Question
“Amazing, we are currently in Spain to accept delivery of our furniture. Saw our Spanish lawyer handed over our paperwork and that’s all that is required. No bls in Manchester all handled within Spain 6 weeks max €700 each keep our passports finally celebrating. Got to be worth it”
Answers
“So which Visa did you get from within Spain?” – “We have applied in Spain via Spanish solicitor for NLV.” Spain Non Lucrative Visa: Can You Apply for the NLV from Within Spain?
“Looks like solicitor may not understand NLV has to applied for in home country b4 moving?”
“Some lawyers do this all the time, apparently.”
“Please can I have your solicitors contact … what about your tie, biometrics attend consult or police station your padron!?”
“Tie and biometric come after NLV application.”
“What about acro fees apostilisation, padron?” – “We have to pay that.”
“Please explain to me how you managed this? Are you a Spanish resident already?”
“If only I knew this at the beginning… we could have just casually made our way over to Spain… sat on the terrace with a glass of wine… Enlighten me…”
“Private school & kids go to school here w/o papers…”
“So in other words you could already put them in a private school with only a temporary address and without requiring a padron or residency? Is that your experience as well?”
“Yes. They are accepted in a private international school no matter where the parents reside in the world.”
“You only need a padron, which anyone can get.”
“We bought a property in Torrevieja which completed in March. The estate agents guaranteed to handle everything for us. So we shipped our furniture which arrives next week. Came to Spain to take delivery and the estate agents made an appointment for today with the lawyer. I did most paperwork in UK relating to banks income and proof of identity and the solicitor is filling in the forms and applying on our behalf. Said we could even stay here from now if we wanted to.”
“You must be getting confused with NIE which you need to purchase a property, completely different to NLV.”
“It will be quite the alarm if this ends up to be true (probably is). Hopefully they update their post, even if they have been misinformed, intentionally confused, or just duped.”
“You have to apply in person in the UK for an NLV.”
“You cannot get an NLV as a British citizen from within Spain without applying through your respective catchment area BLS (either London, Manchester or Edinburgh).”
“Sorry but this is a load of bls ! You have to apply from country of origin… how have you not paid for acro, health insurance, translations, apostilised… we been in Spain with a property for 4 yrs and still 6 months… went home to apply in Manchester as could NOT do in Spain for NVL!!!!”
“I paid for Akro in UK, I have to get this apostille in UK, I have to get health insurance like everyone else. We are not bypassing legal requirements I did my homework brought all my papers with me today and the solicitor is applying from within Spain.”
“I think they are referring to the NIE. We have a property in Torrevieja and registered with the town hall there in 2017 but we still have to apply for our NLV from UK.”
“700€, I don’t think so after the consulate fee your lawyer would be left with 100€.”
“Ok our solicitor got it wrong he hadn’t done a UK NLV before but for many other nationalities. He IS going to arrange our paperwork and Manchester appointment for us. So apologies to everyone who said it couldn’t be done you were right.”
“This cannot happen. Are you sure you’re not being led up the garden path?”
“This is not correct, you have to apply in the UK.”
“Great news for future applicants if this pans out. Good luck.”
“You must apply from your home country, so UK citizen will be with application to BLS in either Edinburgh, London or Manchester. It’s not possible from here in Spain.”
“I hate to be a bummer but my parents were on the same boat. They were misinformed greatly by the gestor. They were told they could do it from Spain. They flew to Spain, handed all the paperwork, and were told a few weeks later that ‘they had just changed the rules’ and that they had to apply back in the US. At least a $3k mistake.”
“The OP has confirmed that she was wrong about this. YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE NLV ONLY FROM THE SPANISH CONSULATES ABROAD.”
“Would it be possible to update the author’s front page post to save people trawling through nearly 200 comments? It’s a confusing thread.”
“Nothing about this post is helpful and it’s very much hurtful and fueling misinformation.”
“I truly believe there is value in this post’s information (and its comments). Not only it’s important to understand what you can do, but also what you can’t do. This post is about the latter.”
“Interesting. Immigration rules do change but lawyers also make mistakes.”
“Lawyer’s details?”
“This is not possible so please don’t feel bad, wait for the outcome if there is an update.”
“Yes and BLS rep and help from Spanish site… but nothing to report as yet and can’t contact consulate…”
“Think the problem is English solicitors. Seems like our estate agents offered full after-sale services with visa help and padron etc.”
“Good luck my love but would still advise you seek a proper expert.”
Conclusion
This Spainguru NLV Facebook Group thread sparked considerable discussion—and confusion—about whether a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) can be applied for from within Spain.
The original poster initially believed their Spanish solicitor was submitting the NLV application directly in Spain, bypassing the required process through the Spanish Consulate in the applicant’s home country (in this case, the UK).
However, after dozens of group members expressed skepticism and concern, the original poster confirmed that the lawyer had made a mistake.
The NLV application process for UK citizens must be initiated from the UK through BLS offices in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh. Applying from within Spain is not permitted unless the applicant is switching from another legal residency type.
The discussion highlighted how common it is to encounter misinformation or misunderstandings, even when using legal assistance.
It also underscored the importance of verifying an immigration lawyer’s experience with your specific nationality. Many group members shared frustrations over time, cost, and confusion—but also provided encouragement and clarity: if you’re from the UK, the NLV must start at home.
Video – Can you apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa while in Spain as a tourist?
In this video, Ainhoa Manero of Sterna Abogados answers one of the most common questions from expats looking to stay in Spain long-term!
FAQs
What should I do if I have already purchased property in Spain and want to stay long-term?
Having property in Spain does not automatically grant long-term residence; you need to apply for the appropriate visa, such as the NLV, through your home country. Once approved, you can then proceed with residence procedures, including registration and obtaining a padron and NIE.
What documentation and fees are involved in applying for the NLV from abroad?
Applicants need to prepare documentation including proof of income, health insurance, and translated and apostilled documents. Fees vary, but costs for services like apostillisation can add up, and application fees are paid to consulates or designated offices.
What are some common misunderstandings about applying for the NLV in Spain versus the UK?
A common misconception is that the NLV can be applied for from within Spain, but in reality, it must be applied for from the applicant’s home country. Many assume legal advice in Spain suffices, but the official procedure requires application abroad.
Do I need to visit the Spanish consulate in my home country to apply for the NLV?
Yes, British citizens and other nationals typically need to apply in person at the Spanish consulate in their home country to obtain the NLV, as applications cannot usually be processed within Spain unless switching residency status.
Can a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) be applied for from within Spain?
No, the NLV application must be initiated from the applicant’s home country through the Spanish consulate or designated offices like BLS in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh. Applying within Spain is generally not permitted unless changing an existing legal residency.
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