Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question about the non lucrative Spain visa application
Has anyone applied for an non lucrative Spain visa not from their home country, but from a third country where they are residing in? Context is, I have a Filipino passport (where applying for even a tourist visa is frequently rejected) but I work overseas (where applying for a tourist visa is easier), and I would like to increase the chances of being accepted. (I might apply for the remote worker visa actually, but that would still be in a few months).
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“I am Colombian and resided in USA. I applied thru Miami. Since it’s not your home country you may have to show your legal status in the country of residence. If you’ve only been there less then five years, they may request your previous’ country background check dated in the past 3 months. BTW, when i picked up my visa, I used my home country’s passport (Colombia) since it’s an advantage to come from a country of Iberian descent.
Other then that, the requirements are per the Spanish consulate. And although there are some slight distinctions here and there, they are generally very similar, I would think, worldwide. Good luck!”
“Yes, but you have to be a legal resident of that country”
“I see you’re Filipino but living in Singapore. You actually might have a better chance getting the visa if you apply in Manila since you’re relatively close to there and there are Filipinos who’ve gotten non lucrative Spain visa before. I imagine that will be the case too when the Spanish digital nomad visa comes online.”
“Yes, need to prove residency. My understanding is they all go to Madrid for final approval, so not sure it’s worth going out of your way. If you live and work away from your home country though, ya, apply from where you live.”
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Explore Cities →“I was told to apply in the country of residency, provided you are a legal resident and can get a police background check from there. You would still need a background check from your home country. Although it depends on how long ago you left.”
“Yes, it worked out fine for us. Apply in your country of residence and just show proof of legal residency.”
“You apply in the country you are resident in.”
In conclusion, it appears that applying for an non lucrative Spain visa from a third country where you are residing is possible, but it may come with additional requirements such as proof of legal residency in that country and background checks from both your home country and the country of residence. It also may depend on how long you have been residing in that country.
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