Spain non-lucrative visa vs digital nomad visa: which one do you need to move to Valencia?

Passport, application form and coffee on a café table in a Valencia street

If you are moving to Valencia from the United States, the United Kingdom or anywhere else outside the European Union, you need a residence visa before you arrive. For almost everyone, the choice comes down to two: the Spain non-lucrative visa, for people who will not work, and the Spain digital nomad visa, for people who work remotely for companies outside Spain. The short answer: if you have a pension or passive income and will not work, apply for the non-lucrative visa; if you have a remote job or foreign clients, apply for the digital nomad visa.

This guide explains both in detail: who each one is for, the income you need to show, the documents, the fees, how to apply step by step, and what happens once you land in Valencia. Every figure is linked to its official source at the end.

A note before we start: Raíces Valencia does not process visas. You apply yourself at the Spanish consulate, or through a professional of your choice, and we can point you towards professionals who can help you with the application. Once you have your visa, you can count on our relocation services in Valencia for everything that comes next. Rules change; always confirm the details on your consulate's page before you apply.

Non-lucrative vs digital nomad visa at a glance

Non-lucrative visa (NLV)Digital nomad visa (DNV)
ForRetirees, people living on savings, pensions or passive incomeRemote employees and freelancers working for companies outside Spain
Can you work?No, not even remotelyYes, remotely; freelancers can bill Spanish clients up to 20% of their activity
Monthly income to prove2,400 euros (400% of IPREM)2,442 euros (200% of the minimum wage)
Per family member+600 euros a month+915.75 euros (first), +305.25 euros (each additional)
Where you applySpanish consulate for the place where you legally liveSpanish consulate, or online from inside Spain to the UGE-CE
Duration1 year, then 2 + 21-year visa, or 3-year permit if applied for in Spain
Legal decision time2 months (London) or 3 months (Manchester, Edinburgh, US consulates)10 days at the consulate; 20 days at the UGE-CE
US fee140 dollars (US citizens) + 13-dollar residence fee190 dollars (US citizens)

The income figures are the ones in force for 2026. They are tied to two Spanish indexes, the IPREM and the minimum wage, which can change every year.

The Spain non-lucrative visa

Who it is for

The non-lucrative visa (visado de residencia no lucrativa) lets you live in Spain without working. It is the usual route for retirees, early retirees, people living off savings, rental income or investments, and anyone taking a long career break. The key rule is in its name: you cannot carry out any work or professional activity in Spain, and consulates state explicitly that this visa does not allow teleworking.

How much money you need

You must prove, for the main applicant, 400% of the IPREM, Spain's public income index. The IPREM is 600 euros a month, so the requirement is 2,400 euros a month, or 28,800 euros a year. Each family member adds 100% of the IPREM: 600 euros a month, or 7,200 euros a year. A couple therefore needs 36,000 euros a year, and a couple with one child 43,200 euros. The Washington consulate puts the 2026 figure at about 32,000 dollars a year for one applicant.

You can prove it with regular income (pensions, annuities, rental income, dividends) or with savings covering the full year. Consulates typically ask for recent bank statements (Washington asks for the last three months, Edinburgh for twelve) and a bank certificate showing the balance on 31 December of the previous year and the average balance over the last year.

Documents for the non-lucrative visa

These are the documents the consulates list. Foreign documents must be apostilled and accompanied by a sworn translation into Spanish where required.

  1. National visa application form, completed and signed.
  2. Form EX-01 (application for the non-lucrative residence permit), completed and signed.
  3. Recent colour passport photo on a light background.
  4. Passport valid for at least one year, with two blank pages, issued less than ten years ago.
  5. Proof of residence in the consular district, for example a US driver's licence or state ID, or bills in your name in the UK.
  6. Proof of financial means, as above. If you are of working age, US consulates recommend a letter from your employer confirming you will stop working (Washington) or require it or a notarised statement that you will not work (Los Angeles); Edinburgh asks for your P45.
  7. Health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, covering everything the Spanish public system covers, for one year, with no co-payments, deductibles or waiting periods. Travel insurance is not accepted. UK state pensioners can use their registered S1 form instead (accepted by the London consulate).
  8. Criminal record certificate from every country where you have lived in the last five years, issued within the last six months and apostilled. In the UK only the ACRO police certificate is accepted; in the US only the FBI Identity History Summary, with a federal apostille from the Department of State.
  9. Medical certificate, issued within the last three months (UK) or 90 days (US), stating that you do not suffer from any disease that could have serious public health repercussions under the 2005 International Health Regulations. London only accepts certificates issued in the UK or in Spain.
  10. Fees: the visa fee plus the residence permit fee on form 790, code 052 (two signed copies, or paid online). In Los Angeles the visa fee is 140 dollars for US citizens and 106 dollars for other nationalities, plus 13 dollars for the residence permit; in the UK fees are set by reciprocity and paid in pounds, so check your consulate's current list.
  11. Recommended: some consulates suggest adding proof of accommodation. Washington advises a lease of at least three months signed by tenant and landlord, or a property title if you own a home in Spain.

For family members: the same documents plus marriage or birth certificates, or proof of a registered or stable partnership.

How to apply for the non-lucrative visa, step by step

  1. Find your consulate. You apply at the Spanish consulate responsible for the place where you legally live. You cannot apply for it from Spain as a tourist.
  2. Gather the documents above. Order the criminal record and medical certificates last, because they expire after six and three months.
  3. Book the appointment. In the UK, London, Manchester and Edinburgh receive applications through their BLS visa centres (London: 20 St Andrew Street; Edinburgh: 6 Dock Place). In the US, Los Angeles, Washington and other consulates use BLS appointments; New York gives appointments by email at cog.nuevayork.visnac@maec.es.
  4. Apply in person and pay the fees. Each applicant must attend; parents apply for minors.
  5. Track your file. You receive a code to follow the status online on the consular procedures website.
  6. Wait for the decision. The legal term is two months in London and three months in Manchester, Edinburgh and the US consulates, and can be extended if they ask for more documents or an interview.
  7. Collect the visa in person within one month of being notified.
  8. Travel to Spain while the visa is valid. Validity depends on the consulate: 90 days in New York, Los Angeles and Manchester; one year in London, Edinburgh and Washington. Your one-year residence starts on the day you enter Spain.
  9. Apply for your residence card (TIE) within one month of arriving. More on this below.

If the visa is refused, you can appeal to the same consulate within one month.

Renewals and the 183-day rule

The first permit lasts one year. You then renew for two years, and again for two more. To renew, you must still meet the income and insurance requirements and have lived in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year. Spending more than 183 days a year in Spain also makes you a Spanish tax resident, so speak to a tax adviser who knows both systems before you move.

The Spain digital nomad visa

Who it is for

The digital nomad visa (visado de teletrabajo de carácter internacional) is for people who work remotely for companies located outside Spain. It covers both employees and freelancers.

Requirements

  • Income: 200% of the Spanish minimum wage, which means 2,442 euros a month, plus 915.75 euros for the first family member and 305.25 euros for each additional one. The minimum wage for 2026 is 1,221 euros a month.
  • Your employer or clients: the company must have been operating for at least one year, and your employment or professional relationship must have lasted at least three months before you apply and continue while you work from Spain. Employees need a letter from the company confirming their seniority, salary and explicit permission to work remotely from Spain.
  • Qualifications: a university degree, vocational qualification or business school diploma, or at least three years of professional experience in your field.
  • The 20% rule: freelancers can work for Spanish companies, as long as that work does not exceed 20% of their total professional activity.
  • Social security: UK applicants can stay in the UK system with an HMRC certificate (CA3822 for employees, CA3837 for the self-employed) or register in the Spanish system. US consulates ask for proof of registration in the Spanish Social Security system (your company's, or yours as self-employed), which requires a Spanish digital certificate or an authorised representative in Spain.
  • Criminal record for the last two years, plus a signed declaration covering the last five. Some consulates, such as Houston, ask for certificates covering five years.
  • Health insurance with an insurer authorised in Spain, unless you are covered by Spanish Social Security.
  • NIE: the London consulate requires you to obtain a NIE before applying.

Two ways to apply

From your home country, at the consulate. You get a visa valid for up to one year. The legal decision term is 10 days. The US fee is 190 dollars for US citizens. With this visa you can live in Spain without a residence card: the visa itself proves your residence, although you may apply for the card. Before it expires you can apply from Spain for a residence permit.

From inside Spain, to the UGE-CE. If you are already in Spain legally, for example within your 90 visa-free days, you can apply directly to the Unit for Large Companies and Strategic Groups (UGE-CE) for a residence permit of up to three years. You apply online, yourself or through a legal representative, using a Spanish digital certificate or Cl@ve, with application form MI-T and the fee on form 790, code 038. The law gives the UGE-CE 20 days from the electronic submission to decide, and if it does not answer in time the application is considered approved.

Taxes

Employees who move to Spain with the telework visa can opt into Spain's special tax regime for workers relocating to Spain, which applies a 24% rate to employment income up to 600,000 euros, provided they were not Spanish tax residents in the previous five years. It is an option, not automatic, and it has conditions. Confirm your eligibility with a tax adviser before relying on it.

Golden Visa Spain: closed since April 2025

Spain's Golden Visa, the residence permit for property investment, was abolished by Organic Law 1/2025. Since 3 April 2025 no new applications are accepted. Applications submitted before that date are resolved under the old rules, and existing permits remain valid for the period they were issued for.

Buying a home in Valencia is still perfectly possible, but it no longer gives you the right to live here. You need one of the visas above. If you are buying, our buyer's agent service represents only you, never the seller.

Other routes, in one line each

  • Partner of an EU citizen: if your spouse or registered partner is from an EU country, you do not need these visas; you apply for an EU family member residence card within three months of arriving.
  • Students: a student stay authorisation for courses in Spain.
  • Family reunification: for relatives of people already living legally in Spain.
  • Arraigo: residence based on ties to Spain, for people who have already lived here for some time.

After you land in Valencia: the residence card (TIE)

With the non-lucrative visa, you must apply in person for your foreigner identity card (TIE) within one month of entering Spain. With the digital nomad visa issued by a consulate, the card is optional, because the visa itself proves your residence. If you obtain the three-year permit from the UGE-CE, you then apply for the card.

  1. Book an appointment on the Spanish public administration's online appointment system (cita previa de extranjería), choosing Valencia and the procedure for taking fingerprints for the card.
  2. Bring form EX-17, proof of payment of fee 790 code 012, your passport with the visa, and any other document listed on your appointment confirmation.
  3. Go to the appointment. In Valencia, cards are issued at the card office of the Patraix police station, Carrer dels Gremis 6.
  4. Collect the card when it is ready.

In parallel, you will register your address at the town hall (padrón), open a bank account and register with a health centre.

Once you have your visa: relocation to Valencia with Raíces

The visa is only the first step. What comes next is finding a home in a city where good flats go in 48 hours, getting your paperwork done in Spanish offices and settling in. That is our job. As a relocation service in Valencia, we work only for you:

  • Apartment search in Valencia: we search the whole market, visit flats for you, negotiate and check the contract. We charge one month's rent, only when you receive the keys. If a consulate recommends proof of accommodation, as Washington does, having a lease ready strengthens your application. See our apartment search service.
  • Paperwork on arrival: our immigration consultancy handles the residence card, padrón and bank appointments and goes with you.
  • Guidance before you arrive: we do not process visas, but we can point you towards professionals who can help you with the application.

See also our guides to the NIE, registering in Valencia and the complete guide to moving to Valencia from the UK. When you are ready, book an initial consultation.

Mistakes we see most often

  1. Planning to apply for the non-lucrative visa from Spain. It must be applied for at the consulate where you live.
  2. Working remotely on a non-lucrative visa. It is not allowed and can cost you the renewal.
  3. Using travel insurance or a policy with co-payments. Consulates reject them.
  4. Letting documents expire. Criminal record certificates are valid for six months and medical certificates for three.
  5. Getting a state or local police check instead of the FBI one in the US, or a Disclosure Scotland certificate instead of ACRO in Scotland.
  6. Missing the one-month TIE deadline with a non-lucrative visa.
  7. Forgetting the tax side. More than 183 days a year in Spain makes you a tax resident.

Official sources

Every figure in this article was checked against these official pages in September 2026:

This article is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Which visa do I need to move to Spain from the US or UK?

If you will not work in Spain and live on pensions, savings or passive income, you need the non-lucrative visa. If you work remotely for a company or clients outside Spain, you need the digital nomad visa. Both require proof of income, health insurance and a clean criminal record. The Golden Visa closed in April 2025.

How much money do I need for the Spain non-lucrative visa?

The main applicant must prove 400% of the IPREM index: 2,400 euros a month, or 28,800 euros a year. Each family member adds 600 euros a month, or 7,200 euros a year, so a couple needs 36,000 euros a year. Income can come from pensions, investments or savings covering the full year.

What are the Spain digital nomad visa income requirements?

You must earn at least 200% of the Spanish minimum wage: 2,442 euros a month. Add 915.75 euros for the first family member and 305.25 euros for each additional one. Your employer must have operated for at least a year, and you must have worked with them for at least three months.

Can I apply for the non-lucrative visa from inside Spain?

No. The non-lucrative visa must be requested at the Spanish consulate responsible for the place where you legally live, before you travel. The digital nomad route is different: if you are already in Spain legally, you can apply online to the UGE-CE for a permit of up to three years, decided within 20 days.

Can I work remotely on a Spanish non-lucrative visa?

No. The non-lucrative visa does not allow any work or professional activity in Spain, and consulates state that it does not allow teleworking for a foreign employer either. If you plan to keep working, apply for the digital nomad visa instead. Working on a non-lucrative permit can lead to the renewal being refused.

Do I need a residence card (TIE) with the digital nomad visa?

Not if your visa was issued by a consulate: the telework visa itself proves your legal residence for up to one year, and the card is optional. With the non-lucrative visa, the card is compulsory and you must apply within one month of entering Spain. With the three-year UGE-CE permit, you apply for the card after approval.

Can I live in Spain permanently if I buy a property?

No. Since April 2025, buying property no longer provides residency rights in Spain. You still need a visa, such as the non-lucrative or digital nomad visa. Owning a home helps prove accommodation for your application but does not replace it.