Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
When you make an application for the Spanish non lucrative visa (NLV) do you have to justify why you want to move to Spain with a letter of intent? And if so what kind of reasons are more successful?
Related read: What do you recommend writing in your non lucrative Spain visa intention letter?
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These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“No reasons required.”
“Mine was sunshine!”
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Explore Cities →“It was recommended to us and we did write a ‘love letter’.”
“It wasn’t required in New York but we wrote a letter of intent. Then she came back to the window and asked us why we wanted to live in Spain. This was August 2023. We had mentioned all our reasons in the letter, BTW. We mentioned many things, including wanting to contribute to the economy. We are retired.”
“I had to write a letter of intent. I just said a lot of lovely things about Spain.”
“No, you don’t, but I wrote a paragraph in Spanish and submitted it. Just saying my love for Spain, its people and culture. Can’t hurt!”
“You don’t need a reason. Just say you are ready to retire in a good climate (and obviously you have enough money to comply with their requirements for a NL visa). Enjoy!”
“Just include a brief letter as to why you chose Spain.”
“No reason required, don’t confuse matters.”
“I wrote a letter – explained that I was moving for the rock climbing. I think it helped my application because I was so much younger than standard retirement age and I’ve had a lot of people question whether I really don’t have to work.”
“A love letter along with mentioning the province you plan to live.”
“Nothing done in Chicago. Approved in 10 days in December.”
“Retirement. Any other good reason?”
“It wasn’t required in Manchester.”
“I talked about problems that exist in the US that don’t exist in Spain. I spoke of Barcelona’s culture and history. I mentioned that we had Spanish healthcare insurance and didn’t want to be a burden on society. Stuff like that. We touched it up a bit and made it flowery.”
“Absolutely not, well we didn’t have to give any reason at all.”
“Use chatGPT to assist in formulating letter.”
“No, they are only concerned with you meeting the criteria they set down, financially and medical insurance etc in place.”
“It depends on the consulate. In Mexico, I had to write a letter that explains ‘my connection to Spain’, reasons why I want to go, and to explain if I actually plan on living there long term.”
“Just say Retiring.”
“We didn’t have to write anything and weren’t asked.”
Conclusion
The requirement for a letter of intent when applying for a Spanish Non Lucrative Visa (NLV) varies significantly by consulate and individual circumstances.
While some applicants were not asked to provide any reasons for their move, others chose to submit a letter detailing their love for Spain, its culture, and their personal reasons for wanting to relocate. These “love letters” or statements of intent, whether required or not, seem to add a personal touch to the application process.
The consensus suggests that while not universally required, a well-crafted letter of intent could potentially enhance an application, especially when it conveys genuine enthusiasm for living in Spain and contributing positively to the local community.
| Consulate Location | Letter of Intent Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| London | No | |
| New York | No | However, applicants chose to write one. |
| Los Angeles | Yes | Applicants advised to write a letter. |
| Chicago | No | Approved quickly without a letter. |
| Mexico | Yes | Required to explain “connection to Spain”. |
| Manchester | No | |
| DC | No | But writing a letter was considered a nice touch. |
| Philippines | Yes | Specifically asked for a letter of intent. |
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