Spain Non Lucrative Visa: Can I Still Work While Applying at the Los Angeles Consulate?

Question

A general question about application. I’m semi-retired, still working part time. I was going to write a letter with my paperwork stating that I was planning on resigning when my visa was approved. If they don’t approve us I’d like to continue working. My consulate is in Los Angeles. Has anyone had a similar situation? Thanks

Answers

“I applied in February 2025 and I was still working full time. I included a notarized letter stating that I would resign as soon as my visa was approved, and that if approved, my plan was to enter Spain on May 1st.

I purchased the insurance starting May 1st as well. Very important—I attached a letter from the Social Security Administration indicating that I ‘applied’ to receive SS starting May 1st. The visa was granted in less than 2 weeks and the dates on the visa clearly stated that May 1st was the first day I could enter Spain.”

“It’s been very inconsistent and varies by consulate. I am hoping someone who has used this one can share their experience with you.

For us in NYC, my husband and I stopped working ahead of time and got letters from our employers stating we are no longer working to be safe. We are selling our home so we are taking the time to pack and stuff until we have our appointment in August.

We were upset because we wanted a late June appointment and left our jobs but didn’t get one until August—otherwise we would have stayed working longer. Got advice to wait until we had all our papers to book the appointment, and then voila, appointment two months later. Such is life. Good luck!”

“While the requirement of ‘not working’ is uniform across embassies and consulates, how each one interprets it varies from one to another. Best bet is to contact the Los Angeles Consulate directly to get their exact definition of what documents they need to fulfill this requirement.

I applied through the Hong Kong Consulate in May 2023 and, since I was there under an employment visa, I was required to present a formal letter from HR, on official letterhead and with a stamp, stating my tenure at the company, salary, and the date of resignation.”

“I think the new laws regarding NLV in May are even more stringent about not working, so it may cause issues.”

“They will likely reject you without having a formal letter from your employer stating what your last day will be. Other consulates (Houston) are rejecting people who are working at the time of their application, even if they do have letters from employers.”

Conclusion

When applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa at the Los Angeles consulate, continuing to work—even part-time—at the time of application is risky. While one member reported success after including a notarized resignation letter and documentation of retirement income, others emphasized that outcomes vary greatly dpending on the consulate.

Members advised caution, noting that some consulates strictly require applicants to be unemployed at the time of application and may reject applications without a formal resignation letter.

Additionally, with new regulations reportedly tightening enforcement on the “non-working” requirement, applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm directly with the Los Angeles consulate what proof is required.

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