If you’re not a Spanish citizen and want to live in Spain, you have to obtain Spanish residency.  The process that you have to follow to get Spanish residency depends on your nationality, whether you are from an EU country, and if not, what you plan to do whilst you are a Spanish resident.

Nationals of member states of the European Union and Switzerland, as well as other countries party to the agreement on the European Economic Area, have an unconditional right to reside in Spain.  Nationals of countries aside from these, are able to gain residency based on achieving other qualifying conditions.

For someone planning to live long term in Spain, temporary Spanish residency is the first step towards getting permanent resident status, which can be applied for after 5 years. Thereafter if someone so wishes, they can apply for Spanish citizenship after completing 10 years of permanent residency in Spain.

British citizens / UK nationals now have to follow the same process as other non-EU national citizens of third countries to get Spanish residency, i.e. first obtain a visa.

The minimum income required for a British Citizen / UK national to obtain a residency visa, is a lot higher than it was to get residency before Brexit.  In most cases a single applicant needs to have at least €28k per year, whereas previously less than €7k income would have been sufficient.

You also have to obtain a police criminal check report, and medical certificates are also required for most visa applications.

The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa offers residency to British nationals who have the financial means to support themselves without working.  The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa scheme is therefore ideal if you are retired or have passive income, for example from a portfolio of properties or other investments.  The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa allows full-time residency in Spain with an expectation of a minimum of 6 months residence maintained.

What does the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa Offer UK British Nationals?

The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa gives permission to reside in Spain for up to 5 years, providing ongoing eligibility requirements continue to be met.  The TIE, tarjeta de identidad de extranjero is the residency card that is issued.  The TIE is initially valid for 1 year, and can be renewed twice for 2 years at a time.  When 5 years of full-time residency has been completed, permanent residency can be applied for.

A Visa for Full-Time Living in Spain

The Non-Lucrative Visa is intended for people who want to live in Spain full-time.   Time spent in Spain does not count towards the Schengen limit, so travel in the rest of the Schengen area up to 3 months out of 6 months, is also still possible.

Spouse or legal partner, children under 18 years and dependent ascendants can also obtain residency in Spain under the Non-Lucrative Visa scheme.  This of course providing there are sufficient financial means to support all applicants.

Unlike the ‘Golden Visa‘, there is a minimum amount of time that must be spent in Spain to be able to renew residency, so it may be not ideal for holiday home owners who want to spend more than 3 months in one go in Spain, but typically spend less than 6 months altogether, e.g. 5 months over the winter.

How does a British UK National Apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa & Residency?

British nationals who wish to get a Non-Lucrative Visa, must apply for it at the Spanish Consulate in the UK, or if they reside in another country, through the consulate of that country.  Once the visa has been approved, it’s valid for 90 days from the date of issue.  During this time the holder must travel to Spain and apply for their residency card or TIE tarjeta de identidad de extranjero.  The application for the TIE, must be made within 30 days of arrival in Spain.

Applications for the Non-Lucrative Visa cannot be presented by a legal representative and must be applied for in person.  There is an application fee of £516.

Summary of Non-Lucrative Visa General Requirements

The Non-Lucrative visa applicant must:

● Have a valid passport with at least 1 year before expiry
● Not have entered or stayed illegally in Spanish territory
● Not have been refused entry in any of the 26 Schengen countries
● Have sufficient financial means to cover personal and family living costs (€27,000 for the applicant plus €7,000 for each dependent family member)
● Be 18 years or over, with no criminal record in Spain nor in any countries where they have resided in the previous 5 years
● Have access to public healthcare, or private health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain

You can read more about the costs and requirements in our article Understanding the Requirements and Costs for British Nationals to Get Spanish Residency

FAQS About the Non-Lucrative Visa for Spanish Residency for British Nationals

CAN INCOME FROM MY BUSINESS OR SELF-EMPLOYED REMOTE WORK BE USED

No, the non-lucrative residency visa does not allow the holder to carry on any business activity whilst in Spain

CAN SAVINGS BE USED INSTEAD OF INCOME?

Savings may be taken into account in lieu of income, or to ‘top up’ a shortfall in the minimum required amount.  Savings must be sufficient to cover the minimum income requirement for the duration of the residency.  E.g. for 5 years residency with savings only requires savings of 5 times €27,000.

WHAT ABOUT TAX RESIDENCE?

Non-lucrative residency is intended for people that want to live in Spain for 6 months or more.  If the minimum amount of time has not been spent in Spain, the residency renewal may be turned down.  The 183 day rule is the starting measure for determining tax residency.  You are deemed to be a Spanish tax resident if you spend 183 days or more in Spain during any one calendar year.  You would also be deemed to have change your country of habitual residence, and therefore fiscal residence if for example you spent 180 days in Spain, 120 in the UK and the other 65 in another, or other countries.

DOES THE NON-LUCRATIVE VISA OFFER PERMANENT RESIDENCY?

Non-lucrative residency can lead to permanent residency in Spain.  To obtain permanent residency the holder of the visa must prove effective residence, (maximum of 10 months out of Spain), throughout a qualifying period of 5 years.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A NON-LUCRATIVE VISA AND TIE?

The Spanish Consulates in the UK give a timescale of 3 months.  From our experience over the last 2 years, we have found they typically take 3 to 6 weeks from date of submission to be approved.  However take twice as long over the summer months, and if applications have queries raised or additional information requested, then they will also of course take longer.

If you need more information or advice about getting a Non-Lucrative Visa for residency in Spain, or would like to employ the services of a professional company that specialises in Spanish residency visas, we’ll be glad to assist.  Please get in touch.

Get A Free Spanish Residency Visa Assessment

Phone/WhatsApp (+34) 951 77 55 44 / (+44) 033 000 10 777

To get an appointment to submit a Non-Lucrative Visa application at the Spanish Consulate in London, you must first send a request by email.

Attached to your request you must provide a sworn translation to Spanish of your Police Certificate (ACRO report).

Need help getting sworn translations?   Click here

Requesting an appointment to apply for Non-Lucrative Visa at the Spanish Consulate in London

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020.  The transition period that to negotiate future arrangements between EU and the UK ends on 31st December 2020, with a deal finally agreed at the last minute.

As of the end of the transition period, privileges enjoyed under EU freedom of movement come to an end.  British UK Nationals and their non-EU family members will be subject to all Spanish immigration rules for third-country (non-EU) nationals.

However, UK nationals and their family members who took up residency in Spain and other EU Member State before the end of the transition period in accordance with EU free movement law, will maintain their free movements rights after 31st December 2020.

As British Nationals will no longer be exempt from travel restrictions, new regulation will come into force on 1st January including the requirement to obtain Visa’s and possible travel bans.

The website for the Spanish Consulate in London notes:

Nationals of non-EU countries require a visa to enter Spain, if the stay is intended to be more than 90 days.  The Schengen visa in most cases cannot be used to apply for residency in Spain.

There is an exception when an immediate family member is joining a family member who already lives in Spain and holds Spanish residency.   In all other circumstances a citizen of a non-EU country must apply for, and obtain a long stay visa through the Spanish Embassy in their home country.

Since UK has now left the EU, UK citizens / British nationals also have to apply for a visa if they want to live or work in Spain.

Once the visa has been issued, the applicant can travel to Spain and apply for residency and get their TIE, ‘tarjeta de identidad de extranjero‘.

The following is a summary of the main types of long stay visas that citizens of non-EU countries can apply for.

Non-lucrative residence visa

The non lucrative residence visa is for those who have means to support themselves without working whilst residing in Spain.

The TIE, Tarjeta de Indentidad de Extranjero, is the Spanish identification card for citizens from third countries (non-EU) who reside in Spain.  As the UK is no longer in the EU British UK nationals also have to apply for this card to take up residency in Spain.

During the transition period the qualifying requirements for applicants e.g. for proof of means remained the same as they were when the UK was in the EU.  However from the 1st of January most British UK Nationals will need to obtain a long stay visa, before they can apply for residency and get their TIE, Tarjeta de Indentidad de Extranjero.

Read more about the Brexit Agreement and visas for British UK Nationals.

The process below is the procedure for applying for the Withdrawal Agreement TIE.  British UK Nationals could apply under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement up until the 31st December.  Thereafter the Withdrawal Agreement TIE is only available to holders of the green EU residency certificate, and immediate family members of those that already have Spanish residency.  It may possibly (not yet officially confirmed), be available to those who didn’t obtain residency documentation, who can prove that that they were otherwise legally residing in Spain, before 31st December 2020.

The TIE Application Process for British UK Nationals

There are two stages in the process.  In the first stage an application is presented to the Foreigners Office (extranjeria) in the province where you reside.  The second stage is completed at the National Police Station in the area that you live.

The initial application can be presented in person or by an authorised representative, and can be done face to face at the Foreigners Office, or submitted online.

In most places, you have to call the foreign office to make an appointment to present your application.

The online submission system is working well, and the Foreign Office are encouraging the use of this system.  To submit you application you need to have a digital signature and certificate in place.  If you don’t have one, you can authorise someone else or a company to complete the online submission on your behalf.

This is done using the ‘Designacion de Represenante‘ form.

First Stage TIE Application & Documentation Required

The wide variances that exists from one town to the next regarding documents for EU residency certificate applications, does not apply to TIE applications, as all applications are processed at the provincial head office not at the Police Station closest to where you live.  This makes it a lot easier to assess and prepare applications, and provides a lot more consistency.

Official translations of documents that are not in Spanish must be provided.

Additional documents to support your application

The Foreign Office when reviewing applications apart from checking that you qualify, are also looking to see that the applicant is actively living and present in Spain.  The list below taken from their request for further information on an application.  It is extensive and you may not be able to provide everything on the list, however the more you can provide, the higher chance you have of first time acceptance.

*receipts of transactions in Spain or showing in bank statements
*proof of attendance at medical consultations – dentist or doctors appointments/vet appointments
*contracts of any nature entered into in Spain 
*receipts for utility supplies (electricity, water, gas, telephone …)
*receipts for fixed or mobile telephony at your address in Spain
*documents from public or private entities that demonstrate having received a service in Spain 
*plane ticket/boarding card from entering Spain showing arrival in Spain
*entry stamp to Spain in passport
*documents showing relationship with public or private entities in Spain (e.g. clubs  associations, training centres, gym …)
*income tax returns in Spain 
*tenancy agreement
*shopping receipts

When your application is received, a receipt will be issued confirming that it has been presented.  It will then be reviewed accordingly at the foreigners office.  If for any reason your application is not immediately accepted, 10 business days will be given to supply any additional information that may have been asked for to continue with the application.

Notification of the approval of your application will be sent within 3 months, and you have one month to make an appointment and complete the second stage application at the National Police Station.

Second Stage TIE Application

The second stage application process is relatively straight forward, and appointments are readily available in most areas at the Foreigners Offices and National Police Stations.

For your second stage application you need to have a pre-booked appointment.

You can make an appointment through the following link:

https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/index.html

For your appointment you will need:

*EX23 application form
*Your first stage approval notice / existing EU residency Card and a copy
*Passport and a copy ( a copy of your passport and the application is acceptable if you are in the process of renewing it)
*Small passport (carnet size) photo 32mmx28mm
*Recent padron
*Modelo 790 form with €12 tax paid and stamped by the bank, or with payment receipt attached

When you present your application your fingerprints will be taken, and if everything else is in order, you will be given confirmation of your processed application and told to make an appointment to go back and collect you card in 3 weeks.

Your first TIE is valid for 5 years.  At the 5 year expiry of your TIE you can apply for a 10 year permanent residency TIE

The New TIE for British UK Nationals

Need a Hand Getting Your TIE?

British Citizen TIE Application Service

Call / WhatsApp

(+34) 951 77 55 44 / (+44) 033 0001 0777