Question
Can the 90-day period to enter Spain after receiving the Spain Non Lucrative Visa (NLV) be extended if I now have medical issues? I have a hospital surgery appointment following the discovery of cancer..
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“Sorry to hear the cancer news. Have you applied for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa? The reason I ask is that we’ve just received ours, and the dates on it are valid for four months to get into the country. The usual rule is three months, but in some cases like ours, it’s longer. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, so it’s worth an appeal or letter.”
“I’m wondering if this will affect your visa, as they ask for a medical health certificate. They may fear you’ll become a burden to their public health system.” -“I believe the medical certificate is to confirm you don’t have any contagious diseases. If your cancer treatment is covered by your private Spanish insurance, I don’t think that would be a problem.”
“As unfortunate as it may seem, I believe if your visa expires before you get to Spain, you would have to apply again. Hopefully, that won’t be the case.”
“I would do what someone else suggested—go to Spain and then return for treatment if you can. If you have an S1, it means you can eventually switch your treatment to Spain. My understanding is that Spanish hospitals are excellent for cancer treatment.” – The original poster added: “I have an S1 as I’m retired.”
(Professional answer) “No, but if you’re well enough, you could fly to Spain and then return. Your visa will be stamped, and you can deal with the TIE later.”
Conclusion
While the standard entry window for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa is 90 days, some members have reported receiving visas with a longer entry period, such as four months. In light of medical complications, especially serious ones like surgery for cancer, it’s worth exploring options by appealing or writing a letter requesting an extension.
Some members also suggest traveling to Spain within the 90 days to get the visa stamped, then returning for treatment. For those holding an S1 form, transferring medical care to Spain in the future may also be an option, as Spanish healthcare is well-regarded, particularly in the treatment of serious conditions like cancer.
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