This article is based on a firsthand experience shared inside a Spanish Non Lucrative Visa Facebook group and documents a Spain non lucrative visa application submitted at the Los Angeles BLS office on January 10th, 2026.
Firsthand experience
Los Angeles update: Appointment today at 8:30. We arrived at 7:45, waited at the coffee shop right next door. Ventured to the 10th floor at 8:25am. ID’s checked. While waiting, the gentleman ahead of us didn’t have his FBI report apostilled and translated. He was told they would hold his application open for two weeks. Cost him $80.00.
CRITICAL POINT: while we were waiting for our turn, someone came knocking on the door. Their appointment was for 8:20am, and they arrived at 8:37 AND THEY WERE TURNED AWAY AND TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE WEBSITE! I felt sorry for the guy. They expect you to knock on the door between 5 and 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Not before nor after. One girl was 40 minutes early, and they were told to come back 5 minutes before their scheduled appointment. DO NOT BE LATE!.
With everything super organized I felt confident when it was our turn. However because we were applying in the same interview I missed a couple of items. I only had one copy of 2024 tax return. Wrong, we both needed a copy. I assumed that when they said they needed December bank statement, that would just mean 2025 (the last three months of activity). Wrong. Besides the last three months of bank activity they also wanted December 2024’s statement. Copy needed.
Because we submitted multiple bank accounts they all needed December 2024 statements, including the last three current months of activity. If you are submitting multiple accounts, make sure you BOTH have copies, and that they both show both of your names on statements.
I also assumed that because we were submitting together that they would just need one copy of our 2024 income tax statement. Wrong. So we were a few documents short. One thing that surprised me was they needed for me to have a copy of the apostilled marriage certificate, which I had.
Luckily, there is a UPS center just outside the building on the opposite corner. I had brought my laptop with me, and was able to sign into the wifi with the hotspot on my phone, access the bank statements I needed, email them to UPS, and had them print them along with a copy of the tax docs. Because of these couple of missing documents, they would hold our application open for 3 hours, which cost us $80.00.
Also note, the required additional fees, and the $80.00 it says on the website you can pay by card, which they agreed you can, but their card reader was down, so we had to pay in cash. Luckily we had it on us.
All in all, a positive experience. Lessons learned: BE ON TIME. Copy everything in triplicate. Bring additional cash. If you have separate appointment times, come to the first one AND BE ON TIME.
We were advised that wait time for approval was 6–14 weeks.
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 Spainguru community members added clarifying information and confirmations based on their own experiences. One member confirmed that each applicant must submit a complete and separate set of documents, reinforcing the lesson learned during this appointment.
Another user noted that outdated versions of Form EX-01 were still appearing on some BLS websites and that the correct 2024 version had to be sourced from another BLS location. This reinforces the importance of verifying that all forms are the most current versions available.
Questions were also raised regarding housing requirements. The applicant confirmed that no proof of accommodation was requested at the Los Angeles BLS office. Only the intended city of residence in Spain was declared, and no address documentation was required at this stage.
Community members preparing for upcoming Los Angeles appointments expressed appreciation for the detailed breakdown, particularly regarding bank statements, tax documents, and appointment timing. Several noted that this experience helped them identify missing documents ahead of their own appointments.
FAQ
Spain Non Lucrative Visa Los Angeles: how strict is appointment timing?
Extremely strict. Applicants are expected to arrive and knock between five and ten minutes before their scheduled appointment. Arriving late or too early can result in being turned away.
Do both applicants need separate copies of all documents?
Yes. Even when applying together, each applicant must submit a complete and independent application file, including tax returns and bank statements.
What bank statements are required for the Spain non lucrative visa Los Angeles?
Applicants were required to submit the last three months of bank activity plus December statements from the previous year for each account submitted.
Can missing documents be submitted later?
In some cases, the Los Angeles BLS office may hold an application open for a limited time in exchange for an additional fee. This should not be relied upon and policies may change.
Is proof of housing required at the Los Angeles BLS office?
No proof of accommodation was requested in this case. Applicants only declared the city of intended residence in Spain.
How long does approval take?
Applicants were advised that approval timelines ranged from 6 to 14 weeks, although individual cases may vary.
Disclaimer
This article is based on a personal experience shared by a Spainguru community member and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration procedures and requirements may change. For professional guidance, consult expert immigration lawyers listed here:
https://spainguru.es/services-for-spanish-visas/
