This article is based on a real, first hand experience shared inside a Spanish Non Lucrative Visa Facebook group. It documents a complete Spain non lucrative visa application process handled through the San Francisco BLS office, from securing the appointment to receiving the approved visa in the passport.
Firsthand Experience: Spain Non Lucrative Visa at San Francisco BLS
The following text is copied exactly as shared by the applicant. No changes have been made.
“We got our Spain Non Lucrative Visa! On Sept 3, 2025 we secured our appt for the San Francisco BLS office for Oct 30, 2025 with an entry date of January 2, 2026 to San Sebastián. We received notice on Nov 20th that our passports were being sent via courier and we received the passports with the visa inside them on Monday, Nov 24th 2025! They say Visa type D residencia, Mult entry and with 365 days. See below for what we provided as we are non-retirement aged people who applied for the NLV so there are more requirements to show financial means.
Non-lucrative Visa Documents
BLS appt letter (not listed on their in-office checklist but is required)
Application for Long Term Visa (They helped us fill it in on areas we weren’t sure about and we put in the City and Provence we hope to move to-not an address)
2 passport sized photos (the woman glued it on the application at the appt) (They only needed one but took both and we got the extra photo back when they sent the passports back to us with our visas in them) (These photos were taken at a FedEx office to meet requirements for Spain)
Money order for $153 ($140+$13) (Made out to: General Consulate of Spain-San Francisco. Put name/nlv on memo line)
Original valid passport which they kept
Copy of passport biometric pgs (1 copy)
Showed current Drivers License and provided 1 copy
Form EX 01 (2024 version-the one on the SF BLS website is old and is different than the 2011 version) (They helped us fill it in on areas we weren’t sure about and we put in the City and Provence we hope to move to-not an address)
Form 790 (code 052) x 2 copies (They helped us fill it in on areas we weren’t sure about and we put in the City and Provence we hope to move to-not an address)
Disclaimer form (signed) (Not on their in-office checklist but we provided it as it’s on their website of forms to complete)
Letter of Intent (Translated by Chat GPT and notarized both English and Spanish version) (Joint letter for spouse and myself-provided one copy each)
Affidavit not to work (Written in English and Spanish on same page-notarized)
(Husband previously had written in an affidavit that he would be quitting once the Visa was obtained. But then before the visa appt he put in his actual notice (which was effective after the visa appt date but before our requested entry date) and it was accepted by the employer via email so we had that officially translated and notarized as well) Both documents were submitted with the application.
(I provided a unofficial translated copy of my resignation email, a an officially translated version of the employer verified letter of when my employment ended which was 5 ago) which was notarized and officially translated, a notarized copy of my social security statement showing I had no income the last 4+ yrs-notarized)
Criminal background check (Apostled and then officially translated)
Marriage Certificate (Apostled and then officially translated)
Bilingual Medical Hlth Cert from MD (2 copies) (They took both copies) (make sure it looks like they are completed by the same person with same ink)
Health Insurance Certificate with Repatriation clause (Eng/Spanish from Insurance Co.)
Proof of financial means for non-retirement aged people (we aren’t receiving pensions yet): See below-
3 yrs of tax returns (1040 only) (We also printed the Spanish version and provided them) (not notarized) (They only asked for 1 yr but agreed to take all 3 yrs as I had read other places wanted 3 years worth and wanted our case to be strong)
Proof of e-file for 3 yrs (Not requested by SF but by other BLS offices in the US) This is something that was provided by the accountant when they filed the tax returns for us)
She asked for last 3 months plus end of last years statement but she accepted 1 year of joint acct bank stmts x 2 banks (not translated) that had a bank PO Box plus stamped with name of bank but not address. This seemed redundant but we did it anyway. (not translated or notarized)
Bank #1 wrote letter with avg balance of accounts for 2024, wrote full account numbers, that we were joint acct holders, ending balance for 2024 and when we opened the accounts. They did one for my husband and one for myself. Got the letters notarized only.
Bank #2 wrote letter with full bank acct numbers, when accts were opened, with avg daily balance for 2024 but forgot to include the CD so balance was much lower. The bank wrote a letter for myself and one for my husband. The bank did their own notary of the first letter but we did not have it translated.
NOTES: I missed that we needed to have the actual Apostille itself officially translated, not just the document that was being Apostled. She let us get those done right away before sending the info off to the Spanish Consulate-we were lucky and this was probably an exception. We were told by the person at the desk that the Spanish Consulate likes the official translations over Chat GPT, etc but they accepted what we had provided anyway, most of which was officially translated.
Bring an extra blank copy of the different forms that are required in case there are mistakes so the person at the desk doesn’t either turn you away or have to reprint them herself. Thankfully we had an extra blank copy for one of the forms we needed to redo. Have an extra copy of the completed forms as well.
Here you can find Spainguru’s recommended NLV related services: https://spainguru.es/services-for-spanish-visas/
Join Spainguru’s Spain Non Lucrative Visa Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spanishnlv
Comments From Other Spainguru Community Members
Several follow-up questions and clarifications from the community added further value to this experience.
One question focused on Apostille translations. The applicant confirmed that after the appointment, rushed sworn translations were ordered from an official translator and emailed directly back to the BLS contact.
Another user asked whether the one-year visa validity starts on the entry date or the actual arrival date in Spain. The applicant explained that the visa appears to be valid for 365 days from the approved entry date, regardless of whether entry happens later.
Additional questions covered bank letters and notarization. The applicant clarified that one bank notarized the letter internally, while another required external notarization at a UPS store.
Community feedback repeatedly highlighted how useful the level of detail was for others preparing their own Spain non lucrative visa applications.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Spain Non Lucrative Visa at San Francisco BLS
How long did the Spain non lucrative visa process take at San Francisco BLS?
From the appointment date on October 30, 2025 to passport return on November 24, 2025, the processing time was just under four weeks.
Do non-retirement-aged applicants face extra scrutiny?
Yes. Applicants not receiving pensions were required to show multiple years of tax returns, detailed bank letters, average balances, and proof of employment termination.
Are official sworn translations required?
Yes. While some informal translations were accepted in this case, the applicant was clearly advised that official sworn translations are preferred, especially for Apostilles.
Is an address in Spain required for the application?
No. The applicants listed the intended city and province, not a specific address, and this was accepted.
Does the visa validity depend on actual entry date?
The visa showed 365 days starting from the approved entry date, not the date of physical arrival in Spain.
Disclaimer
This information is based on a personal experience shared by a community member and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules and interpretation can change. Consult with expert immigration lawyers, which can be found here: https://spainguru.es/services-for-spanish-visas/
