I wanted to share my experience with BLS London for anyone who might find it helpful. I’m 37 and applied for a Spain Non Lucrative Visa showing sufficient savings to cover a year. Three days after submitting my application, I was asked for a copy of my P45.
At the time, I didn’t have it, as I was still working until the end of December, and my employer could only issue it on my final pay date, December 19th. I had initially provided an acceptance of resignation letter, but they specifically required the P45, so my application was put on hold.
Once I received the P45, I submitted it to the BLS centre. Three days later, on Christmas Eve, I received my passport back with the visa!
I wasn’t notified, but I kept checking the online application status daily. When it said “Passport delivered to the counter“, I called BLS, and they confirmed it was ready for posting, giving me the tracking number over the phone.
Overall, it took about seven working days (excluding the hold period) for the visa to be issued.
I hope this helps someone! Wishing you all good luck and a Happy New Year!
Questions and Answers
These are the questions and answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
Q1: “Did you compile the application yourself or use an agent?”
A1: “I did it all myself.”
Q2: “Can I ask how much your health insurance was being 37 compared to a 59-year-old?”
A2: “I paid 660 Euros for the full year.”
Comments
“Absolutely wonderful! Well done!”
“Ours changed from ‘Processing at mission’ to ‘Delivered to counter’ today, so we are hopeful for passports soon. Enjoy your life in Spain!”
“Wow, that’s awesome! Glad to hear some applications are quick, as I see some are taking over 8 weeks. Applying in March when we finish work at the end of February. Keeping our fingers crossed we get as lucky as you!”
“This proves everything is processed in London using UK staff and UK holidays. Nothing gets sent to Spain.”
“We received ours on Christmas Eve, but only after a 9-week wait!”
Conclusion
This experience highlights that the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa application at BLS London can be a fast process, with some applications taking as little as seven working days. However, documentation requirements, such as a P45, are strictly enforced.
Key takeaways include:
- Checking the online application status frequently to avoid missing important updates.
- Ensuring all required documents are available before applying, especially employment-related paperwork.
- Processing times can vary, with some receiving visas within a week, while others wait up to 9 weeks.
For those applying at BLS London, preparation is key to a smooth and timely approval.
