Last Updated on April 21, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
After waiting 5 1/2 months, we got the shocking denial of our Spain Non Lucrative Visa application today. I am thankful our passport will be in the mail. I will appeal. Does anyone have experience with a successful appeal? The letter said we have 30 days to appeal at the consulate or 2 months to Madrid.
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 →“When this happened to us, we used an immigration lawyer. Through her, we provided additional information relevant to the denial and were approved in about six weeks.”
“The reason given was insufficient passive income. Between income and savings, we have more than the required amount. Now I must decide—do I hire an immigration attorney, appeal via San Francisco in 30 days, or appeal via Madrid in 60 days? Any experiences with this choice?”
“Most likely, if your income has changed and you can prove that and write a letter explaining your savings, they will reconsider. It is strange they took so long to respond.”
“People have successfully appealed. If you are confident you meet the requirements, hire an attorney to assist with the process.”
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 →“We were refused based on the medical certificate. It took 12 weeks to get notified. We appealed with a sworn translation of our documents, and our visas were eventually approved. It’s worth the effort.”
“Income from a job is prohibited for an NLV. You must prove sufficient passive income or savings with proper documentation, certified and translated.”
“Ensure your appeal letter and supporting documents are translated into Spanish. They won’t accept the appeal if it’s in English.”
“I recommend consulting an immigration expert for appeals. Some firms have a good success rate with NLV applications and appeals.”
“Appeals often take time and patience. If you have valid documents and meet the criteria, an appeal is likely to succeed.”
Conclusion
Receiving a denial for a Spain Non Lucrative Visa can be frustrating, especially after months of waiting.
However, many applicants have successfully appealed denials by addressing the reasons provided, submitting additional supporting documents, and ensuring proper translations. Consulting an experienced immigration attorney can greatly increase the likelihood of a successful appeal.
Common reasons for denial include insufficient passive income, incomplete documentation, or issues with translations.
Addressing these issues promptly and thoroughly is key to overturning the decision. While the process can be challenging, successful applicants have found it worthwhile to persist.
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
