Spain, situated in the Iberian peninsula, is a country full of wonders. There is no need to tell how much Spain has affected the world. From the Roman time to modern, we see lots of things inherited from Spain. Start with the Latin language, of which two-thirds of English words are derived, heavily affected sciences. It is no coincidence that the language is called the language of the law, government, logic, and theology. People from this peninsula have contributed a lot to the discovery of the new world, America. As for culture, we believe it’s the major topic that should be covered in other articles. Nowadays, Spain is one of the most favorite countries for tourists. Seems like rich culture, history, natural and architectural wonders are the main reasons for visits. Spain is also an EU member country and the Schengen area member, which positively impacts tourism. Warm weather, a relaxed lifestyle, excellent cuisine, and a welcoming culture especially attract elderlies who seek to live peacefully for the rest of their lives. Spain also has a high standard of living, excellent healthcare, and a competitive education system which make it a perfect spot. Retiring in Spain also looks like it has a relatively low cost. For this article, we will cover aspects of retirement visa Spain such as Spain retirement visa requirements, Spain retirement visa age, the difference between non-lucrative and retirement visa for Spain, Spain retirement visa income requirements, how long can I stay in Spain retirement visa, etc. Before that, let's have a look at Spain’s visa policy.
Spain visa policy
The Visa policy of Spain differs from country to country depending on mutual relations. Nationals of most of the world countries are obliged to undergo a visa process. It grants visa-free movement for nationals of Schengen countries. However, it is not exclusive to only Schengen countries though. Generally, the followings are Spain visa-free countries:
European union member countries, Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela.
What are the visa types for Spain? We can categorize them into three groups, namely short-term, long-term, airport transit. Short-term visas or Schengen visas are for short stays. National visas on the other hand are designed for long stays. Schengen visas are granted for travels up to 90 days. Today we are going to look at a retirement visa Spain which is a long-term visa.
Retirement visas
Lately, Spain has witnessed hordes of retired people coming to live. Especially, British ex-pats find the country suitable for themselves to live in. Up until now, more than a million moved to Spain for similar purposes. Few options can grant people this wish and one of them non-lucrative visa, which we will elaborate on. What is a non-lucrative visa one might ask and what is the difference between a non-lucrative and retirement visa for Spain? one might ask. To put it simply, it is the visa type that allows people from non-EU countries to reside in Spain as a retire. However, there is one issue. As it is seen from the name, you will be banned to do or engage any type of lucrative activities.
We said it is exclusive for the non-EU countries, and one might wonder can a national of EU country retire in Spain? The answer is yes, even though they do not need to have a visa to retire in Spain.
Generally, to live in Spain for a long time, you will need long-term visas and there are two subcategories for that. The first is a long-stay visa (Visado Nacionale) which allows you to live in the country temporarily. In this case, you can, work, study or retire in Spain. It is given for travels exceeding more than three months. You can renew this every year. To renew the visa you have to spend half of that year in Spain. For non-lucrative visas, conditions are a little bit different.
Non-lucrative visa
This visa is also called a residence visa. It is considered to be the best option for non-EU retires to reside in Spain. The most important part of the requirement of a non-lucrative visa is that you can not engage in any lucrative activities. Once your application is approved and you are in Spain, you can apply for a residency permit to extend your stay. For these reasons, it is referred to as a non-lucrative residence visa. There can be questions like what are Spain retirement visa requirements? What are Spain retirement visa income requirements?
To start answering the first question, there are many requirements for the application. Some of them are related to the financial status of the applicant. Here are the required documents for the application:
Visa application form signed and filled out by the applicant.
Form EX-01 signed and filled out by the applicant.
Original passport with the validity of at least 1 year. It should bear a minimum of 1 blank page for the visa.
Two photos. Size 2x2 cm and background should be white.
Marriage certificate issued not more than three months ago and has the apostille according to the Hague convention. It should be translated into Spanish.
Criminal record clearance provided by the police. It should be confirmed with fingerprints. Should be issued not more than three months ago and translated into Spanish.
Medical certification certified translated into Spanish. It should include the doctor’s statement proving the applicant is in good shape meaning no contagious disease has been found. It should be not older than three months.
The applicant should possess international medical insurance during the days he is going to spend in Spain. It should be translated into Spanish.
NIE number, a personal number unique to the person, only given to him or her if the person plans to stay in Spain for more than 6 months.
Proof of sufficient financial meanings. To successfully complete the application you will need enough budget. If you can not meet the requirement, you will most likely fail. You need to prove that your monthly earnings exceed 2150 euros. However, you will also need to demonstrate a 27115 euros budget for the application. More can be asked in some cases. If you are traveling with a dependent, for each you will need to demonstrate 6778 euros. Note that in this case, you will need to present the dependent’s documents such as Visa application form, passport, photos, birth or marriage certificate, health insurance, etc. You can prove these amounts in the form of one of the following:
- A bank statement covering the last three months’ activities.
- If you are working remotely, you can present a letter of employment indicating your salary.
- Investment proofs
- If you have other earnings such as rent, etc, you can present the proof for that as a financial meaning.
There is some confusion regarding Spain retirement visa age as most people who apply for the visa are elderly. However, no restriction or limit to age is set, meaning that anyone who meets the requirement can apply for the visa.
To apply for the visa you need to first locate and attend the local Spanish embassy or consular. If there is non in your country find the nearest one. Schedule a visa appointment and present the documents and pay the fees. The next stage will be to attend the interview. For the interview, you will meet the consular. You will submit the required documents for the interview. Then, present your biometrics (fingerprints and photos). At last, you will pay the fees. During the interview variety of questions can be asked.
As for fees, they can change depending on your nationality. However, the latest fees for non-lucrative residence are given below:
- Nationals of the US are obliged to pay the fee amount of 123 euros.
- Nationals of Canada are obliged to pay the fee amount of 507 euros.
- Nationals of other countries are obliged to pay the fee amount of 80 euros.
Visa processing time can differ from country to country. However, it takes up to three months to process the visa application. In general, it is more likely to be processed within five weeks. You might be asking how long can I stay in Spain retirement visa? The visa allows you to stay in Spain up to one year, and it can be renewed. However, you can apply for a non-lucrative residence permit which will allow you to stay more in Spain. Upon your arrival, you will have one month to apply for the foreigner identity card. It can be granted at the Foreigners Office in the area where you stay. To apply that you will need to present your visa and passport.
