Spain Non-Lucrative Visa for Americans — Check Your Eligibility | Mecan Legal

Spain Non-Lucrative Visa: do you qualify? Find out in 60 seconds.

Six quick questions and an honest answer — including when this visa isn't the right fit. If it is, a regulated Spanish law firm prepares your consular file end to end: 1-year visa, renewable from within Spain.

5.0 on Google — 70+ public client reviews

Law firm, not an agency — regulated, professionally liable, attorney-client privilege

Prepared for your consulate — each US jurisdiction publishes its own checklist; we build your file to it

A path to long-term residency — 1-year visa, renewals of 2 + 2 years, eligible for long-term residence after 5 years

Free Eligibility Check

~60 seconds

Question 1 of 6

What passport will you apply with?

Question 2 of 6

What will you live on in Spain?

Question 3 of 6

Who is moving with you?

Question 4 of 6

How much can you show for your first year — savings, investments or passive income?

Question 5 of 6

Will Spain be your main home — living there most of the year?

Question 6 of 6

When would you like to move?

Thank you — we have your answers.

A lawyer will review them and reply within one business day.

Confidential · Your answers are reviewed by a lawyer · No spam, ever

★★★★★ 5.0 · 70+ Google reviews

Regulated Spanish Law Firm Founded by Juan Diego Muñoz Espada English-speaking lawyers

Is this the right visa for you?

It's for you if…

You're retired, retiring early or taking a long sabbatical
You live on pensions, Social Security, dividends, rentals or savings
You want Spain to be your real home, most of the year

It's not for you if…

You plan to keep working remotely — look at the Digital Nomad Visa instead
You want a job or a business in Spain
You only want to spend a few months a year in Spain — as a US citizen you can usually visit for up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa

Still working, or want to work in Spain? The Non-Lucrative Visa isn't the right fit, but there are other options for you.

Requirements in 2026

€28,800minimum for the first year, single applicant (€2,400 a month)

+ €7,200for each family member moving with you

1 + 2 + 2years: first permit, then renewals from within Spain

Your finances

Savings, investments, pensions, Social Security or rental income all count
No need to sell stocks or funds: a bank or broker certificate is usually enough
No work of any kind in Spain, including remote work for a US employer

Your file

Private Spanish health insurance with full coverage and no co-payments
Medical certificate and an apostilled FBI background check
Filed at the Spanish consulate that covers your US state

Who applies: Retirees Shareholders (not directors or managers) Investors — dividends & rentals Sabbatical / early retirement

Household	Minimum for the first year (2026)	Per month
Single applicant	€28,800	€2,400
Couple	€36,000	€3,000
Couple + 1 child	€43,200	€3,600
Each additional family member	+ €7,200	+ €600

Figures in euros, based on 400% of Spain's IPREM index for the main applicant and 100% for each family member. The USD equivalent moves with the exchange rate. No need to sell investments — a bank or broker certificate is usually enough. Consulates can ask for additional proof; we confirm your exact figure in the free assessment.

Your lawyer

Juan Diego Muñoz Espada

Founder, Mecan Legal · Spanish lawyer

After leading the Spain practice at top-tier international firms, Juan Diego saw the same problem again and again: clients lost in bureaucracy and pushed into standard packages designed for volume, not quality. He founded Mecan Legal to combine big-firm expertise with a boutique model that puts time, clarity and personal attention first.

A lawyer reviews your case from the first call
Advice in English, with calls in your US afternoon or evening
Immigration and US–Spain tax planning under one roof

How it works

Our preparation typically takes 4–10 weeks, depending on how fast your documents arrive. The consulate then sets its own timeline — allow up to 3 months.

Eligibility check

Your quiz answers, reviewed by a lawyer. Then 15 minutes on a call for a straight go / no-go.

Document strategy

FBI check, apostilles, proof of funds, insurance, translations — checked line by line before anything is filed.

Consulate filing

Built to the checklist of the consulate that covers your state.

Visa, move & residence card

Once the visa is granted, you move; we assist with your police registration and residence card.

What our clients say

Our reviews are public on Google. Read them before you decide.

5.0

★★★★★

70+ reviews
Google Business Profile

"We had a very complex visa application… we were guided successfully and were able to get our visas approved in three weeks. JD was always available, every step of the way. Mecan Legal is exceptional so I feel completely comfortable giving it my highest recommendation."

Charles Norman Mason · Google review · Visa application

"We were turned down for the private medical insurance required for the non-lucrative visa and thought our dreams were over… we received our visas in only three weeks after applying! We could not have done this without his knowledge, experience, sage advice, and assistance."

Dorothy Hindman · Google review · NLV + family

"Everything was handled with clarity, efficiency and great attention to detail… communication was always fast and professional, making processes that could have been complex feel simple. We wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone relocating to Spain."

Andrew Groves · Google review · Visa + company formation

Individual experiences; timelines depend on each consulate and each file.

A fixed fee, agreed before we start

After your eligibility call you receive a written quote for your whole family's application. You know exactly what the legal work costs before you commit.

Government fees, apostilles, sworn translations and health insurance are paid separately.

Included in our fee

Eligibility assessment and financial-means strategy
Personalised document checklist, including FBI check and apostille
Review of every document before filing
Preparation and filing of your application
Consulate filing and follow-up until a decision
Residence card, town hall registration and renewals
Applications for your spouse and children

Frequently asked questions

Can I work remotely on this visa?

No — the Non-Lucrative Visa doesn't permit work of any kind, including remote work for a US employer. If remote income is your plan, the Digital Nomad Visa is the route (we handle both). The eligibility check above tells you which one fits.

How much money do I need to show?

For 2026: €28,800 for the first year as a single applicant (€2,400 a month), plus €7,200 for each family member. Savings, investments and regular passive income all count, and you don't need to sell stocks or funds — a bank or broker certificate is usually enough. How funds are documented matters as much as the amount; that's what we advise on.

Will Spain tax my US income?

Living in Spain more than 183 days a year generally makes you a Spanish tax resident, taxed on worldwide income. The US–Spain tax treaty prevents double taxation, but pensions, Social Security and IRA withdrawals are each treated differently. For significant estates and portfolios we offer a dedicated tax study — plan before you move, not after.

Does Medicare work in Spain?

No. You'll need private Spanish health insurance with full coverage and no co-payments. Premiums depend on your age and health; we'll point you to insurers that issue policies meeting consulate requirements.

Can my spouse and children come?

Yes — your spouse or partner and dependent children can apply with you. Each family member adds €7,200 to the first-year threshold. Couples and families are our most common Non-Lucrative Visa case.

How long does it take?

Our preparation typically takes 4–10 weeks, mostly depending on how quickly your FBI check and apostilles arrive. After filing, the consulate sets its own timeline — allow up to 3 months.

How do renewals work?

The first authorization lasts 1 year. You then renew for 2 years and another 2 years, from within Spain — no more consulate visits. After 5 years of legal residence you can apply for long-term residence.

What are my chances of approval?

It depends on your documents, and nobody honest can promise an outcome. What we do: we only file when the file meets every requirement, and if something is missing, we tell you exactly what before you spend money on filing.

Check if you qualify

If the Non-Lucrative Visa fits, you'll be able to book a call with a lawyer right away.

Check My Eligibility — Free

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