Is it the non lucrative Spain visa that I am renewing, or my TIE?

Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

Is it the non lucrative Spain visa that I am renewing, or my Spain TIE?

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“It is not the non lucrative Spain visa per se that is renewed after 12 months but the Spain TIE although upon renewing the TIE your visa is extended for another 2 years (up to 5 years) and I think this is where the confusion lies. The non lucrative Spain visa is permission for the holder to come to Spain to apply for residency.

For UK residents, the non lucrative Spain visa is issued by one of the Spanish Consulates in the UK (London, Manchester, Edinburgh). It is valid for 3 months and during those 90 days the holder must come to Spain and within 30 days of arrival apply for the TIE.

The TIE is then issued for 12 months after which time you will need to renew it with proof of the required income. Currently for the first year this will be €27,792.96 pa in the bank for a single application and with an extra €6,948.24 for the spouse and for each child under the legal age (unless they are proven as your dependants). This permit can be renewed after one year (apply 60 days before or 90 days after expiry date) or you can apply for a work permit to commence work with a contract or as self-employed.

If you are not going to be working then the renewal will be necessary every 2 years until 5 years when you can get a long-term residencia (TIE) allowing you to live here without needing to renew it for 5 years. Because each renewal after the first 12 months is for 2 years (1, 2, 2) after the first year the amount of money you must show in the bank is doubled so €55,585.92 plus double for your spouse and each family member (€13,896.48). During the first 5 years you must not spend more than 10 months away from Spain and only one block of 6 months.

You will also need a current padrón dated within the last 3 months and a valid medical insurance with no copayments issued by an authorised Spanish insurance company. If, by the time of renewing after 12 months you have reached UK state pension age you can apply to transfer your rights to state healthcare via the S1 and once in your possession you can therefore cancel your private medical insurance, if you choose.

Spanish law states that all children must be in school between the ages of 6 and 16 so if your children are of school age (6+ years old) you must prove they are enrolled in a school and the school will issue a certificate to that effect.

As a fiscal resident of more than 183 days, you must also be up to date with payments to Hacienda (Spanish Tax Office) and have no other debts unpaid – Council fees if property owner, fines etc.”

In conclusion, according to Spainguru Facebook group members, the renewal process primarily concerns the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), which is extended for up to 5 years (after 2 consecutive renewals of 2 years each), not the non lucrative Spain visa itself. The non lucrative Spain visa serves as permission to enter Spain and apply for residency. The Spain TIE renewal requires proof of income and financial stability. Additionally, compliance with residency rules, such as not spending more than a certain time outside of Spain. It’s worth noting that discussions about potential changes to the requirements for subsequent renewals are ongoing, and depend on the IPREM index.

Bruno Bianchi CEO & Spain Immigration Expert

Bruno Bianchi is the founder and CEO of Spainguru, Spain's largest expat immigration community with 150,000+ members. Since 2014 he has helped thousands of people relocate to Spain through expert guides, webinars and vetted professional services covering visas, residency, taxes and life in Spain.

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