Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

Any Canadians here that applied for the NLV while living in the US?

Answers

These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:

“Which office did you apply with? Was the fee $761? Did you need to apostille anything from Canada?”

“I enquired at the consulate. The fee was $811 per person + $12, but it might be different for 2025. I’d follow what it says on BLS.”

“Yes, we did need documents apostilled in Canada:

• Birth certificates for our kids
• Marriage certificate for my spouse and me
• RCMP background check since we moved to the USA less than five years ago.

“The RCMP background check was really painful because you need to send in ink fingerprints and hope they scan properly. It took multiple mailings to get one that worked.

I’d recommend finding someone very skilled to take your prints and getting multiple copies (at least 4) in case you need them.”

Conclusion

Applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa as a Canadian residing in the US presents additional challenges, especially regarding required documents and apostilles. Key takeaways from the discussion include:

1. Application Fees – The Spain NLV fee for Canadians in 2024 was $811 per person + $12, but fees may change. Always check the latest details on BLS Spain’s website.
2. Required Apostilles – Canadians must apostille their birth certificates, marriage certificates, and RCMP background checks.
3. RCMP Background Check Issues – Since fingerprinting requires ink-based scans, multiple mailings might be necessary. Getting multiple copies of fingerprints done by a skilled technician can help avoid delays.
4. Check Consulate Requirements – Visa requirements may differ slightly depending on the consulate, so it’s best to verify everything in advance.

While the process can be complex, being well-prepared and ensuring documents are correctly apostilled and submitted can make the Spain NLV application process smoother for Canadians living in the US.

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Make sure to join our dedicated Spanish Non Lucrative Visa group here!

Bruno Bianchi CEO & Spain Immigration Expert

Bruno Bianchi is the founder and CEO of Spainguru, Spain's largest expat immigration community with 150,000+ members. Since 2014 he has helped thousands of people relocate to Spain through expert guides, webinars and vetted professional services covering visas, residency, taxes and life in Spain.

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