How to Apply for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa (NLV) from Australia

If you’re an Australian planning a long-term move to Spain without the need to work locally, the Spain Non Lucrative Visa (NLV) may be the right pathway for you. This visa is ideal for retirees, remote workers with external income, or anyone who wants to experience life in Spain for a year or more without engaging in local employment.

While the process isn’t necessarily complicated, it does require a lot of preparation, attention to detail, and patience. The following guide outlines each step in a clear and realistic way, tailored for Australians applying through one of the three Spanish consulates in Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, or Canberra.

Choosing the Right Spanish Consulate in Australia

The first step in the process is determining which Spanish consulate you need to apply through. Spain has three consulates in Australia, each covering specific states and territories.

• If you live in New South Wales, Queensland, or the Northern Territory, your application must go through the Consulate General of Spain in Sydney.
• If you live in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, or Tasmania, you’ll apply through the Consulate General of Spain in Melbourne.
• Residents of the Australian Capital Territory and Queanbeyan should use the Embassy of Spain in Canberra.

Explore Spainguru’s dedicated pages for each Spanish consulate in Australia. These pages feature curated content, community insights, and links to official resources.

You’ll need to provide proof of residence, such as a driver’s licence or a utility bill, when submitting your application. It’s not enough to simply use an address in a consulate’s region—you must be legally residing there.

Planning Your Timeline for the Spanish NLV Application

One of the most important elements of a successful non-lucrative visa application is timing. Unlike tourist visas or short-stay travel plans, the NLV process involves numerous documents that take time to gather, some of which have limited validity windows. Understanding when to start and how to pace your preparations will help you avoid unnecessary stress.

It’s recommended to begin preparing your application at least four to five months before your intended arrival in Spain. This includes working backward from your desired move-in date and building in time for document requests, translations, apostilles, and potential delays.

The Spanish consulates in Australia generally require that your application be submitted at least 90 days before your intended travel date, as they legally have up to 90 days to make a decision. In most cases, decisions arrive sooner—often within 4 to 8 weeks—but timelines can vary depending on demand, holidays, or the need for additional documentation.

Once your visa is approved, you’ll need to adhere to three important deadlines:

1. You must collect your visa from the consulate within 30 days of notification.
2. You must arrive in Spain within 90 days of your visa start date.
3. After arriving, you must book an appointment for your residency card (TIE) within 30 days.

With those non-negotiables in mind, it’s helpful to select a tentative “Spain arrival date” early on. This will anchor the rest of your planning. Everything from document validity to booking accommodation and medical checks can be timed more effectively once that date is chosen.

Frequently asked question: Can I enter Spain before my visa starts?

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Thinking Ahead About Accommodation in Spain

Although the Spanish non-lucrative visa application doesn’t require you to have a rental contract or permanent address in Spain at the time you submit your paperwork, planning your housing situation is still essential. This is because once you arrive in Spain, you’ll need to register your local address with the town hall (a process called “empadronamiento”) in order to complete your residency formalities.

To obtain your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), which is your foreigner identity card in Spain, there is a very high chance that you must present a certificate of registration from your local municipality, commonly referred to as the padron.

In many regions of Spain, the local authorities require a long-term rental contract—often at least 12 months—to issue the padron. Temporary bookings like Airbnbs might not meet their criteria, unless the host is willing to provide additional documentation to confirm your residency.

If you’re not sure whether your intended destination in Spain is strict about this, it’s worth researching in local Facebook groups or expat forums specific to that town or city. Some people choose platforms like Idealista or Spotahome to secure longer rentals, especially those that are open to international applicants. These platforms also allow you to check if a landlord is willing to assist with empadronamiento.

One additional consideration: some landlords or their insurance providers may ask for proof of employment in Spain, which NLV applicants obviously don’t have. This can sometimes make the search harder. Reaching out to English-speaking real estate agents or relocation services in your target city may be worthwhile.

While you’re not expected to have all of this confirmed before applying for your visa, starting the process of exploring accommodation early can make your transition to life in Spain much smoother.

Understanding Financial Requirements and Tax Implications

The non-lucrative visa is designed for individuals who can support themselves financially while living in Spain. That means one of the most important parts of your application is demonstrating that you have sufficient savings or passive income to live without working.

The minimum financial requirement is tied to Spain’s IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples). For a single applicant, the required amount is 400% of the IPREM annually, and for each additional family member, you must add 100% of the IPREM. These amounts are updated yearly, so it’s essential to check the latest figures published by the consulates.

The funds must be:

• Held in your name (joint accounts are fine if applying as a couple)
• Accessible (not locked in a term deposit)
• Demonstrated through bank statements covering the past 12 months (Check official requirements!), ideally stamped or signed by your bank

You may also be asked to provide additional documentation showing average balances or regular income sources, such as investment earnings or pensions.

Beyond proving financial means, Australians applying for the NLV should also consider the tax implications of becoming a non-resident in Australia and a potential tax resident in Spain. While this is not tax advice, there are a few key points to keep in mind:

• If you spend more than 183 days per calendar year in Spain, you’ll generally be considered a Spanish tax resident.
• Selling assets like property or shares before or after your move could trigger tax obligations in Spain.
• Self-managed super funds and private companies may need to be restructured or closed before your departure.

It’s highly recommended to seek advice from a tax advisor who understands both Australian and Spanish tax systems before committing to the move. Planning ahead can help you avoid complications and potentially save a lot of money in the long run.

Getting Set Up: Essential Tools and Early Paperwork

Once you’ve mapped out your timeline, chosen the correct consulate, verified the official requirements, and started thinking about your accommodation and finances, it’s time to focus on the first set of practical steps.

Handling documents is a key part of the Spanish NLV application process, but you don’t necessarily need to invest in a home scanner. A reliable mobile app like CamScanner can turn your phone into a practical tool for capturing high-quality scans of your paperwork, including bank statements, ID documents, and medical certificates.

These apps let you scan, save, and organize files as PDFs, making it easy to manage your documents throughout the application process.

That said, having access to a printer can also be a big help when it comes to filling out forms and assembling your final application package.

With that tool ready, one of the first official documents you should request is your AFP national police check. This is a requirement for all non-lucrative visa applicants, and it can take several weeks to process.

Here’s how to approach it:

• Go to the official website of the Australian Federal Police and select the option for a national police check with fingerprinting.
• Request the hard copy version of the certificate (digital certificates won’t be accepted for apostille).
• Visit your local police station to have your fingerprints taken. It’s a good idea to check in advance whether they offer this service and how they prefer to do it (some use traditional ink, others use digital scans).
• Once completed, send your application to the AFP via express post.

It’s worth noting that this document is only valid for six months, so be mindful of when you order it in relation to your planned application submission. This certificate will later need to be apostilled by the Australian government, which we’ll cover in a later step.

Health Insurance, Medical Certificates, and Apostilles

Once you’re about two months out from your intended visa submission date, it’s time to start securing some of the most time-sensitive documents required for your application: your private health insurance, medical certificate, and apostilled government documents.

Let’s start with the health insurance. One of the core requirements for the non-lucrative visa is proof that you will be fully covered by private health insurance from a Spanish provider. The policy must meet the following criteria:

• Offer full coverage with no co-payments or excess.
• Be valid for a minimum of one year.
• Be underwritten by a company operating in Spain.

Frequently Asked Question: When should my health insurance start date be?

Some Spanish insurers offer policies specifically for non-lucrative visa applicants and are familiar with the documentation required. Be prepared to pay for the full year upfront, especially if you don’t yet have a Spanish bank account. Costs will vary depending on your age and health profile, but it’s not uncommon for couples to pay several thousand Australian dollars for the first year of coverage.

Next is your medical certificate, which must be issued by a general practitioner and state that you do not suffer from any condition that would pose a risk to public health. A widely accepted wording (which you can provide to your doctor) is:

(This sample Medical Certificate was obtained from the Los Angeles consulate) – Note: This certificate wording is commonly accepted

This letter must be printed on the clinic’s official letterhead, signed by the doctor (ideally in blue ink), and stamped with the clinic’s stamp. It’s valid for three months, so try not to obtain it too early.

Once you have your AFP certificate and, if applicable, your marriage certificate, the next step is to get them apostilled. An apostille is an official authentication from the Australian government that certifies the validity of certain documents for use abroad.

To obtain apostilles, you can either:

• Book an in-person appointment at an Australian Passport Office in a capital city, or
• Mail your original documents to the relevant address via registered or express post.

Only original documents can be apostilled—not scans or copies. Once apostilled, these documents can move on to the next step: translation.

Translating Your Documents and Completing the Application File

Once your AFP police check and marriage certificate (if applicable) have been apostilled, and you’ve obtained your medical certificate, the next step is to get these documents translated into Spanish. This is a critical part of the process, and accuracy matters.

The Spanish consulates in Australia require that translations be completed by a sworn translator accredited by the Spanish government. Here you can contact Spainguru’s recommended sworn translators.

The following documents typically require translation:

• Apostilled AFP national police check
• Apostilled marriage certificate (if applying as a couple)
• Medical certificate (this does not need to be apostilled)

The translator will typically ask for scans of your documents, not the originals. Once completed, they will return a physical copy of each translation, stamped and signed, with a copy of the source document attached. These are the versions you’ll include in your final visa submission.

If you’re applying as a couple and only have one original of a shared document (like a marriage certificate), it’s generally acceptable for one person to submit the original and the other to submit a clear photocopy.

This is also a good time to get your passport photos taken. You’ll need:

• One standard Australian-size photo (45mm x 35mm) for your visa application form
• A few smaller photos (32mm x 26mm) for later use in Spain—especially for your TIE appointment

With all of these documents ready and translated, you’ll soon be ready to organize your complete visa application file. But first, you’ll need to demonstrate proof of funds—an essential piece of the process.

Proving Your Financial Means and Gathering Final Documents

Roughly a month before you plan to submit your application, it’s time to finalize your supporting documents—especially the proof that you meet the financial requirements for the non-lucrative visa.

To do this, visit your bank in person and request a printout of your account statements from the past 12 months. These should be:

• Printed on bank letterhead or official template
• Stamped or signed by a bank representative (ideally on each page)

Some banks may also be able to provide a document showing your average balance over a specific period, which can help reinforce your financial case. However, this isn’t mandatory if your statements clearly demonstrate that you have enough funds in your account to meet the visa threshold.

Keep in mind that these documents must be recent, and ideally dated just before submission. One original version of the financial documents is usually enough for a couple if both are applying—one person can submit the original, and the other a photocopy.

Now is also the right time to prepare the rest of your personal documents. You’ll need:

• A passport copy (photo/data page only)
• A driver’s licence or utility bill to prove your address within the consulate’s jurisdiction
• Your health insurance certificate
• Your translated documents
• A passport photo
• A money order for the consular fee (the amount varies by consulate and fluctuates with exchange rates, so check directly with your consulate for the exact figure)

The consulates generally do not accept bank cheques or transfers. A money order made out to the corresponding Spanish consulate (e.g., “The Consulate General of Spain”) is the standard format. This can be issued at any Australia Post location.

Completing and Organizing the Application Forms

To apply for the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa, you’ll need to submit three official forms. These are all available (or can be requested) through your consulate’s website or by email. The forms are:

1. National Visa Application Form (Solicitud de visado nacional)
2. EX-01 Form (Solicitud de autorización de residencia no lucrativa)
3. Form 790/052 (Tasa or payment form for the residency authorization fee)

Let’s break down each one.

1. National Visa Application Form
This is a bilingual (Spanish-English) document, which makes it one of the easier forms to complete. You’ll fill in personal details, travel information, and the type of visa you are applying for. Be sure to:

• Tick the option for “Non-lucrative residence or residence without a labour purpose.”
• Write the city in Spain where you plan to reside.
• Attach your passport photo using glue (not staples).

2. EX-01 Form
This form is entirely in Spanish and is used to request a temporary residence permit. Each applicant must complete their own EX-01. The form asks for:

• Personal details
• Your destination in Spain
• Type of permit you’re applying for (tick the box labeled “residencia no lucrativa”)

If you’re unfamiliar with Spanish forms, it can feel intimidating at first, but with a little patience—or help from a translator or immigration professional—you can manage it. The consulate won’t expect perfect Spanish, but consistency and accuracy are key.

3. Form 790/052
This is the fee form for your residence application. Even though this form can be filled out online in Spain, Australian applicants typically need the PDF version which can be completed by hand. You’ll use this form to:

• Fill in your personal details
• Indicate the type of fee (“autorización inicial de residencia temporal”)
• Declare the amount (usually listed in euros)
• Confirm payment method (select “en efectivo” if using a money order)

Even though you’re not paying in euros directly, the consulate will determine the exact fee in Australian dollars. Again, make sure to confirm the latest amount with your consulate before preparing the money order.

Assembling and Mailing Your Application

Once you’ve completed your forms and gathered all supporting documents, the final step before submission is organizing everything into a clear and logical order. Presentation may not be officially evaluated, but making the consulate’s job easier can only help.

If you’re applying as a couple or family, each applicant should prepare a separate folder or envelope with their full set of documents. Some documents—like bank statements or a marriage certificate—can be originals for one person and photocopies for the other, as long as it’s clearly marked and accompanied by the original in the other application.

Here’s a suggested order for each applicant’s packet:

1. Money order for the consular fee
2. Passport (original)
3. EX-01 form
4. National Visa Application Form
5. Form 790/052 (fee form)
6. Photocopy of passport’s data page
7. Proof of funds (bank statements—original for one applicant, copy for the other)
8. Health insurance certificate
9. AFP police certificate (apostilled)
10. Translation of police certificate
11. Medical certificate
12. Translation of medical certificate
13. Marriage certificate (apostilled, if applicable)
14. Translation of marriage certificate (original for one, copy for the other)
15. Driver’s licence or utility bill (proof of address)
16. Photocopy of driver’s licence (both sides)

For Sydney: Spainguru community members reported being asked to provide a flight itinerary as well, in order to have the visa issued.

Once everything is assembled, place each set into a separate A4-sized folder or envelope, clearly labeled with the applicant’s name.

For mailing, you’ll need:

• One Express Platinum Australia Post satchel
• One self-addressed Express Platinum satchel inside the packet (for returning documents or, in some cases, visas)

Place both applicant folders and the return envelope inside the outer satchel and send it to the consulate that corresponds with your jurisdiction.

Although procedures may vary slightly, most consulates in Australia do not require you to appear in person to submit your application, though you’ll likely be required to collect your visa in person once it’s approved.

After Submission: What to Expect and Collecting Your Visa

Once your application has been posted, the waiting begins. Processing times can vary, but most applicants hear back within 4 to 8 weeks, though consulates have up to 90 days to issue a decision.

You may receive a short confirmation email once your package is received, but this isn’t always guaranteed. Unlike visa processes in some other countries, you may not receive a tracking number or case reference from the consulate. During this period, it’s best to be patient and only follow up if a significant amount of time has passed.

If your application is successful, you’ll receive a notification via email stating that your visa is ready to be collected. The next step is to visit the consulate in person to pick it up—this is a requirement at most Australian consulates. At the appointment, you’ll typically need to bring identification, sign a few documents, and collect your passport, which now contains your visa.

This visa isn’t a separate document—it’s a sticker affixed to a page in your passport. Along with it, you’ll also be assigned your NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero), which serves as your foreigner ID for all official business in Spain. Keep this number safe—it’s linked to nearly every legal, financial, and administrative process in the country.

After collecting your visa, you’ll also receive back your original documents. Be sure to hold on to everything and bring them with you to Spain. These documents will be essential for your TIE application and registration with the local authorities once you arrive.

Final Steps Before Moving to Spain

Once your visa is approved and collected, you’re officially on your way. But before boarding the plane, there are a few important tasks to take care of that will make your transition to life in Spain much smoother.

Open a Wise account
Having access to a reliable and cost-effective way to transfer money internationally is essential. Wise (formerly TransferWise) allows you to send Australian dollars to a Spanish bank account with low fees and competitive exchange rates. It’s also helpful for paying deposits on housing or other services before you arrive. You can open a Wise account online from Australia and get a debit card that can be used internationally.

With these final preparations in place, you’ll be ready not only to enter Spain smoothly but also to begin your new life with confidence. The visa process may be long, but reaching the finish line makes it all worthwhile.

Need help with translations, tax planning, or connecting with trusted visa professionals? Spainguru is here to support your move to Spain. explore our partner directory for NLV assistance.