Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa: Income, Health Insurance and Renewal
The non-lucrative residence is the route for retirees and people living on savings or passive income. Here is the 2026 money test, the insurance rules and how renewal in Madrid works.
Spain’s non-lucrative visa (residencia no lucrativa) lets people live in Spain without working, on pensions, savings or passive income. As of November 2026 you must show 400% of the IPREM benchmark, €2,400 a month or €28,800 a year, plus €600 a month for each family member, and hold private health insurance with no copays.
Who is the non-lucrative visa for?
The permit suits retirees, people with rental or investment income and anyone who can support themselves without a job in Spain. It is a residence permit, so you are expected to live here: renewals check that you spent most of the year in Spain.
The key limit is work. Holders cannot work in Spain, as employees or self-employed, and the authorities generally read this to include remote work for foreign employers. If you plan to keep working online, look at Spain’s digital nomad residence instead.
How much money do you need?
The requirement is tied to the IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples), a public benchmark that has been frozen at €600 a month since 2023 because the state budget has been extended. As of November 2026:
| Person | Rule | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | 400% of IPREM | €2,400 | €28,800 |
| Each family member | 100% of IPREM | €600 | €7,200 |
| Couple | 500% of IPREM | €3,000 | €36,000 |
You can prove means with regular income (pensions, rents, dividends) or with savings that cover the whole year. Consulates differ in what they accept and how recent the bank statements must be, so read the list published by your consulate. If the IPREM changes with a new state budget, the amounts change too.
What health insurance do you need?
You need private health insurance from a company authorized to operate in Spain, covering the same risks as the public system. Consulates usually ask that the policy has no copays (sin copagos), no waiting periods (sin carencias) and covers repatriation, for at least the first year. Travel insurance is not enough. People entitled to public healthcare under an agreement, such as some pensioners, show that coverage instead. A comparison of local options is in private health insurance in Madrid.
How do you apply?
The first application is made at the Spanish consulate for your place of legal residence, not in Spain.
- Check the requirements page of your consulate on exteriores.gob.es.
- Prepare the national visa form, passport, photos, proof of means, insurance certificate, a criminal record certificate for the last five years and a medical certificate, with apostilles and official Spanish translations where required.
- Pay the residence fee on form 790 code 052 and the consular visa fee.
- Submit in person at the consulate. The authorization is decided by the immigration office of the province where you plan to live, then the consulate issues the visa.
- Travel to Spain while the visa is valid and, within one month of entry, book your fingerprints for the TIE card. See how to get the TIE card in Madrid.
The legal deadline for the consulate’s decision is generally one month, but timing in practice depends on the consulate.
How do you renew in Madrid?
The first permit lasts one year. Renewals are filed with the Oficina de Extranjería in Madrid, usually online, in the 60 days before expiry or up to 90 days after it (late renewals can bring a fine). You show again that you have the required means for the renewal period, health insurance and that you lived in Spain: spending more than six months outside Spain in a year is a usual reason for refusal. Under Real Decreto 1155/2024, renewals cover longer periods than the first permit; the resolution states the exact length.
How the online filing works is covered in the Oficina de Extranjería in Madrid.
How does it compare with the digital nomad route?
| Non-lucrative | Digital nomad (international teleworker) | |
|---|---|---|
| Work allowed | No | Yes, remote for foreign companies or clients |
| Income needed, single applicant | €2,400 a month (400% IPREM) | About €2,442 a month (200% SMI) |
| Apply from Spain | No, consulate only | Yes, with the UGE-CE, if staying legally |
| Health cover | Private, no copays | Public or private |
| Beckham tax regime | Not available | Available if conditions are met |
All amounts as of November 2026.
What about taxes?
Living in Spain more than 183 days a year usually makes you tax resident, which means Spanish income tax on your worldwide income, including pensions and investment income, subject to tax treaties. The Comunidad de Madrid applies a 100% relief on regional wealth tax, although the national solidarity tax on large fortunes can still apply to net wealth above €3 million. Talk to an asesor fiscal before you move, because the timing of the move affects your first tax year.
Bottom line
Price the insurance before anything else: a policy with no copays and no waiting periods costs more than a standard one, and some insurers limit cover for older applicants. Keep your bank records in Spain organized from the first month, since renewal asks you to prove both the money and your presence.
FAQ
Can I study with a non-lucrative permit?
Yes, studying is allowed, as long as it is not paid work.
Can I change to a work permit later?
Yes, a change of status to a work permit is possible after some time in Spain, under the conditions of the regulation.
Does a property in Spain count toward the income test?
Owning property does not replace income. Rental income from it can count.
Can my adult children join me?
Generally only dependent children qualify as family members. Adult children usually need their own permit.
