Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
This article is based on a real firsthand experience shared by a Spainguru community member who applied for the Spain non lucrative visa in Chicago in June 2026, together with their spouse, at the BLS International office.
Firsthand Experience: Spain Non Lucrative Visa Chicago
The following is the applicant’s own account of submitting their Spain non lucrative visa application at the BLS Chicago office. Their words have been preserved, with names and identifying details removed.
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Our appointment was at 8:30 am. We arrived at the BLS office at 7:45 am. The security guard asked us to wait in the coffee shop next door and come back 20 minutes before the appointment. We returned at 8:10 am, and were let into the elevator to the BLS office located on the 13th floor.
We waited for a few minutes in the BLS lobby, then were taken into the first office for application submission by a female BLS agent.
The agent asked for the application documents in this order:
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- National Visa form with a US passport photo (2 x 2 inches). The agent said they prefer the 2 x 2 US passport photo as it scans well. We signed and dated this form in front of the agent.
- Copy of the passport photo / biometrics page (notarized).
- Copy of the US driver’s licence (notarized).
- Sworn attestation not to work while in Spain on the NLV visa (notarized and translated). I also provided an employer letter stating I had retired and the effective date (notarized and translated).
- Financial documents: 6 months of pension deposit slips, a bank letter stating monthly balances in our checking and savings accounts for 2025 and year to date 2026, and the last 3 months of statements from our checking and savings accounts. I had also taken statements of our investment accounts; the agent did not take these.
- Forms EX-01 (2024 version) and 790-052. We signed and dated these forms in front of the agent.
- Spain health insurance certificate.
- Bilingual health certificate (dated less than 3 months from the application date). This certificate needs to be on the template provided on the BLS website, otherwise they will reject the application.
- FBI background check dated less than 6 months from the application date (apostilled and translated).
- Marriage certificate dated less than 6 months from the application date (apostilled and translated).
Surprisingly, the agent said the apartment lease / proof of accommodation in Spain was not required. She said this was a new change. We had taken our signed apartment lease with us; the agent did not take it.
The agent asked if we wanted our passports sent back to us via UPS after processing, for a fee. We said yes, then she had us sign some release forms to send back our passports after processing.
We paid all fees (visa application fee, form EX-01 fee, courier fee) by cash. Note the website asks for the 12 dollar payment for form 790-052 to be made via money order. The agent said this is incorrect. They no longer take money orders. They can only take payments via debit card or cash.
The entire process of visa interview and documents submission for both of us took about 30 minutes. We are now awaiting the visa application to be processed. The agent said it could take 2 to 3 months.”
For a full overview of how the process works, including requirements, finances and renewals, see Spainguru’s Spain Non Lucrative Visa guide, and the detailed walkthrough at spainnonlucrativevisa.com.
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
Spain Non Lucrative Visa Chicago: What This Experience Reveals
A single appointment is only one data point, but this Spain non lucrative visa Chicago experience surfaces several patterns that are useful for other applicants preparing their own files.
Document Requirements: What Was Actually Requested
The agent worked through the file in a fixed order, starting with the passport and the national visa application form and ending with the apostilled civil documents. Notarized copies of the passport biometric page and the US driver’s licence were both taken.
The 2 x 2 inch US passport photo was preferred over other formats because it scans cleanly. Applicants should bring that exact size rather than the standard Schengen photo dimensions.
Accommodation Requirement: No Longer Requested
The most notable change is that proof of accommodation was not requested. The applicant brought a signed apartment lease in Spain, and the agent explicitly declined to take it, describing this as a recent change.
This is significant because proof of accommodation has historically been a common source of confusion. It should still be prepared, since practice varies by consulate and can change again, but at this appointment it was not part of the accepted file.
Financial Documents: What the Agent Kept
The financial evidence that was accepted included 6 months of pension deposit slips, a bank letter confirming monthly balances for 2025 and year to date 2026, and 3 months of checking and savings statements.
Investment account statements were prepared but not taken. This suggests the office prioritized stable, recurring income and liquid bank balances over brokerage holdings, though bringing extra evidence did no harm.
Health Certificate: Must Use the BLS Template
The bilingual medical certificate had to be dated within 3 months and had to follow the specific template published on the BLS website. The applicant was clear that a certificate not on that template would lead to rejection.
Applicants can review the required format in Spainguru’s medical certificate guide before their doctor completes it.
Payment Methods: No More Money Orders
Although the official instructions still ask for the form 790-052 fee to be paid by money order, the agent stated this is outdated. The office now accepts only debit card or cash for all fees, including the visa application fee, the EX-01 fee, and the courier fee.
Signing Forms in Front of the Agent
The applicant chose to leave the national visa form, EX-01 and 790-052 unsigned and to sign and date them in front of the agent. There was no published requirement to do so, but signing on the spot avoided any question about dates or authenticity.
The FBI background check and marriage certificate both had to be apostilled and translated, and both had to be dated within 6 months. Spainguru’s apostille guide explains how to obtain those before an appointment.
Appointment Booking Challenges in Chicago
Booking an appointment remains one of the harder parts of the Spain non lucrative visa process. Consular slots at BLS locations tend to open in batches and are claimed quickly, so applicants often monitor the booking portal daily.
General patterns reported by the community include:
- New slots frequently appear around the end or beginning of the month.
- Checking early in the morning improves the chance of finding an opening.
- Persistence over several days is usually needed rather than a single lucky attempt.
Because timing shifts, the Spainguru Facebook group is the best place to confirm current booking behavior for Chicago before you start.
Processing Times: Faster Than Expected
At the appointment the agent quoted a processing time of 2 to 3 months, which is the standard range applicants are told to expect. In practice this case resolved much faster.
The applicant shared a follow up once the outcome was known:
“Pleased to inform the group that we received our passports with approved NLV visas. June 16: NLV application at BLS Chicago. July 1: notified by BLS Chicago that our passports had been couriered via UPS. July 7: received passport with approved NLV, with UPS delivery delayed due to the July 4 holiday.
So basically it took about 2 weeks for the NLV application review and approval by the Chicago consulate. Interestingly, throughout this period the consulate website did not even show our application being processed.”
The takeaway is that the online status tracker is not a reliable signal. An application can be approved and couriered back before the portal ever shows movement.
Comments From Other Spainguru Community Members
The discussion generated several valuable insights from other applicants:
- Another applicant reported the same Chicago experience in early May with what appeared to be the same agent in the first office, describing her as thorough and fast.
- That applicant was told two months but received their passports back in about three weeks.
- They were not yet retired at the time of the appointment but provided employer letters stating their last day of work and confirming no remote employment would be offered, and the file was accepted.
- There is no official form for the sworn statement not to work in Spain; applicants have drafted their own and had it translated and notarized.
- One member reported an approval turnaround of around 10 days, while noting the official window is up to 3 months and can be extended.
- On interview questions, the agent mainly asked when the applicant had retired, supported by the employer letter, and asked a non working spouse when they had last worked.
- Beyond those questions, the agent focused mostly on confirming the forms were completed correctly.
- Multiple applicants stressed that the medical certificate must be on the official BLS template.
Taken together, these comments show how much the outcome depends on a complete, correctly formatted file, and how requirements can vary between consulates and even between individual cases.
Non-Lucrative Visa Health Insurance Resources
- Health Insurance for Spanish Visas — provider comparisons and what qualifies for the NLV.
- Non-Lucrative Visa Health Insurance Guide — requirements, costs, and accepted policies.
- Adeslas vs Sanitas vs DKV — side by side comparison of the most common providers.
FAQ: Spain Non Lucrative Visa Chicago
What documents are required for the Spain non lucrative visa in Chicago?
This applicant submitted a passport, the national visa form with a 2 x 2 photo, notarized copies of the passport page and driver’s licence, a sworn statement not to work, financial evidence, forms EX-01 and 790-052, a health insurance certificate, a bilingual medical certificate on the BLS template, an apostilled FBI background check, and an apostilled marriage certificate. Requirements can vary, so always confirm against the current BLS checklist.
Is proof of accommodation required for the Spain non lucrative visa?
At this Chicago appointment proof of accommodation was not requested, and the agent described it as a recent change. It is still wise to prepare a lease or accommodation document, because practice differs across consulates and can change again.
How many months of bank statements are required?
This applicant provided the last 3 months of checking and savings statements, plus a bank letter summarizing monthly balances for 2025 and year to date 2026, and 6 months of pension deposit slips. Investment account statements were prepared but not taken.
Do I need to resign or retire before applying?
Not necessarily. This applicant was retired and provided an employer letter with the effective date, but another community member who was not yet retired was accepted with employer letters stating their last working day and confirming no remote work would be offered.
Is there an official form for the sworn statement not to work?
No. There is no official template for the sworn statement not to work in Spain. Applicants draft their own declaration and have it translated and notarized before the appointment.
How long does Spain non lucrative visa approval take in Chicago?
The agent quoted 2 to 3 months, but this application was reviewed and the passports couriered back in about 2 weeks. Other applicants have reported roughly 10 days to three weeks. The consulate website may not show progress even after approval.
What payment methods does BLS Chicago accept?
According to the agent, the office now accepts only debit card or cash. Money orders are no longer accepted, despite older instructions that ask for a money order for the form 790-052 fee.
Can I work remotely on the Spain non lucrative visa?
No. The Spain non lucrative visa does not permit any work, including remote work for a foreign employer. Applicants are asked to sign a sworn statement confirming they will not work while in Spain on this visa.
What health insurance qualifies for the Spain non lucrative visa?
You need full private health insurance with no copays and no waiting periods from a company authorized to operate in Spain. You can compare qualifying options at Health Insurance for Spanish Visas.
This article is based on the contributions and experiences of Spainguru community members and is no legal advice. Consider consulting a legal expert for personalized guidance. Consult expert immigration lawyers here: https://spainguru.es/services-for-spanish-visas/
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