Visa to reside in Spain without carrying out any gainful (work or professional) activity, provided that the applicant has sufficient and guaranteed means to live on. This visa does not constitute a work permit and does not allow any type of work or professional activity, including remotely (online).
If you intend to work online, please find information in the Telework visa (digital nomad visa) section
The following family members may also obtain the visa:
- The spouse or unmarried partner.
- Dependent children and dependent relatives in the ascending line who form part of the family unit.
Applications for Non-working visas must be submitted in person by appointment only at the BLS Spain Visa Application Center in Washington, D.C. In order to apply for a Non-working visa at the BLS Spain Visa Application Center in Washington, D.C. you must be a resident in our jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina).
Please be sure that you have all required documents before scheduling an appointment, as only complete applications with all requirements will be admitted.
BLS Visa Application Center: 1660 L Street. NW, Suite 216, Washington, D.C., 20036
Phone number: 516-888-1169 (BLS call-center for USA)
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
1. One Application form (![]()
National Visa Application form): Each applicant must complete and sign a national visa application, filling out every section. It can be filled out electronically or handwritten in capital letters. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents or a duly accredited representative must sign the application.
Please do not forget to fill out numbers 17, 18 (your address, email and telephone number), 21 (intended date of entry) and 23 (applicant’s address in Spain) on the application form.
2. One photo: Glued or clipped onto visa application form. Photo specifications: Recent (taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance), passport-size, color photograph, printed on matte/glossy paper, taken against a white, light, clear, uniform background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the applicant’s full oval of the face.
Photos with a dark background or with objects or people that can be seen behind your head will not be accepted.
3. Valid, unexpired passport: The original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data must be submitted. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank visa pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Proof of legal residence in the United States. Non-U.S. citizens must also submit proof of legal residence in the United States: U.S. Resident Card (Green card) or valid U.S. long term Visa. Original and copy.
B-1 and B-2 visa holders cannot apply for a visa in the United States; they must apply for it in their country of residence or country of origin.
5. Proof of residence in the consular district: The applicant must be a legal resident in our consular jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina). Residence must be proven by one of the following, valid documents: U.S. driver’s license, state ID. Original and copy.
6. Non-working residence visa application form
(Form EX 01, "Solicitud de autorización de residencia temporal no lucrativa"). Each applicant must complete and sign a copy of Form EX 01, filling in each of its sections. Please submit an original and copy. ![]()
Instructions Form EX 01.pdf
7. Residence permit application fee form (![]()
Form 790-052): Each applicant must complete and sign this form, selecting point “1. c) Autorización inicial de Residencia Temporal” (Initial temporary residence permit). ![]()
Instructions Form 790-052
8. Affidavit: The applicant must provide a notarized letter including the following information:
- A brief explanation by the applicant of his/her professional background, the reasons why he/she has decided to live in Spain, how long they planning to stay, and any other reason to support the visa application.
- The commitment of not doing any lucrative work, by any means, either on-site nor remotely (online), while residing in Spain.
- The postal address in Spain where the applicant will live, at least, the first three months.
- The affidavit must be in Spanish or include a Spanish version, or be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish.
9. Proof of financial means: The minimum annual required amount equals 400% of Spain's Public Income Indicator for Multiple Effects (IPREM). For each dependent accompanying family member (spouses, children or ascending relative), an additional 100% of the IPREM must be added annually.
The IPREM indicator changes every year. In 2024 the IPREM equals 600€ (approx. $700) per month, or 7200 € per year (approx. $8000)
400% = 28.800 € (approx. $32.000)
100% = 7.200€ (approx. $8.000)
In 2024 the required amount is $32.000 per year for one applicant, and $8.000 must be added for each dependent family member.
The applicants must submit the following documents proving that they have sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of residing in Spain for the initial year of the residence permit, or accrediting that they have a regular source of income without the need of doing paid work in Spain, for themselves and, where applicable, for the family members accompanying them:
- Bank statements from the last 3 months from all bank accounts (checking, savings and/or investment accounts). Translation to Spanish is not necessary.
- If applicable: Documents proving any other source of periodic income (on a regular basis). In the case of retirees, the applicant may be a beneficiary of a life annuity. It can be Social Security Benefits, Private or Public Retirement pensions (Army Veteran, Teacher's Union...), etc. Translation to Spanish is not necessary.
- Copy of latest Tax Return. Translation to Spanish is not necessary.
10. If the applicant is of working age and/or employed, he/she can add a letter of termination from the employer stating that the applicant will no longer work for that company (or a sabbatical year acceptance letter from the employer).
The termination letter must be in Spanish or include a Spanish version, or be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish.
11. It is advisable to add a proof of accommodation, providing one of the following documents (in Spanish):
- Lease of minimum 3 months signed by both renter and landlord.
- If the applicant owns a property, they must present Title deed of property or Property Registration certificate from Spain.
12. Health insurance. Proof of public or private health insurance from an insurance entity recognized and authorized to operate in Spain.
- The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system.
- Unlimited coverage. The health insurance must not have a deficiency, copayment, or coverage limit; that is, it must cover 100% of the medical, hospital, and out-of-hospital expenses. Spanish insurance companies offer unlimited coverage and 100% of the expenses.
- The insurance policy must indicate the start and end dates of the coverage. It must be valid for 1 year and maintained for the entire duration of the stay.
An Insurance card will not be accepted as proof of coverage.
No travel insurances with medical assistance coverage will be accepted.
13. Medical certificate. Original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations.
- This certificate must be issued within 90 days of submitting the visa application.
- This certificate must include a stamp from the issuing Medical Center, doctor’s signature and doctor’s License Number.
- The certificate must be written on letterhead paper from hospital/doctor’s office or directly on the provided template. The recommended template can be found here:
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. - The certificate must be signed by a Doctor (Physician), not by a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant.
The medical certificate must be in Spanish, or it must include the Spanish text, or it must be accompanied by an official or certified translation into Spanish. In the case of using the model from our website, the Spanish translation is not necessary.
Please include a photocopy (not notarized) of the medical certificate with your submitted documents.
14. Criminal background check certificate. Applicants of legal age (18 years old and older) must submit the original and a photocopy (not notarized) of their criminal background check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years.
- The criminal background check must be issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We do not accept State or Local Police Background Check.
- The background check must be issued within the 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application.
- The background check must be authenticated with The Hague Apostille. We do not accept background checks without the Hague Apostille. The Apostille must certify the signature on the Criminal Background check, not other signatures. We do not accept apostilles that certify the signature of a local notary that stamps a seal on the criminal background check.
- The criminal background check will not be accepted if it has been altered or damaged in any way, including damage caused by removing staples.
- The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator (the translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation).
If the applicant has spent more than 6 months (more than 180 days) during the last 5 years in another country (outside the USA or Spain), an additional criminal background check from every country of residence must be provided. The criminal background checks must be authenticated with the The Hague Apostille, unless it is issued by an EU member state. The criminal background check issued by an EU authority does not need to be apostilled to be accepted. If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must by authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in this country. The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish (if the original is not written in Spanish or does not include the text in Spanish).
Please submit an original and a copy of all documents: Criminal background check, Apostille and official translation.
You may find certified translators through the AMERICAN TRANSLATORS' ASSOCIATION or Buscador de traductores jurados del MAEC.
15. ![]()
Disclaimer form.
16. Payment of fees. There are two different fees (both are non-refundable): A visa fee and a residency permit fee. Visa fee (different rates are applied due to reciprocity). Fees in 2024:
- U.S. citizens: $140
- Citizens of Australia: $315
- Citizens of Canada: $811
- Citizens of Ethiopia: $510
- Citizens of Mauritania: $263
- Citizens of the UK: $658
- All other nationalities: $99
Residency permit fee: $12
Visa fees are revised quarterly according to current exchange rates and can be subject to changes.
Required documents for family members
For each family member it will be necessary to submit:
- All the required documents specified in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15, 16 and, if applicable 8, 9, 10, 14.. For minors, the visa application and the residence permit application must be signed by one of their parents.
- Documents proving family relationship with the applicant accrediting financial means: birth or marriage certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or any other document substantiating an unmarried partnership with the applicant.
- In the case of adult children (18 years and older), documents proving financial dependence, the adult child's civil status and that they continue to form part of the family unit. It can be certificates of disability, of cohabitation at the same address, etc.
- In the case of relatives in the ascending line (65 y.o. and older parents), documents proving financial dependence and that they form part of the family unit. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
- In the case of an unregistered couple with a stable emotional relationship equivalent to a registered couple: Notarized declaration stating that you are an unregistered, unmarried couple with a stable emotional relationship equivalent to a registered couple, and any other document proving the unregistered partnership with the applicant for at least 1 year, for evaluation.
Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Please submit an original and a copy of all the documents proving family relationship.
Additional documents, Interview:
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
PROCEDURE
All non-working residence visas require the obtainment of an initial residence permit, which is processed at the same time as the visa application with the EX 01 and 790-052 forms. The Consular Office will return a sealed copy of form EX-01 and form 790-52.
- Who can apply for a visa: In order to apply for a Non-working visa you must be a resident in our jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina).Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant.
- Place of submission: The application must be submitted in person by appointment only to the BLS Spain Visa Application Center in Washington, D.C.
BLS - SPAIN VISA APPLICATION CENTER, WASHINGTON DC
1660 L St NW, Second Floor, Suite: 216, Washington, DC 20036
Please note that there are different sections for Schengen Visa and for National Visa appointments.
Please be sure that you have all required documents before scheduling an appointment, as only complete applications with all requirements will be admitted.
In the case of a family, every applicant (including minors) must come to the BLS Office to submit the application in person.
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 3 months, but this period may be extended, if an interview or additional documents are requested after the evaluation of the submitted documents.
Once the application is accepted as complete in the Consular Section, the procedure involves consultations with other authorities that can take up to 3 months from the day the Consular Section forwards the documents through the visa system (not from the day the applicant submits the application at the BLS office).
The period to receive a resolution may be extended and cannot be expedited.
The Consular Section does not provide information about the status of a visa. If extra documents are needed you will be contacted.
- Collecting the visa: The applicant must collect the visa and/or other documents in person at the BLS office once BLS notifies the applicant (via SMS text) that the visa or documents are ready to be picked up.
- Refusal of the residence permit or visa: Refusals of the residence permit or visa will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
- Appeals: If a residence permit or visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration in Spanish to the Office that denied the request within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the refusal of the visa or residence permit or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- Validity period of the visa: The visa will be valid for 90 days. The applicant must enter Spanish territory during the validity period of the visa. Once in Spain, a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE, "Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjeros") must be applied for within a period of 1 month from the applicant's entry into Spain, at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station. The initial TIE is valid for one year and is renewable.