Skip to content
movetospain

Guide: Visas & Residency

Non-Lucrative Visa Income Requirements by US Consulate (2026)

A practical 2026 guide to Non-Lucrative Visa Income Requirements by US Consulate for expats moving to Spain, with clear steps, required documents, and timeline planning.

Updated February 12, 2026
VisasNon-Lucrative VisaUS Expats

Spain can absolutely improve your quality of life, but bureaucracy and planning mistakes can make this part of the move expensive. This guide covers Non-Lucrative Visa Income Requirements by US Consulate (2026) so you can compare consulate criteria without guessing and submit a file that matches your jurisdiction the first time.

Last reviewed on February 12, 2026. Rules, office criteria, and processing times can change. Confirm current requirements with official sources before filing or paying fees.

Clear promise

By the end of this guide, you should be able to make a confident go/no-go decision and execute the next steps without guessing.

Quick reality check

This path is usually a good fit if:

  • You want a legal move with a clear timeline and checklist-driven process.
  • You can collect original documents, translations, and proof of funds early.

This path is harder if:

  • You need to relocate quickly and still have missing legal documents.
  • Your case spans multiple countries with conflicting document validity windows.

Decision questions to answer first

  • Which Spanish consulate has jurisdiction over your legal US residence address?
  • What evidence of passive income or savings is strongest for your case?
  • How much buffer above the minimum should you document to reduce risk?

Step-by-step main guidance

1. Confirm district rules on the consulate website before preparing forms.

2. Build a financial packet with clean account history and clear ownership evidence.

3. Validate translations and apostilles against each document's validity window.

4. Submit with a cover sheet that maps each requirement to one supporting file.

5. Track communications daily and answer correction requests immediately.

Costs, timing, and required documents

Use these ranges for planning, not as guarantees:

  • Document preparation and legalizations: 2 to 8 weeks depending on origin country.
  • Appointment and submission wait: same week to 8+ weeks by office/consulate.
  • Decision and card issuance: often 2 to 12 weeks after complete filing.

Core documents to prepare:

  • Proof of residence in the consulate district (ID, lease, utility bill, or equivalent).
  • Recent bank statements and account ownership proof showing stable balances.
  • Income evidence that fits NLV logic (pensions, investments, rental income, or savings).
  • Apostilled background check and required medical certificate wording.
  • Private health insurance policy meeting Spanish visa requirements.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

  • Using another applicant's checklist from a different consulate district.
  • Submitting bank evidence that is recent but not clearly attributable to you.
  • Treating office-level practice as identical across every province or consulate.

Final action plan: what to do this week

  1. Verify your consular district and save the official checklist PDF.
  2. Create a finance folder with statements, balances, and ownership proof.
  3. Book translations/apostilles with turnaround dates attached to each document.
  4. Draft a one-page requirement-to-document index for submission day.

Related guides