Spanish residence permit for financially independent persons

The Non-Lucrative Visa, formally the Autorización de residencia temporal sin actividad lucrativa, is a residence permit that does not authorise employment, self-employment or commercial activity in Spain. Applicants must show that they can support themselves through qualifying income or funds.

Real Decreto 1155/2024, which took effect on 20 May 2025, introduced a physical-presence condition relevant to renewal. This route is therefore intended for applicants planning to make Spain their main place of residence rather than keep the card without moving.

Spending more than 183 days a year in Spain will generally make the applicant a Spanish tax resident under Ley 35/2006. Worldwide income may then fall within Spanish taxation, so the tax position should be reviewed before applying.

The route may suit applicants who can support themselves without working in Spain and intend to live in the country.

The evidence must show that the applicant can support themselves without working in Spain. Employment, freelance and self-employment income do not fit this residence category.

Potentially qualifying sources include long-term rental income, dividends received without active management, interest on deposits, bond coupons and pensions. Each source should be supported by the relevant contracts, corporate records, bank or brokerage statements and tax documents.

Cryptocurrency proceeds can be difficult to rely on as regular passive income because their treatment and evidential value vary. Where converted funds form part of the applicant’s capital, the source, tax history and transfer into the banking system must be documented.

Applicants do not need to buy property. A long-term lease can be used together with evidence that the landlord owns the property. A buyer normally provides a Nota Simple from the Registro de la Propiedad; a tenant provides the lease and evidence of the required initial payments.

The accommodation should be suitable for the declared family composition and comply with the applicable local standards. The consulate may request additional property documents where necessary.

Housing documents generally need to be translated by a sworn translator authorised in Spain. Apostille or legalisation requirements depend on the country where each document was issued.

The application should show the required annual amount in accounts held in the applicant’s name. Balances from several personal accounts may be combined if each account is supported by statements covering the relevant period.

The account does not necessarily need to be in Spain, but the bank, statements and proposed transfer route must be acceptable to the consulate and any receiving institution. Acceptance varies by bank, jurisdiction and applicant profile.

Payments involving sanctioned or high-risk jurisdictions may face additional restrictions or evidence requests. The banking route should therefore be checked before the application and any property payment.

Several categories of family members may be included. Each additional dependant increases the financial requirement by 100% of IPREM, or €600 a month and €8,400 a year under the figures used in this guide.

The total period from the first application to receiving a TIE card is usually 4–8 months. The consulate processes the application for 1–3 months, and it takes another 1–2 months to issue the card after entry.

Applicants spending 183 or more days a year in Spain will generally become Spanish tax residents under Ley 35/2006. Spanish tax residence can bring worldwide income within the tax base, with progressive IRPF rates stated in this guide as 19–47%. The Beckham regime is not available solely on the basis of a Non-Lucrative Visa.

Modelo 720 is an information declaration of foreign assets on the Agencia Tributaria portal. Threshold: assets over €50,000 in each of three categories — bank accounts, real estate abroad, securities and shares in companies. The declaration is informational, but failure to provide it will result in significant fines.

Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio — wealth tax. Non-taxable minimum: €700,000 net assets plus €300,000 deduction for main residence. In Madrid and Andalusia there is a 100% regional discount. For gross assets over €2,000,000, Modelo 714 is required to be filed, even with zero tax. With net assets over €3.7 million, the Impuesto Temporal de Solidaridad de las Grandes Fortunas enters.