Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I’m trying to understand how the first part of obtaining a Spain Non Lucrative Visa plays out. I understand having housing is required for the visa application. How do people fly from the USA to Spain, find housing, then fly back to the USA so the application can be made at the Spanish consulate in the USA?
All this while paying for rent in Spain. Is this really what people do? Once that application at the consulate has been turned in, do people fly back to Spain, or do you wait out the ‘3 month’ process in the USA?
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These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“Chicago consulate here, which required a year-long signed lease at the time of the Spain Non Lucrative Visa application. We used Spotahome to book a place remotely without visiting. The process has since been updated to require only a 3-month lease, but it’s important to double-check the requirements for your specific consulate.”
“When we applied at the Miami consulate in May, there was no requirement for a permanent address. They only asked which province we planned to settle in. We mentioned Malaga but ended up in Alicante—no issues at all.”
“A friend wrote me a notarized letter offering to host me for three months while I looked for a place in Spain. He also included his padrón certificate to prove he owned the property. That was enough for the authorities to approve my application.”
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Explore Cities →“Boston consulate currently requires a 3-month lease. Temporary housing like Airbnb is not accepted, so you’ll need to arrange something more concrete if applying there.”
“I suggest working with an agency to assist with your visa. They can help arrange your NIE and other essentials. Start looking on Idealista to get a sense of the housing market and book an Airbnb for at least a month when you arrive. Finding a place remotely can be challenging, but some services make it easier.”
“Some consulates will allow you to list only the city where you plan to live instead of providing a specific address. However, requirements vary significantly between consulates, so always check their specific guidelines.”
“We used a vacation rental for four months when we moved to Spain and hired a lawyer to handle the visa process. It was a lot of work, but the lawyer walked us through every step.”
“A service like Spotahome lets you rent apartments remotely for several months without visiting the property. This can save you the hassle of flying to Spain before submitting your application.”
“My experience with the Los Angeles consulate was smooth, and they didn’t require proof of housing. We simply followed their checklist and included a letter of intent. Always check their website, as requirements can change.”
“A lot of people book Airbnbs for 1-3 months as temporary housing while they search for long-term apartments. It’s an expensive but convenient solution for navigating the visa process.”
Conclusion
The experiences shared by group members highlight the variability in requirements across Spanish consulates. While some consulates mandate a formal lease agreement of at least three months, others accept temporary housing arrangements or even just a city name.
Platforms like Spotahome and services offered by agencies can simplify the housing search and visa process. Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the specific guidelines for their assigned consulate and plan accordingly to meet the requirements.
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