Visa Guide
For retirees and those with passive income (cannot work)
What you need to earn
€28,800/year (€2,400/month) for the main applicant, 400% of the monthly IPREM (€600, unchanged since 2023)
How long it takes
- Processing Legal deadline: the consulate's file must be resolved within 1 month (silence = rejection). Actual end-to-end times are not published (estimate)
- Initial duration 1 year
- Renewals 2 years
- Total possible 5 years to long-term residency
What it gets you
- No work/education requirements
- Includes spouse and dependents
- Path to permanent residency after 5 years
- Live anywhere in Spain
The parts people miss
- CANNOT work in Spain (biggest restriction)
- Automatic tax resident (must file Spanish taxes on worldwide income)
- Renewal now requires more than 183 days of real, effective residence in Spain during the calendar year (new under RD 1155/2024)
- Some consulates expect higher/more stable income than the legal minimum
- Must prove housing BEFORE visa approval
- Not eligible for the Beckham regime, the regime requires a work-related move, which the NLV prohibits
Whether you can work
Cannot work in Spain at all
Figures current for 2026. Spanish income thresholds move each February with the minimum wage.
