Acquiring a Spanish Non Lucrative Visa Without Leaving Your Passport at the Consulate

Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

Has anybody managed to Acquire (or know firsthand of somebody who has) a Spanish non lucrative visa without leaving their passport at a Consulate?

I am happy to use immigration lawyers or possibly a different embassy (I am from London) if this makes it easier, in fact I am open to any options from people who have achieved what I need to do. Many thanks for any answers or experiences with this problem.

Answers

These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:

One contributor emphasized that applicants must use the embassy of their country of residence.

Another shared that in London, explaining the need for a passport due to planned travel has allowed applicants to keep their passports. This was confirmed by examples from Manchester.

It was noted that the embassy is based on your home address, with some having direct experience of not being able to keep their passports at the Manchester consulate, while others did manage to retain theirs.

In Boston, one member did not have to leave their passport without even asking, suggesting it depends on the consulate staff.

A contributor highlighted that only the consulate in your country of residence can process the application, and typically, passports are required during the application process. However, the return time can be as fast as 10 days.

One interesting solution came from those who mentioned the possibility of obtaining a second passport for such circumstances, which is a practice in the U.S. and for those needing to travel between conflicting countries. The UK government also issues second passports under specific conditions.

Some shared that asking during the interview at the embassy could result in permission to keep the passport by providing color copies instead.

Experiences varied significantly by location and individual consulate policies, with some consulates like Edinburgh and Manchester having flexible policies about retaining passports if travel needs are communicated.

Conclusion

Navigating the process of acquiring a Spanish Non Lucrative Visa (NLV) without surrendering one’s passport at the embassy is possible, albeit dependent on specific consulate policies and the applicant’s circumstances.

The key is communication: explaining your need to retain your passport due to travel plans and being open to solutions such as obtaining a second passport or providing copies of your passport during the application.

Experiences vary widely, with some consulates more accommodating than others, suggesting that outcomes can significantly depend on personal interaction and the specific officials handling your request.

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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