Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Spain Non Lucrative Visa Renewal Year 2 & 3: Do I still need a background check, and if I do, where do I request it: in Spain or from my home country? If I have adequate savings in a Spanish bank, I do not have to apostille the statements correct? (As I assume I may have to if the savings come from my home country).
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
Planning your move to Spain?
Get the free step-by-step roadmap used by 10,000+ expats — covering visas, budget, housing, and the mistakes to avoid.
Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“You don’t need a background check, you need bank statements for 6 months, private healthcare, and an up-to-date Padron certificate.”
“Hi. I just did the year 2/3 renewal in Ibiza. I provided a (Spanish) bank statement for the previous 12 months, my US pension statement translated and notarized, US 401k statement translated and notarized, Padron, apostilled and translated marriage certificate (needed because my wife is a dependent). No background check was required.”
“Only government documents can be apostilled, so no.”
“No, police background checks are not needed for renewal. You also do NOT need a medical certificate of good health. Spanish bank documents do not need to be legalized or apostilled. Request a Bank Certificate of Current Balance and ask for it to be stamped.”
Not sure which city is right for you?
Compare cost of living, weather, expat community size, and lifestyle across 13 Spanish cities in our free guide.
Explore Cities →Conclusion
For renewing the Spain Non Lucrative Visa (NLV) in years 2 and 3, a background check is not required. Essential documents include bank statements (6 to 12 months), private healthcare, and an up-to-date Padron certificate.
If the savings are in a Spanish bank, the statements do not need to be apostilled or legalized. Request a Bank Certificate of Current Balance and have it stamped for the renewal process.
Join our community!
Make sure to join our dedicated Spanish Non Lucrative Visa group here!
Get your free step-by-step Spain move plan
10 emails over 2 weeks covering visas, budget, housing & the mistakes to avoid.
Join 10,000+ expats who used this roadmap.
100% free · No credit card · Unsubscribe anytime
