In short: non-lucrative temporary residence lets you live in Spain without working (neither employed nor self-employed), by proving sufficient financial means and a health insurance; the initial permit lasts one year and is applied for as a visa at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence (arts. 61–63 RD 1155/2024).
In person or by representative? It is mixed. The visa is applied for at the Spanish consular office abroad (the applicant is usually required to appear in person; check with your consulate). Fingerprinting and TIE card collection in Spain, within the month after entry, are in person (art. 63.5: the holder «must personally apply» for the card). The renewal, already in Spain, can be filed online (see Mercurio) or through a representative.
It is the usual route for people with their own income who do not need to work (pensioners, rentiers, people with sufficient savings). It does not allow working: to carry out an activity you must apply for a different permit or a modification.
Requirements (arts. 61–62):
- Sufficient financial means for the authorisation period, or a regular income source: 400% of the IPREM monthly for the holder + 100% of the IPREM per dependent family member (minimum amounts; the figure in euros depends on the current IPREM — check the current value).
- Health insurance (public or private, with cover in Spain).
- Not being within a no-return commitment assumed when voluntarily returning to your country of origin.
- No criminal record and not posing a threat to public order, security or public health.
- Paying the processing fee.
Visa documents (arts. 38 + 61–62): application form (form EX01) completed and signed; passport or travel document valid for at least one year; criminal-record certificate from the countries of residence over the last five years; medical certificate proving no diseases with serious public-health impact (International Health Regulations 2005); proof of sufficient financial means; proof of health insurance; proof of fee payment. (Each consulate may require legalisations/translations and additional documents; form EX01 and the information sheets detail the list per case.)
Steps:
- Gather the documents and fill in form EX01 (Application for non-lucrative temporary residence, inclusion.gob.es).
- Apply for the non-lucrative residence visa at the Spanish consular office in your country of residence (the visa application includes the authorisation; art. 63.1). Consular info: Citizen services — Exteriores.
- The immigration office decides on the authorisation within a maximum of one month from the consular communication; silence means refusal (art. 63.4).
- Once the visa is granted, enter Spain and, within the month after entry, apply in person for the TIE (foreigner identity card) (art. 63.5).
- To keep it, renew during the two months before it expires at the Oficina de Extranjería, proving means, insurance and, if you have dependent minors, their schooling; you must have resided more than 183 days in the calendar year (art. 64).
Official source: RD 1155/2024, arts. 61–64 (BOE-A-2024-24099); form EX01 and information sheets at inclusion.gob.es.
Informational only; requirements, documents and the IPREM amount vary — check the official source, your consulate and a professional for your specific case.