Residence permit in Spain for financially independent people
Passive income from €2,800/month, with no work in Spain.
- Pensioners
What Spain's residence permit for the financially independent is
Officially the permit is called residencia no lucrativa — “non-lucrative residence”. The name describes the substance: a person gets the right to live in Spain provided they support themselves and their family without any employed or professional activity.
The funds requirement is tied to IPREM — the Spanish income indicator, which the state revises. For the applicant the figure is 400% of IPREM a month, and a further 100% for each family member.
Renewal follows the same logic: you have to evidence sufficient funds for the whole new period and, again, no employed or professional activity.
Residence permit in Spain: comparing the options
The difference is not the price — it is who each option suits. The “Best for” column is the business profile the option is built around.
| Option | Best for | Timeline | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa for Spain | Remote IT workers | 2–4 months | from $3,920 |
| Residence permit in Spain for financially independent peopleyou are here | Pensioners, people living on investment income | 3–6 months | from $4,370 |
| Residence permit in Spain through language courses | Those who need status in Spain for a year, those learning Spanish before applying for another status, families where the adults apply separately | 3–4 months | from $6,720 |
| Spain's start-up visa: a residence permit for entrepreneurs | Founders with a finished product or a prototype, teams of two founders, those who so far have only a business idea | 5–6 months | from $14,500 |
How a residence permit differs from citizenship by investment
A residence permit is the right to live in a country lawfully for a limited period, with renewal. It gives no passport, no vote, and is almost always tied to its basis: once the basis is gone, the status is not renewed.
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For a person that means three things. The status has to be maintained: keep the investment, the income or the home, and file for renewal on time. The status can be lost — for breaching the conditions or for spending too long outside the country. And the status does not convert into citizenship automatically: the naturalisation clock runs separately, and some programmes do not count towards it at all.
In return, a residence permit costs several times less than citizenship by investment and opens up what people most often take it for: lawful residence, a bank account, healthcare, school for the children and travel around the Schengen area.
How the permit for the financially independent differs from the remote worker's permit
Non-lucrative residence
This option- You may not work, either in Spain or remotely
- The funds requirement is 400% of IPREM plus 100% for each family member
- Suits those living on investment income, a pension or savings
Remote worker's residence
- You may work — for companies outside Spain
- Up to 20% of your professional activity may be for a Spanish client
- The basis is Law 28/2022
The choice between them is decided by the source of the income, not the amount: if it is earned income, non-lucrative residence does not fit.
What to do if the income comes from shareholdings in companies
This is where applicants get turned away. If the funds come from shares or holdings in Spanish, mixed or foreign companies located in Spain, a certificate from the company itself is required, stating that the applicant carries out no employed activity in it.
A sworn statement from the applicant to the same effect is attached to the certificate. So owning a holding is allowed, but drawing earned income through it is not.
What the service includes
| NIE | |
| Filing | |
| Support throughout | |
| Tax residency— billed separately |
Documents and programme requirements
- 1Passive income from €2,800/month
- 2Health insurance
How the process runs
3–6 months- Step 1We calculate the amount required: 400% of IPREM for the applicant plus 100% for each family member.
- Step 2We check the source of income: it must not be from employment or professional activity.
- Step 3If the income comes from shareholdings in companies, we obtain the company certificate and prepare a sworn statement.
- Step 4We arrange medical insurance and accommodation, and collect the certificates.
- Step 5We file the visa application at the consulate.
- Step 6Entry and issue of the residence card.
- Step 7Renewal — with evidence of funds for the new period.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work remotely on this residence permit?
How much money has to be evidenced?
Will income from my own company do?
What is needed for renewal?
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