In this article, we look at the 11 things you’ll need for your NLV appointment so you will know what to expect and can prepare for success.

What Is The Non Lucrative Visa?

The non-lucrative visa is a Spanish residency permit for non-EU citizens. Under its terms, you are not permitted to undertake any paid work in Spain. Applicants for the NLV must prove their ability to support themselves, and their family if applicable, for a minimum of one year without paid work in Spain.

1 – National Visa Forms

The first thing you need is two copies of the National Visa Form, which you can download free of charge from your local Spanish embassy website. We have links to many of the Spanish embassy websites in our Resource Centre.

2 – Passport Photographs

The second thing you need is 2 passport photographs on a white background, and they must be the right size and follow the guidelines. There is a link to the current guidelines in our Resource Centre.

3 – A Valid Passport

Next, you need a passport, which must be valid for at least a year and have at least 2 blank pages to make room for the visa stamp. Also, you should take a copy of the picture page. Some embassies ask you to bring copies of all of the passport pages.

4 – Certificate of Criminal Record

Next up you will need a certificate of criminal record (if you’re over 18) and that must be from the country you’ve lived in for the last 5 years. If you’re in the UK you should submit the ACRO certificate, which you can find on the ACRO website.

This criminal record information must be apostilled and translated by an official translator. Links to the ACRO site as well as information on apostles and translators can be found in our Resource Centre.

One little tip for UK residents, at some embassies the ACRO certificate is sent in with your application email before you get your appointment, so it’s the first hurdle to get over, and also it saves you paying for your visa in case you get refused because of a criminal record.

5 – Health Insurance

You will need public or private health insurance with sufficient coverage from an authorised insurance provider. If you’d like a no-obligation health insurance quote, visit our Partners page where you’ll find details of trusted You Too Spain partners, ready to help.

6 – Medical Certificate

You must provide a medical certificate, signed and stamped by a registered medical practitioner. This must also be apostilled and translated (again, see our Resource Centre).

Some people have been finding it difficult to get their doctor to sign one of these for various reasons so they’ve had to pay for a private doctor to do it for them.

Some embassy websites have a copy of the blank document and they vary a little. The London Embassy website doesn’t have a specific one, but you can print off the Manchester one, or even the Los Angeles one which is more comprehensive and is in English and Spanish so doesn’t need translating. Check with your local embassy to find out exactly what they require.

Some medical insurance companies in Spain have been known to do certificates as part of a health insurance policy, which can save you some money. Our trusted partners can advise.

7 – Proof of Financial Means

You must have documents to show the financial means to cover yours and your family’s living expenses. Documents you may need to prove your financial suitability include bank statements, proof of investments, proof of pension, and proof that you are no longer working.

This is an involved subject and we’ll have another article dedicated to the subject in the blog very soon.

8 – Form EX-01

You will need to fill in form number EX-01, which is the Non Lucrative Temporary Residence Authorisation Form, or ‘Autorización de residencia temporal no lucrativa’. Of course, we have a download link in our Resource Centre.

9 – Form 790-052

The final form to fill in is the 790-052, or ‘Autorización inicial de residencia temporal’. This is for paying the fee for residency, which must be paid at the Consulate on the day your application is accepted. Yes, we have a download link for this in our Resource Centre.

10 – The Fee

You will need money to pay the fee described in number 9. You’re on your own there. Our Resource Centre is good but…

11 – Residency Permit

This one isn’t for everybody, and it varies depending on which country you’re applying from, which is why I’ve left it till last. So if you’re in the UK for example, you only need one if you’re not a UK national. If you’re in the USA, you need the US resident card or a valid US long term visa. Check your local embassy website if you’re in any other country for the exact document you need.

Summing Up

Obtaining your Non Lucrative Visa is not as difficult as it may seem. With the right advice and plenty of preparation, you too could be moving to Spain. Check out our other articles, join our Facebook group and be sure to visit our YouTube channel for even more helpful information.

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