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Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa Renewal 2025:
Requirements, Documents & Timeline
Renewing your Spanish Non‑Lucrative Visa is an essential step for expats who wish to continue living in Spain without engaging in employment. The renewal process ensures that you maintain legal residency while demonstrating ongoing financial stability, valid health insurance, and proof of uninterrupted residence. Applications must be submitted within the official timeframe—typically 60 days before your visa expires or up to 90 days after—to avoid lapses in status. Understanding the requirements, documents, and deadlines will help you navigate the renewal smoothly and secure your stay in Spain.
This article was last updated in December 2025
help at hand spain can assist you in your visa/residency renewal
If you’re considering relocating to Spain, our clients’ experiences show that professional guidance can make all the difference—saving you time, reducing stress, and ensuring a smooth transition.
Help At Hand Spain can help guide you every step of the way taking the stress and planning out of your move. Get in touch by completing our renewal enquiry form.
Help At Hand Spain can help with the following:
- Apply for a Non Lucrative Visa renewal
- Replace your TIE residency card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
- Long Term (Permanent) Residency Applications if you have reached five years on the Non-Lucrative Visa
- Obtain Private Health Care Quotes if you want to change insurers
- Apply for access to the Spanish Public Health Care system with Convenio Especial
- A tax consultation to help you understand Spanish personal taxation
Why choose Help At Hand Spain?
- Clear and transparent pricing before you commit
- Overcome the language barrier
- Leverage our experience and patience to overcome the bureaucracy
- We will guide you through every step of the process
- You can leverage our knowledge and network of trusted partners
- We understand how daunting things can be, we are here to make it easier
- Share sensitive documents in confidence and securely using a client specific password protected folder
Who Needs to Renew the Spanish Non‑Lucrative Visa
When and How to Apply for Renewal
While waiting for renewal, your legal residency remains valid as long as you’ve submitted the application within the allowed timeframe.
Eligibility Criteria for Renewal in 2025
- Prove uninterrupted residence in Spain, a minimum of 183 days per residency year
- Show sufficient financial means to support themselves and dependents.
- Maintain comprehensive private health insurance or prove you have access to public health care if you are eligible
- Be registered on the local padrón (municipal census).
Required Documents for Non‑Lucrative Visa Renewal
Typical documents include:
- Completed renewal application form (EX‑01).
- Valid passport and copies of all pages.
- Proof of financial means (bank statements, pension, investments).
- Proof of health insurance or access to Public Health Care
- Empadronamiento certificate (proof of residence)
- Recent passport‑sized photographs
- Proof of payment of renewal fee (Modelo 790).
Other documents will be required depending on your personal circumstances:
- If you have children: i.e. birth certificates and proof of school enrolment
- If you are applying as a couple: i.e. proof of relationship
Financial Requirements and Proof of Means
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds to live in Spain without working. In 2025, this typically means showing income or savings equivalent to 400% of the IPREM (Spanish minimum income index) for the main applicant, plus 100% per dependent.
You can apply with savings, passive income (dividends/investments) or pensions. Bank statements, proof of pension, and investment certificates are acceptable proofs. Foreign documents will need to be sworn translated.
For 2025, the minimum financial requirement per year is €28,800 (€2,400 per month) for the primary applicant and €7,200 per year (€600 per month) each for the partner and/or other dependents.
Timeline: Deadlines and Processing Times
- Application window: 60 days before expiry to 90 days after.
- Processing time: Usually 1–3 months, depending on the province for the visa to be renewed, after which you will need to renew your TIE residency card which can take up to 6 weeks.
- Residency card validity: Renewals are typically granted for two years, provided requirements are met.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Renewal
- Not obtaining your Spanish Digital Certificate prior to your residency card expiring
- Submitting late applications
- Providing incomplete or untranslated documents
- Insufficient financial proof
- Forgetting to update empadronamiento
Changes to the Non‑Lucrative Visa Renewal in 2025
- 183‑day residency rule is now strictly enforced, you must now provide proof that you are living in Spain.
- When applying with savings you need to prove an average balance over 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I renew online? Yes, through the Mercurio platform.
- What if I miss the deadline? Late applications will likely be rejected.
- Can I work after renewal? No, the NLV does not permit employment (not even remotely), but you may apply for a modification later.
- How long is the renewed visa valid? Typically two years, then renewable again up to five years. Once you have reached five years, if you are eligible you can apply for Long-Term (Permanent Residency)
- To be eligible for Long-Term Permanent Residency how long can I be outside of Spain? You cannot be outside of Spain for more than 10 months in a five period. You can leave Spain for a period of up to six consecutive months, this period of time is deducted from the 10 month allowance.
- After five years on a Non Lucrative Visa, can I renew the NLV again if I'm not eligible for Long-Term (Permanent Residency)? No, you will likely need to return to your country of origin and re-apply for a new Non-Lucrative Visa.
- Can I travel outside of Spain / the Schengen Zone? If your TIE card has expired you cannot travel outside Spain or the Schengen Zone without risk during this period unless you request a “autorización de regreso” (return authorisation), which allows you to re‑enter Spain while your renewal is pending. You can only leave and return through a Spanish port of entry.
- Can I travel within the Schengen Zone? It is not recommended. Generally speaking there are no borders within the Schengen Zone however if you were stopped by the police, or if the country temporarily reintroduces borders (which they do from time to time) you may face difficulties. You may also face difficulties when travelling by plane.