How long does the Spanish consulate in London hold passports after non lucrative Spain visa appointment?

Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question about a non lucrative Spain visa application at London’s consulate

Could someone please let me know how long the Spanish consulate in London holds passports when you hand it at your non lucrative Spain visa appointment.

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“About 3 weeks, if you’re lucky”

“As long as it takes to approve the visa. Can be up to 3 months”

“We got approved in just under 3 weeks and passports back to us in 4 days. Would have been 3 but Spanish public holiday meant didn’t get posted out the next day”

“If you need your passport to travel, you can let them know and ask to bring your passport only when the visa is approved. At least it’s like this in other consulates”

In conclusion, the processing time for a visa application at the Spanish consulate in London can vary. Some applicants have reported receiving their visas in as little as 3 weeks, while others have reported waiting up to 3 months. Factors such as Spanish public holidays may also affect the timeline.

Check out these articles:

First-hand perspective: Applying for our NLV at London’s Spanish consulate

First-hand experience: The costs of our NLV application in London

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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