If you’re hoping to retire to Spain from outside the European Union, one of the most accessible routes to residency is the Spanish non-lucrative residence visa (often referred to as the Ex-01 visa).
This visa is designed for those who want to enjoy life in Spain without working, and who can support themselves with passive income such as pensions, savings, or rental income. It allows you to live in Spain year-round, access healthcare, and build towards permanent residency. In this article, we’ll explore how the non-lucrative visa works in 2025, what documents you’ll need, how much income you need to qualify, and what to expect in terms of taxes, renewals, and long-term residency options.
The non-lucrative residence visa allows non-EU citizens to reside in Spain as long as they can financially support themselves without needing to work. You must apply for it from your home country—typically via your local Spanish consulate—and provide a range of documents to prove you meet the requirements.
Here’s what you’ll typically need to submit:
Check the Spanish consulate website for your region to download the correct forms and confirm the latest document requirements.
Legal residency in Spain for one year, renewable for two additional periods of two years each (as long as you continue to meet the financial and insurance criteria).
After five years of legal residency, you may apply for permanent residency.
You can enjoy your retirement in Spain without the pressure of employment, while accessing healthcare and building towards longer-term residency or even citizenship.
Holding a non-lucrative visa makes you a Spanish tax resident, meaning you must declare and pay taxes on your worldwide income. Here’s what that could look like in 2025:
Income Tax (IRPF):
Capital Gains Tax (on profits from the sale of assets):
Wealth Tax (IP): Ranges from 0.2% to 3.5% on net assets above €700,000, though this can vary by region.
You’ll also need to consider local taxes, including council tax, vehicle tax, and others depending on your circumstances.
For more details on your Spanish tax obligations, visit Spanish tax system explained: a comprehensive guide to how much tax you pay in Spain.
Yes. Spain now offers a Digital Nomad Visa, aimed at remote workers employed by companies outside Spain. If you’re still working remotely or running an international business, this may offer more flexibility than the non-lucrative visa.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Golden Visa, which granted residency through investment (often via property purchases of €500,000 or more), is due to end in April 2025. If you're considering this route, you’ll need to act quickly—or explore alternative visa options.
For retirees with stable passive income, the non-lucrative visa remains one of the most straightforward routes to Spanish residency. It provides the freedom to settle into a relaxed Spanish lifestyle, enjoy excellent healthcare, and potentially build towards permanent residency or citizenship.
📘 Pros & Cons of Retiring to Spain – Your Pension, Healthcare & More Explained
🧾 Download visa forms and requirements from your local Spanish consulate
💬 Still have questions? Share them in the comments or contact a legal advisor to guide you through the application process.
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07 Jan. 2023
Non-profit residence visa - As a married couple does each person have to have an income of E30,000? or can it be a combined income? Is this before or after UK tax? If we pay tax in Spain do we have to pay UK tax also?
25 Jan. 2023
I am looking to retire to Spain within the next year, My pension is around £18000, and I will have the proceeds of my house sale to purchase a Spanish property and around 200K to invest, will I meet the requirements for a residence visa? I will also be looking to complete a S1 form for transfer of healthcare, will this satisfy the visa requirements for health cover? I look forward to your reply. Kind regards. Dave W.
21 Mar. 2023
Hi Dave, you would need to use your pension and also show funds in your bank or other savings to prove you have the required income of approximately €30,000, this changes each year. For the S1 you can visit the gov.uk site 'Register your S1 form in Spain online', you will need to have your residence card. Thank you for your questions.
25 Jan. 2023
Hi, My wife has her UK state pension but I do not get mine for another 5 years. However we have a good level of savings and the proceeds from selling our house in the UK. Therefore we do not have a direct income of £30000 at the moment so would we be able to ask for a non profit visa?
21 Mar. 2023
Hi Andy, thank you for your question, if you have savings, you would need to prove by bank statements. Good luck with your search for your dream property in Spain.
05 Apr. 2023
We will have our state pension and cash to buy property outright our only other cash would be a 20000 pension pot does this mean after it being our life long dream we cannot now live out the rest of our life in the sun ty
06 Apr. 2023
Thanks for your question Lynn, we have sent you an email with additional information. Good luck with your search for your dream property!
05 Apr. 2023
Hi We are a married couple whose only income is provided from state and private pensions which do not quite amount to €30000 . We would like to move to live in Spain. We currently live permanently in France with French residency granted. We can top up our income by depositing money in the bank when we move to Spain from our house sale (eg €35000). Would this money have to stay in the bank for the next 5 years as proof we have enough income? Do we apply for a non-lucrative visa here in France, in the UK, or can it be done in Spain when we arrive? Thank you
06 Apr. 2023
Thanks for your question Annie, we have sent you an email with additional information. Good luck with your search for your dream property!
29 Apr. 2023
Hi, I am a single father with a 3 year old and am due to retire from the Military in just over 2 years time. I will have a pension of at least £1500 per month (I will be 55 so at age 67 will also get the UK govt pension) and enough capital to purchase a property. What are my options? Thanks.
03 May. 2023
Hi Aaron, thanks for your question. The visa looks at your yearly income and number of dependents when assessing your eligibility. If you believe you meet the criteria, we recommend contacting the Spanish Consulate as they provide detailed visa information. Best of luck!
29 Apr. 2023
Hello, I have a monthly private pension and £30,000 in savngs. Would I be eligible to apply for the non profit residence visa? I would be applying as a single person.
03 May. 2023
Hello Denice, thanks for your question! The visa really depends on your annual income – so your pension and any other income streams you have would have to equate to the required amount or more. For more detailed information on this visa, we recommend contacting the Spanish consulate as they are the approving body of the visa. Best of luck!
18 Jun. 2023
If I buy a property in Spain and have savings over £90,000 plus private pensions for myself and wife would we be able to get residency in Spain if we retired at 55
19 Jun. 2023
Hi Christopher, thanks for your question! Without knowing your private pension amount, it seems your savings plus this income will be enough to qualify for the visa. Your financial situation will be re-assessed every time you renew (after 1 year, then every 2 years). As long as you continue to meet the threshold, then you will be ok! Good luck with the move, reach out to us if you have any other questions!