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Non-Lucrative Residency Permit for Spain

Move to Spain.
Live the Life You Deserve.

Expert legal guidance for non-EU citizens who wish to reside in Spain without working. Personalised, one-to-one support from initial consultation through to your arrival and registration in Spain.

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10 Years in Spanish Immigration Law English, Spanish & German Service Barcelona-Based. All of Spain.
Meet Pina

A Short Introduction

A brief welcome from Pina Espinoza on the Non-Lucrative Residency Permit, and how Artemis Law can help you make the move to Spain.

The Non-Lucrative Residency Permit (Residencia No Lucrativa) allows non-EU citizens to live legally in Spain without engaging in paid employment. It is the established route for retirees, persons of independent means, and families seeking a new life in Spain, and it forms the foundation for long-term, permanent residency.

Eligibility

Is This Permit Right for You?

Available to citizens of any non-EU or non-EEA country who meet Spain's financial and documentation requirements.

🌞

Retirees & Pensioners

You receive a pension, annuity, or retirement income from abroad and wish to spend your years in Spain's climate without working locally.

📈

Persons of Independent Means

You have savings, investments, rental income, or other passive income that meets Spain's financial thresholds, and do not need local employment.

🏠

Families Relocating to Spain

You are moving with your partner and/or children for lifestyle, safety, or education, and have the financial means to support yourselves independently.

📚

Accompanying a Student

Your child is enrolled in a Spanish institution and you wish to remain in Spain with them throughout their studies as a resident.

Open to all non-EU & non-EEA nationalities, including British, Canadian, Australian, South African, Swiss, Norwegian, and citizens of all other non-EU countries. Following Brexit, British nationals are treated as non-EU citizens and are fully eligible. Your nationality does not affect eligibility; only your financial means and documentation do.
⚠️
This permit is not for remote workers or freelancers.The Non-Lucrative Permit is strictly for people who do not need to work at all. It prohibits any form of professional activity or income generation in Spain. If you work remotely, run a business, or freelance, this is not the right permit for you.
The Permit

What the Permit Provides

Granted under Spanish immigration law (Royal Decree 1155/2024), the Non-Lucrative Permit confers the legal right to reside in Spain without working. It is a temporary residence permit, renewable, and it serves as the foundation for permanent residency over time.

The permit is issued for an initial period of one year, then renewed for successive two-year periods. After five continuous years of legal residency, you may apply for permanent residency in Spain, provided you have not been outside Spain for more than 6 months in any year, or more than 10 months in total across the 5 years.

The application is submitted at the Spanish consulate in your country of current residence, meaning the process begins before you move. Artemis Law handles every stage of that process on your behalf.

Key Facts at a Glance

Permit typeTemporary residence permit
Initial duration1 year
Renewal period2 years each renewal
Work permitted?No, employment prohibited
Processing timeUp to 3 months (often faster)
Where to applySpanish consulate in your country
Minimum stay for renewal183 days per year in Spain
Path to permanent residencyAfter 5 years (stay conditions apply)
Documentation

Requirements

All documents from outside Spain must be apostilled and officially translated into Spanish. Artemis Law advises you on each document in detail.

€2,400
per month, main applicant
€600
per month, each additional family member
183
days per year minimum stay (for renewal)
1

Financial Proof

  • Proof of sufficient financial means, typically through recent bank statements
  • Pension certificates, investment income, or rental income may support your application
  • Exact documentation varies by consulate; Pina confirms precisely what yours requires
2

Identity & Civil Status

  • Valid passport with at least 1 year of remaining validity
  • Passport-style photographs to consulate specifications
  • Marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
  • Birth certificates for minor children (if applicable)
  • All documents apostilled and officially translated into Spanish
3

Private Health Insurance

  • Private health insurance policy valid throughout Spain
  • Policy must cover the entire duration of the permit
  • Must carry no co-payments or excess charges
  • Must be issued by an insurer authorised to operate in Spain
  • Comprehensive medical coverage required; travel insurance does not qualify
4

Criminal Record Certificate

  • Criminal record certificate covering recent years of residence
  • Accepted validity period depends on the consulate
  • Apostilled and officially translated into Spanish
5

Application Forms & Fees

  • Completed official application form (EX-01) for each applicant
  • Proof of payment of the consular application fee
  • Personal appointment at the relevant Spanish consulate or its corresponding BLS office
  • All family members applying jointly must submit individual documentation

Wondering if you qualify?

Book a consultation with Pina and get a clear answer on your eligibility for the Non-Lucrative Permit.

Book Your Consultation
How It Works

Our Process

From your first consultation to the day you register in Spain, Artemis Law guides you through every stage.

01

Initial Consultation

We begin with a thorough consultation to assess your circumstances, confirm your eligibility, and answer all your questions. You will leave with a clear picture of the full process, timeline, and what to prepare.

02

Personalised Document Checklist

Artemis Law provides a document checklist tailored specifically to your situation, with detailed guidance on how to gather each item, obtain apostilles, and arrange certified translations.

03

Document Review & Dossier Compilation

Once your documents are ready, Pina reviews the complete dossier to ensure everything meets the Spanish consulate's requirements. We address any gaps before submission to minimise the risk of refusal.

04

Consulate Appointment & Submission

We advise on scheduling your appointment at the correct Spanish consulate and prepare you fully for what to expect. Your application is submitted with a professionally compiled, complete dossier.

05

Monitoring & Communication

Processing typically takes up to three months. Artemis Law monitors progress and liaises with the consulate on your behalf if any queries arise.

06

Arrival, TIE Registration & Ongoing Support

Once your visa is approved, you travel to Spain and complete your registration for the Foreigner's Identity Card (TIE). Artemis Law assists with this final step so your residency is fully formalised from day one.

Your Legal Adviser

Why Work with Pina

Artemis Law is a boutique immigration law practice founded in September 2020, led personally by Pina Espinoza. Pina is a dual-qualified lawyer in both Spain and Germany, a rigorous legal education across two jurisdictions that took ten years to complete, and one that shapes the precision she brings to every application.

As a German national who has made Spain her home, and whose own family has been through the Spanish immigration process, Pina understands the journey her clients are on from personal experience. That empathy, combined with northern European standards of responsiveness and thoroughness, is what Artemis Law is built on. You work directly with Pina. When you contact Artemis Law, you speak with the lawyer who knows your case.

  • Dual-qualified lawyer in Spain and Germany, with 10 years in Spanish immigration law
  • Hundreds of successful Non-Lucrative Permit applications
  • Fluent in Spanish, English, and German
  • Based in Barcelona, serving all of Spain including the Balearic and Canary Islands
  • Kind, human, and easygoing: immigration law without the overwhelm
  • Personalised, one-to-one service on every case
Pina Espinoza
Pina Espinoza
Founder & Immigration Lawyer
★★★★★
5.0 · Google Reviews

"There Is No Lawyer More Eloquent Than the Heart."
Sylvain Maréchal, 1788

Client Experiences

What Clients Say

Trusted by clients from across the world, EU and non-EU alike, who have successfully relocated to Spain.

★★★★★

"Pina is the best immigration lawyer I have ever met. She is highly knowledgeable in her field of expertise and can navigate even the most complicated of immigration processes with great ease."

Verified client review
Google Reviews · 5.0
★★★★★

"Pina assisted me with my son's student visa to study abroad. She is an excellent communicator as exhibited by her timely responses and her thorough and clearly written emails."

Verified client review
Google Reviews · 5.0
★★★★★

Dozens of families and professionals have shared their experience of working with Pina. Read their reviews directly on Google.

Artemis Law on Google
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Our Fees

Transparent Pricing.
No Hidden Costs.

Artemis Law provides a personalised quote at the outset of every engagement. You will know precisely what the legal service costs before we begin, with no surprises.

Our fees reflect the expertise, time, and thoroughness that a successful application requires. We do not charge for services you do not need.

Please note that government fees, consular charges, apostille costs, and certified translation fees are separate from our legal service fee and vary by country of application.

Included in Our Legal Fee

  • Full eligibility assessment and strategic advice
  • Personalised document checklist tailored to your circumstances
  • Review and quality-check of every document before submission
  • Preparation and compilation of the complete application dossier
  • Guidance on consulate appointment and what to expect
  • Communication with the consulate on your behalf, where the consulate permits
  • Assistance with TIE registration upon arrival in Spain
  • Assistance with town hall registration (empadronamiento)
  • Advice on renewal requirements and timelines
  • Direct, personal access to Pina throughout the entire process

Ready to begin your move to Spain?

Book a consultation and we will map out the clearest path for you and your family.

Book Your Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

No. The Non-Lucrative Permit expressly prohibits any form of employment or professional activity in Spain. You may not work for a Spanish employer, operate as a self-employed person, or invoice Spanish clients. This permit is specifically designed for people who do not need to work: those living from savings, pensions, investments, rental income, or other passive sources. It is not a route for remote workers or freelancers who continue to generate earned income. If you need to work or run a business, a different permit category would apply.
Yes. Following Brexit, British nationals are treated as non-EU/non-EEA citizens for Spanish immigration purposes and are fully eligible to apply for the Non-Lucrative Permit. The process and requirements are identical to those for all other non-EU nationals. Artemis Law has assisted numerous British clients through this route since Brexit and is well-versed in the specific consulate requirements relevant to UK applicants.
Processing times are set by the Spanish consulate, not by us, and vary by location. The legal maximum is three months from the date of submission, though many applications are resolved sooner. The preparation phase, from your first consultation to submission, typically takes four to eight weeks, depending on how quickly documents can be gathered, apostilled, and translated.
No. The application is submitted at the Spanish consulate in your current country of residence, before you move to Spain. You will need to attend a personal appointment at the consulate, but all preparatory work is done remotely in close collaboration with Artemis Law. Once the visa is approved, you travel to Spain and complete your TIE registration in-country.
Yes. Your spouse or registered/stable partner and your minor children may apply jointly as family members under your application. Each family member requires their own supporting documentation. Under current Spanish regulations, adult children (unless they have a certified disability) and elderly parents are no longer eligible as dependants on a Non-Lucrative application.
The financial threshold is based on a multiple of Spain's IPREM (Public Income Index) and is reviewed periodically. The indicative figures are approximately €2,400 per month for the main applicant and €600 per month for each additional family member. These are reference figures; the consulate assesses your overall financial situation, including savings. Artemis Law will advise you on how to present your finances to best meet the consulate's requirements.
After completing one year on a Non-Lucrative Permit, it is possible to apply for a modification of your residency status to a work-related permit from within Spain, without leaving the country to restart the process. This is one of the practical advantages of the Non-Lucrative route as an entry point into long-term Spanish residency. Artemis Law can advise on this pathway when the time comes.
Spending more than 183 days per year in Spain generally triggers Spanish tax residency, which is also a requirement for renewing the Non-Lucrative Permit. Spanish tax residency has significant implications for your worldwide income and assets. Artemis Law specialises in immigration law and does not provide tax advice; we strongly recommend consulting a qualified Spanish tax adviser (asesor fiscal) as part of your relocation planning.
Get Started

Ready to Begin Your
Move to Spain?

Book a consultation with Pina to discuss your specific situation, confirm your eligibility, and receive a clear plan for your next steps.

Book Your Consultation
Emailpina.espinoza@artemislaw-europe.com
WhatsApp+34622677294
BaseBarcelona, Spain
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