPREM. In 2026, official Spanish consular information indicates €2,400 per month for the principal applicant, plus €600 per month for each dependent family member.
The Non-Lucrative Residence authorisation is designed to allow residence in Spain without carrying out employment or professional activity and does not itself constitute a work permit.
If your intention is to reside in Spain while actively working remotely, your circumstances should be reviewed carefully because the Non-Lucrative Residence is designed for residence without employment or professional activity. Spain’s Digital Nomad route may be more appropriate for qualifying remote workers.
Eligible family members may apply together with the principal applicant when the qualifying relationship is demonstrated and sufficient additional financial resources are available.
Applicants must have public or private health insurance contracted with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and meeting the applicable coverage requirements.
The initial Non-Lucrative Residence authorisation is generally requested from the applicant’s country of origin or legal residence through the competent Spanish consular procedure.
The initial temporary non-lucrative residence authorisation has a duration of one year, beginning from the applicant’s entry into Spain.
Foreign public documents generally must satisfy the applicable legalisation or Hague Apostille requirements and, where required, be translated into Spanish by an authorised translator.
After collecting the visa, the applicant must enter Spain within the visa’s validity period. Once in Spain, the Foreigner Identity Card must generally be requested personally within one month.
Planning to live in Spain without working?
Schedule an online consultation to review your financial means, health insurance, family situation and supporting documents before preparing your Non-Lucrative Residence application.