Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
This is a Spainguru community member first hand experience: We got our passports back today, with the Spain Non Lucrative Visa, obtained at Houston. It feels like it took an eternity:
- 6/15 (2024): Sent applications to HOUSTON BLS via USPS
- 6/17: USPS tracking showed delivery to Houston BLS
- 7/18: Received email with reference numbers & requests for 2 documents (only me, nothing requested of my wife)
- 7/18 & 7/19: Interacted by email and sent requested documents by email
- 8/9: Received a new email asking for two of the same things I had already sent and five things from my wife (three were unnecessary, one was outside the requirements, and one was a valid request to add our Spanish address on the EX-01). They set a deadline to receive these items by mail within 15 calendar days.
- 8/19: Sent all requested materials to Houston BLS via USPS.
- 8/21: Package received by Houston BLS.
- 10/15: Received text and email with UPS tracking information.
- 10/18: Received passports and visas.
- Total time from sending applications to receiving visas: 125 days
- Time between BLS receipt of applications and “acceptance” of applications: 31 days
- Time between acceptance of applications and notification that visas were in transit: 91 days
I posted previously a couple of months ago that, if we were to do this again, we would apply in person rather than by mail. Only after we applied did Houston BLS add a disclaimer for Houston advising people not to mail in applications.
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Folks going to Houston in person recently have been getting their visas in a month, compared to our nearly five-month wait.
Throughout the process, I checked in with Houston BLS by phone three times. They were polite but couldn’t shed light on our status. I sent numerous emails, to which they replied except for one. However, they never provided an actual status update on our applications at any point.
If there’s a lesson here, it’s to submit the requested documents and be prepared to be very, very patient. We went through what I consider an extremely frustrating process that took far longer than experiences at other consulates.
For many weeks, it felt dispiriting and dampened our excitement for moving to Spain. But we do intend to get there.
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“Five months since our application was received in SF. It’s such a hard process. Your success gives me renewed hope.”
“In the many weeks betrween submitting our last documents and learning the visas were complete, we took the attitude that no news is good news and took heart in not having heard we were denied. That faith bore out. But, yes, a difficult wait in silence to the end. Hope you’re successful soon.”
Conclusion
Applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa through the Houston Consulate by mail can be a lengthy and frustrating experience, with a total processing time of up to 125 days. Those who visit the Houston Consulate in person generally experience a faster turnaround, with visas often processed in about a month.
Key takeaways include the importance of submitting all requested documents carefully and preparing for a potentially lengthy wait. Maintaining a hopeful outlook and planning ahead for possible delays can help applicants navigate the process more smoothly.
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Spainguru’s dedicated Spain Non Lucrative visa FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spanishnlv/
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