Question
My question is about the year 2/3 renewal on a Spain Non Lucrative Visa… Our attorney told us we need to have $80,000 in our Spanish bank account to be approved and has advised us to move more money here.
I don’t understand the necessity of having 4x the IPREM x 24 months sitting in a checking account in Spain. We have 65,000 euros in the checking account in Spain. BUT… we also have 1.4 million in the US, and I receive a monthly SS payment of about $1,800 (SS goes into a US checking account that pays in full monthly our US credit card, which we use for out-of-pocket expenses in Spain such as groceries, entertainment, dining out, etc.).
ALSO… our attorney told us we need to submit a new marriage certificate with apostille. That is ordered but will take a month to receive. I have researched and can’t find any documentation that a new marriage certificate is needed for the NLV renewal… Has anyone else had such hurdles for their renewal?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“My money is all in a UK bank account, which was good enough for my renewal. They didn’t require me to transfer everything to Spain as we’re only temporary residents right now.”
“No new marriage certificate needed in the Malaga area, but each region may differ. If you’re outside Malaga, it might be safest to have one just in case.”
“I’ve read that funds don’t need to be in a Spanish bank. The request for 4x IPREM in a Spanish account seems unusual.”
“For the wealth tax, the requirements vary depending on the region.”
“You don’t necessarily need all your funds in a Spanish bank; having the funds accessible and documented is often sufficient.”
“It’s either about having the total amount in the bank or enough passive income to cover that amount over two years.”
“Assets that aren’t liquid (like investments) don’t count toward renewal. Liquid funds are key.”
“We renewed in Malaga and didn’t need a new marriage certificate. They accepted our passive income documentation as long as it met IPREM requirements.”
“I’ve heard both on the marriage certificate. I think it may depend on the region, or perhaps the mood of the funcionario that processes the application.”
“We recently renewed using funds in a US bank account. We did keep a small amount in a Spanish account for regular expenses. Although they asked for our marriage certificate, it didn’t have to be newly issued.”
“We are in Cádiz province and didn’t need a new marriage certificate for renewal. Requirements can depend on the official processing the application.”
“We renewed for years 4/5 with our US bank statements. They needed to be translated, notarized, and apostilled, which delayed the process a bit. But it went through without needing a new marriage license.”
Conclusion
For Spain Non Lucrative Visa renewals, financial requirements vary by region and may depend on the official handling the case.
Some regions require funds in a Spanish bank, while others accept documentation of funds held abroad if they meet the IPREM threshold. The need for a new marriage certificate also differs by region, with some applicants renewing successfully without one, while others found it useful to have an updated version just in case.
Preparing for these regional differences can help ensure a smoother renewal process.
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