SpainTemporary residence permit without the right to work

Non-lucrative residence permit in Spain

The programme allows foreign nationals to live in Spain without carrying out employment or professional activity, provided they have sufficient financial means of their own. The permit is issued to third-country nationals with no criminal record who hold valid medical insurance. The visa is issued by the consulate on the basis of the documentation submitted and proof of income. The authorisation is valid for one year from entry into the country.

Visa term

1 year from the date of entry into Spain; the visa must be used within 3 months of issue.

Work

Employment and professional activity are not permitted.

Source: Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones — Hoja informativa 6

Who the programme suits

The programme is intended for foreign nationals who wish to live in Spain on their own means without working. Check whether you meet the core criteria.

Ideally suited to

Foreign nationals with a regular income or pension from their own country
People moving to Spain for the long term with their family
Pensioners with a sufficient level of income
Investors and business owners who will not work in Spain

Not suitable if you

Are an EU, EEA or Swiss national (different rules apply to you)
Have broken the law in Spain or in your countries of residence
Do not have sufficient regular income
Wish to work in Spain

When the programme will not suit

You are an EU, EEA or Swiss national

EU citizens live in Spain under simplified rules and do not need this type of authorisation

You have criminal convictions from the past five years

Wait until the five-year period has passed, or contact the consulate about your particular case

You wish to work in Spain

Consider work visa programmes or a residence permit that carries the right to work

You do not have sufficient financial means

Increase your savings or look at other residence programmes with lower thresholds

What it costs

Monthly income for a single applicant400% IPREM — published annually; the amount may change	1 260 EUR
Monthly income per dependant100% IPREM for each family member; added to the base requirement	315 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1 575 EUR

Paid separately

State processing fee — The official source states that the consulate handles the case but does not give the amount of the fee

Documents to gather

All foreign documents must be translated by a sworn translator and legalised through a consulate or apostilled.

Completed form EX-01 (the official application form)
Valid passport with at least one year remaining
Criminal record certificate (issued by the authorities of the country of origin)
Further criminal record certificates covering the past five years from every country of residence
Documents evidencing financial means (bank statement, investment certificate, pension documents)
Medical insurance documents (policy and confirmation that it is in force)
Medical certificate meeting international standards

How the process runs

The application starts at the consulate in your country of residence and ends at a local Spanish police station after entry.

1
Preparing the documents
2–4 weeks
Gather all the necessary documents, have them translated by a sworn translator and prepare them for legalisation or apostille. Make sure the passport has at least one year of validity remaining.
2
Lodging the application at the consulate
1 day
Attend the Spanish consulate in your country of residence. Submit the completed form EX-01 together with all the required documents. The consulate checks that the file is complete.
3
Examination by the competent authorities
a maximum of 1 month
The Spanish immigration authorities examine your application. If they do not reply within a month, this counts as a refusal (administrative silence). The decision is sent to you through the consulate.
4
Collecting the visa
1 month
After a favourable decision you have one month to collect the visa at the consulate. Once issued, the visa is valid for three months.
5
Entering Spain
3 months
You must enter Spain within three months of the visa being issued. The visa is stamped on entry.
6
Registration and issue of the foreigner card
1 month
Within one month of entry, apply for the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) at your local Policía Nacional station. This card is the main identification document.

Who you can bring with you

The applicant's family members may be included in the application, subject to certain conditions.

Spouse

Must apply together with the main applicant. A marriage certificate, passport, criminal record certificate and medical insurance in the spouse's name are required

Children below the set age

May be added as dependants. A birth certificate, each child's passport, a criminal record certificate and medical insurance for each are required

Other dependent family members

May be included on documentary proof of full financial dependence on the applicant. The relationship must be documented and the dependence evidenced

Renewal and the grace period

The temporary residence permit is valid for one year from entry into Spain. Once it expires you may apply to renew it or to obtain another type of authorisation (long-term residence or residence based on family reunification, for example). Renewal calls for up-to-date proof of financial means and medical insurance in force.

Frequently asked questions about Non-lucrative residence permit

Which foreign nationals may apply for this type of authorisation?

The authorisation is open to third-country nationals, that is, foreign nationals who are not citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals hold a different status in Spain and their residence is governed by other rules.

What level of financial means must be shown?

The applicant must show monthly financial means of four hundred per cent of the IPREM (the Spanish public income indicator) for their own maintenance. A further one hundred per cent of the IPREM is added for each dependent family member. The IPREM is set annually and index-linked. Means may be evidenced by a bank statement, an investment certificate, pension documents or other proof of regular income.

May I work under this authorisation?

No. The non-lucrative temporary residence permit (Residencia temporal no lucrativa) expressly carries no right to employment or professional activity in Spain. If you plan to work you need a different type of authorisation, such as a work visa or a residence permit carrying the right to work.

How long does the application take?

The competent authorities must decide on the application within a maximum of one month from the date the consulate receives the applicant's file. If no decision is taken within that period, the application is treated as refused (administrative silence). After a favourable decision you have one month to collect the visa at the consulate and then three months to enter Spain.

Do I need medical insurance?

Yes. Every applicant must hold valid medical insurance with an authorised Spanish insurer (private or public provider). This requirement is mandatory and the insurance documents must be produced with the application. The cover must remain in force for the whole period of stay under this authorisation.

What are the consequences of not producing a criminal record certificate?

The criminal record certificate (police certificate) is a mandatory document. Convictions from the past five years in Spain or in countries where you have lived may be grounds for refusing the authorisation. The certificate must be issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin and of every country of residence over the past five years.

Other ways to move to Spain

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Spain.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.