If you’re planning to spend extended time in Spain, you’ll need the right legal status in place. While buying property is straightforward, staying long-term isn’t automatic. This guide explains the main visa and residency options, who they suit and how the process works, so you can plan your move with confidence.
Most non-EU citizens who want to live in Spain need a long-stay visa. The most common options are the non-lucrative visa, which suits retirees or people with passive income, and the digital nomad visa, designed for remote workers employed by companies outside Spain. EU citizens can move to Spain more easily but must still register as residents if they plan to stay long-term.
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Contents
Visa and residency options for non-EU citizens
If you’re a UK, US or other non-EU national, you can visit Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This covers holidays, viewing trips and short stays – but if you’re hoping to spend longer in your home, you’ll need to apply for a visa.
Buying a property in Spain doesn’t automatically grant residency. However, having somewhere to live is a requirement if you plan to apply for one of the long-term visa options.
Non-lucrative visa (NLV)
This is the go-to option for most retirees. To qualify, you’ll need to show passive income – this can be from pensions, investments or rental income – totalling €28,800 per year as of 2025, plus €7,200 for each family member (i.e. €36,000 as a couple). Those numbers are based on the IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples), which is a kind of benchmark minimum wage. In 2025 the IPREM is €600 per month (€7,200 per annum), and for the NLV you must show an income of four times the IPREM, so €28,800.
You’ll also need private health insurance and a clean police record.
Previously, once your application was approved, your passport was stamped with a visa valid for just 90 days. That meant you had to travel to Spain within three months of receiving it. Since May 2025, the rules have changed – the visa now lasts for 12 months and is classed as multi-entry, giving you far more flexibility to plan your move.
The visa is valid for one year and after the first year, you can renew for two-year periods. To qualify for renewal, you must spend more than 183 days in Spain during your first year. After five years, you can apply for permanent residency.
Digital nomad visa
The digital nomad visa allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain while working remotely for companies outside the country.
While it shares some similarities with the non-lucrative visa, such as the requirement for a clean police record and private health insurance, the financial bar is set a bit higher. Instead of the passive income used for retirees, this visa is tied to the Spanish minimum wage. This means that as of late 2025, you’ll typically need to prove a monthly income of at least €2,763, with additional amounts required if you are bringing a partner or children along.
One of the biggest draws of this route is the “Beckham Law” tax regime, which allows you to pay a flat 24% tax on your earnings for your first few years in the sun. It is important to remember, however, that this tax break isn’t automatic – you must apply for it specifically within six months of arriving to avoid the standard progressive tax rates.
The permit is initially valid for three years and can be renewed.
Having a partner who is an EU resident
If your partner or spouse is an EU resident (this includes Irish passport holders), you may be eligible for a residency permit.
This route allows you to live and, in many cases, work in Spain by virtue of your relationship.
To qualify, you will need to provide proof of around €10,000 in a Spanish bank account, private health insurance and a marriage certificate translated into Spanish. You will also need to register at the town hall within 90 days of your arrival to make it legal.
Summary of the main visa types
| Visa type | Who it’s for | Key requirements | Length & renewal |
| Non-lucrative visa (NLV) | Retirees or those with passive income | €28,800 income/year + €7,200 per dependent, no working, police checks, private health insurance | 1 year initially, then renewable every 2 |
| Digital nomad visa | Remote workers for non-Spanish companies | Remote income of €33,156 income/year + around €12,432 for first dependent, police checks, private health insurance | 3 years initially, then renewable every 2 |
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Residency options for EU citizens
If you’re an EU citizen, it is relatively easy to become a Spanish resident. The process can be split into four simple steps:
- Register at your local town hall (Ayuntamiento) for a certificate (empadronamiento or “padrón”) that confirms you live in the area.
- Apply for the EU Certificate of Registration (Certificado de Registro) at the foreigners’ office or local police station.
- Provide supporting documents like your passport, proof of address, proof of income or employment and evidence of health cover.
- Get your NIE (Foreigner’s Identity Number), which is essential for opening a bank account, buying property and more.
Benefits of obtaining residency in Spain
Holding residency status in Spain opens up a number of practical benefits:
- Access to public healthcare: after one year, non-working residents can join Spain’s public health insurance scheme, the Convenio Especial, for a monthly fee.
- Tax-free personal imports: you can move your belongings to Spain without paying import duty or VAT on it – your removal firm can help with customs paperwork.
- Freedom of movement: residency allows you to travel freely within the Schengen zone.
- Pathway to permanent residency and citizenship: after five years you can apply for permanent residency and after 10 years you can apply for Spanish citizenship.
You can apply for citizenship after 10 years of legal residency
Obtaining permanent residency in Spain
After five consecutive years of legal residency, you can apply for long-term residency (formerly known as permanent residency). This allows you to live and work in Spain indefinitely, with the same rights as Spanish nationals.
Processing time is typically around three months, and once granted, the status never expires – although you will need to periodically renew your physical long-term residence card itself.
To qualify, you must:
- Have no criminal record
- Have lived in Spain legally for five consecutive years
- Be from a non-EU country
- Be residing legally at the time of application
- Those holding an EU Blue Card for five consecutive years may also qualify
If you’re thinking even longer-term, you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 10 years of continuous legal residency.
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FAQs about visas in Spain
Yes. Non-EU citizens must apply for a long-stay visa if they want to live in Spain for more than 90 days in any 180-day period. The most common options are the non-lucrative visa for retirees or people with passive income and the digital nomad visa for remote workers employed by companies outside Spain.
Non-EU citizens, including UK and US nationals, can stay in Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This allows for holidays, viewing trips or short stays. If you want to live in Spain for longer than this, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa before moving.
To qualify for the non-lucrative visa, applicants must show passive income of at least €28,800 per year, with an additional €7,200 required for each dependent. These figures are based on the IPREM income benchmark used by the Spanish government and may change slightly each year.
No. The non-lucrative visa does not allow you to work in Spain. It is designed for retirees or people with sufficient passive income from pensions, investments or rental property. Applicants must demonstrate they can support themselves financially without taking employment in Spain.
The digital nomad visa allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain while working remotely for companies outside the country. Applicants must prove a minimum monthly income tied to Spain’s minimum wage, have private health insurance and pass background checks. The visa is typically granted for three years and can be renewed.
The length of Spanish residency depends on the visa you hold. A non-lucrative visa is initially valid for one year and can then be renewed for two-year periods. The digital nomad visa is usually granted for three years. After five years of legal residency, you can apply for long-term permanent residency.
No. Buying property in Spain does not automatically grant residency. However, owning a home can support a visa application because you must show you have accommodation in Spain. Most overseas buyers apply for a visa such as the non-lucrative visa or digital nomad visa if they want to stay long-term.
You can apply for permanent residency in Spain after five consecutive years of legal residency. Once granted, long-term residency allows you to live and work in Spain indefinitely. Processing times vary, but applications are typically reviewed within a few months.
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