Here’s a firsthand experience from a Spainguru community member, applying for a Spain Non Lucrative visa at Mexico City Spanish Consulate:
It was very difficult for me to find out information about the Mexico City BLS office, so I’m posting this to help future applicants.
Here is the official list sent out from the BLS office in September 2025.
“There was a Mexican BLS employee who simply took our documents, stuck them in a binder, and sent them to the Spanish government. The main thing she did was make sure that there were signatures in blue ink and that the most important data points were filled in.
She did fill in the number of my Mexican residency visa in a blank where I wasn’t sure what to put–for that, I was very grateful. She otherwise appeared to do nothing with respect to revising our paperwork. She asked us nothing, she just stacked up the papers and stacked them in order to send.
The whole appointment for 2 people, including payment and everything, took maybe 12 minutes. For 1 person it would be less than 10 minutes.”
“What I’m trying to say is, your paperwork better be 99% in order when you show up because they aren’t going to help you with it.
Alternatively, go with a list of specific questions and ask those first thing when you sit down. (You could also try Post-It notes on the individual pages with the questions.)
I suppose it’s possible that we had done everything exactly correct and therefore she didn’t need to do anything…although I’m skeptical of that. There were plenty of times where I wasn’t sure what to put.”
“Also the forms were not 100% form-fillable/editable. So generally speaking I left everything blank that was not possible for me to do in the digital PDF. (Aside from signing with blue ink.)
She didn’t care.
Note that this BLS list DOES NOT include the revised May rule about average bank balance, December balance, account standing, and date of creation. Nor did she ask for it in person. She only asked for what was on this list, nothing else.”
“At the end of the email (in red/bold) she says that we need a SPANISH ADDRESS and she meant that literally–any address, no proof necessary. We could have listed the royal palace.
FYI they would only accept a Mexican phone number, not a US number (nor presumably a Spanish one, or any other country). I’m pretty sure the Spanish embassy can text/call interntionally but okay.
Why do I care? Because the second I move to Spain, I’m cancelling that Mexican number; I’d rather they have my permament US number on file. But if this phone# is only for contacting me about this application and will never be used in the future, that’s fine.”
“The ONLY time they ask for apostille is per #11 for the criminal background check.
(Also not listed is #12 for our marriage certificate since this was a family application–that requires apostille. As would birth certificates.)
She doesn’t seem to care what you give her as long as it checks the box. She’s just putting the papers on this list in a pile to foward to the Spanish embassy. It seems like if they are incomplete, that’s on you.”
“I had two incredibly important (translated) statements in my documents to prove my two primary sources of income and she NEVER asked about my income. (#9)
She ONLY asked me for 3 months of bank statements. [My bank is a simple checking account–it proves nothing.] There was no discussion about money (nor math), and she never looked at or discussed any number.
She also never asked whether I had my bank statements translated. (I didn’t.)”
“If she had sent off the application as-is I would have failed miserably. I had to keep handing her income and investment documents unasked throughout the process as she kept going so quickly from step to step.
She was just looking for the minimum of ONE document at each step to check off her list. Needless to say, she doesn’t care whether I get approved or not. That’s not her job.
I also handed her–unasked–the letter from my bank (with translation) stating my average balance etc. The letter which became so important and difficult for everyone in May, 2025. But not in Mexico City!”
“We’ll see what happens, but I’m worried the embassy will get back to us and tell us that there was some papework error or omission that needs to be corrected.
I’m hoping to be wrong about that!”
Comments from Other Spainguru Community Members
“Hello! I will apply in Ciudad de Mexico as well. I was just wondering if you have gotten any decision yet!” – “Nothing yet.”
“Thank you for such detailed experience, we’re going to have our appointment next Tuesday at the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala, I’m pretty sure it’ll be similar”
“I also applied at CDMX. I’ve been waiting 12 weeks and still showing ‘tramite solicitado’. Has yours changed? I’ve emailed BLS and the consulate and their response is continue to wait. It’s soooo frustrating. The consulate website states response within a month and here we are waiting 3 months.”
“It sounds like what I went tbrough. My apt at BLS in CDMX was on July 25 and I’m still waiting.”
Conclusion
This firsthand experience suggests that for the Spain non lucrative visa, the Mexico City: Spanish NLV (Non-lucrative Visa) process at BLS is largely administrative: staff check basic formalities (blue-ink signatures, required fields) and forward the file, without advising or validating sufficiency. Applicants should arrive with documents 99% complete and proactively provide supporting financial evidence even if not explicitly requested.
Key practical notes from this case include: bring a Spanish address (no proof requested in this experience), expect a requirement for a Mexican phone number, and anticipate apostilles for the criminal record (and civil status documents for family files). Some applicants reported long waits with “trámite solicitado” for weeks, despite the website’s stated timelines.
If you’re applying for the Spain non lucrative visa through Mexico City BLS, prepare a complete packet, add translations and income proofs even when not asked, and be ready for extended processing times.
For recommended services to help you apply for the Spain non lucrative visa, make sure to visit our services page.
This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice.
