Non-Lucrative Visa · from United States
The Non-Lucrative Visa, from the US
The visa for living in Spain without working there — on savings, pensions, rental income or investments. A year to start, renewable in two-year steps, and the road to long-term residence.
Our service fee covers case management, document review, and included sworn translations only — apostille, government and consular fees are separate and paid directly by the client to the relevant authority or provider.
The NLV, In Numbers
Government thresholds, updated yearly — your case manager confirms the current figures before anything is filed.
You can support yourself from savings or passive income — around €2,400 a month (roughly $2,800, depending on the rate) or €28,800 in savings, plus €600 a month per family member — and won't be working inside Spain during your first year. The common route for retirees and anyone stepping back from work.
Is this your route?
- You're retiring, or stepping back from work, with pension, savings or investment income that clears the bar
- You have rental or dividend income that arrives whether or not you work
- You want a year in Spain first and a working permit later — the NLV can be modified from inside Spain
- You're moving as a family — one main applicant carries the application, each member adds €600 a month
What goes in the file
- Proof of income or savings, presented so the consulate sees the threshold met at a glance
- A criminal record certificate — the country-specific part below
- A medical certificate in the consulate's required wording
- Full private health insurance from a Spanish insurer, no co-payments
- Birth and marriage certificates for family applications, freshly issued and apostilled
The United States Part of the File
Whichever visa you pick, these are the documents and rules that are specific to applying from the US — and where files usually go wrong.
-
Your criminal record is the FBI check — with a federal apostille
Spain wants the FBI Identity History Summary, authenticated with an apostille from the US Department of State. State-level police certificates are not a substitute, and the apostille has to be on the FBI document itself.
-
The clock on that check is short, and it varies by consulate
Most consulates accept an FBI check up to six months old. Boston and Los Angeles work to five. Ordering it too early is one of the more expensive mistakes, because it takes the whole file with it.
-
The sworn translation must include the apostille
Every word of the certificate and of the apostille — including the back of it. A translation that stops at the front page is a rejection, and it is a common one. Sworn translations are included in our service fee.
-
Birth and marriage certificates come from the issuing state
Ordered fresh — consulates generally want them issued within six months — then apostilled by that state's Secretary of State, not by the federal government.
-
Your consulate is decided by where you live
Eight Spanish consulates cover the US, each with its own appointment system, financial evidence and paperwork. The table below is where most of the surprises live.
Where You File
What the Spanish consulates in the US typically ask of Non-Lucrative Visa applicants. Your case manager confirms the current requirements for yours before anything is filed.
| Consulate | Appointment | Bank statements | Criminal record age | Typical decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Via consulate (slow) | 12 months | 5 months | ~1 month |
| Chicago | Via BLS (good availability) | 3 months | 6 months | ~2 months |
| Houston | Via BLS (good availability) | 3 months | 6 months | ~1.5 months |
| Los Angeles | Via BLS (low availability) | 12 months | 5 months | ~3 months |
| Miami | Via BLS (moderate) | 12 months | 6 months | ~3 months |
| New York | Via consulate (or BLS) | 3 months | 6 months | ~1.5 months |
| San Francisco | Via consulate | 3 months | 6 months | ~1 month |
| Washington DC | Via BLS (moderate) | 3 months | 6 months | ~1.5 months |
Consulates change their requirements without notice, and several ask for things this table can't hold — notarised affidavits, recent tax returns in Spanish, proof of no mortgage, payment by money order rather than card. Treat this as orientation, not a checklist: the checklist your case manager builds is for your consulate, your visa and your household.
Manage Your Entire Visa Journey in One Place
Manage documents, track progress, communicate with your case manager, and stay organised throughout your application process.
-
Application Progress Tracking
See exactly where you are in the process, what's been completed, and what actions may be required next.
-
Secure Document Uploads
Upload and store your application documents securely in one central location.
-
Personalised Task List
Receive a checklist tailored to your visa type and application stage.
-
Direct Communication
Stay connected with your case manager and receive important updates through your dashboard.
-
Everything in One Place
Keep your documents, messages, tasks, and application progress organised in a single platform.
What our clients say
Real people, real results
Over 10,000 clients have used our platform to move to Spain. Read their stories — from first eligibility check to visa approval — all managed through the dashboard.
Ready to Start Your Journey to Spain?
Create your free account to check your eligibility, upload documents at your own pace, and track every step of your application — with a dedicated case manager beside you the whole way.
Success rate based on eligible applications.
Carlos is an AI assistant. For critical decisions, always verify with an official source or speak to an advisor.
