Spain Non Lucrative Visa: Our San Francisco Consulate Experience – June 2025

First-hand experience with the Spain Non Lucrative Visa process at the San Francisco consulate (BLS Office) in June 2025.

“Our 2nd attempt at BLS appointment in San Francisco was successful. We are a family of four. I had an appointment last week but not for the kids. I had emailed the info.sfoes@blsinternational.net and told them after months of trying could not get and they responded just get adult appointments.

I didn’t have the paperwork verifying that so she wouldn’t let us move forward—although we had some other issues that we fixed. After some effort she rescheduled us for Tuesday 8am had to pay $111 each. (Debit card only). We were there 1 hr. 15 mins.

Things to note: did request Bank statements showing cash on hand for amount needed for the year. 790 form address is in Spain (province is fine). Money Order is $151 each cannot be combined in one Money Order. They have hired 2 new people that started this week.

Several folks walked in without an appointment and she told them all no. Said to email info.sfoes@blsinternational.net to request help if they had special circumstances. Hope this helps someone. What an ordeal. We’re told to be patient: wait time for processing 4-8 weeks.”

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Questions and Answers

These are the Questions and Answers from Spainguru’s Facebook group members:

Q1: “Did they process applications for all four of you in that hour and 15 minutes?”
A1: “Yes.”

Q2: “Is that document checklist from the BLS office?”
A2: “Yes but she told me it’s not official.”

Q3: “Do we need to show the medical certificates for 11 and 15-year-old children to the Spanish consulate?”
A3: No direct answer provided, but typically consulates do require medical certificates for all family members unless otherwise stated.

Q4: “Did you have to show a lease agreement for 3 months?”
A4: “Yes fortunately.”

Q5: “Regarding the financial documents, does it have to be bank statements, not investment accounts?”
A5: “I only gave them 3 months of bank statements and 3 years of tax summaries. Along with proof of liquid capital in our Schwab account.”

Q6: “Did they ask for the 2024 average balance and Dec 31 balance on an average balance certificate?”
A6: “I only gave them 3 months of bank statements and 3 years of tax summaries.”

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Comments

“Thank you for letting us know. We are on day 56 of trying to get an appointment with no luck.”

“It’s such a crazy system. Maybe now that they hired 2 more people it’ll open up soon 🤞🏼🤞🏼”

“This is really helpful. Really appreciate you clarifying.”

“Thanks for the info 😊 We went last week, May 20 and 21. We don’t know if they will ask for more because of the changes.”

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Conclusion

This firsthand account of applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa at the San Francisco BLS office highlights both the challenges and the evolving logistics of the process. For this family of four, persistence paid off after multiple attempts to secure appointments. The BLS office allowed some flexibility after verifying communication attempts, and the process, though demanding, was completed in under two hours for all applicants.

Key takeaways include the need for individual money orders for each applicant, the importance of showing liquid funds through bank statements rather than relying solely on investment accounts, and confirming the correct format of required documents in advance. Walk-ins without appointments were turned away, so planning and communication are critical. With new staff hired, appointment access may improve in the near future.

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Disclaimer: The content of this article is based on personal experiences and contributions shared by members of the Spainguru community. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified expert for guidance specific to your situation.

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