My Home AbroadHow much money do you need for Spain’s non-lucrative visa?
In 2026 the main applicant needs €28,800 a year in income or savings, and each family member adds €7,200. Check what your household needs, in euros and in pounds, and whether your income covers it.
What you need to show
- Main applicant 400% of IPREM
- €2,400 a month
- You need to show€2,400 a month · about £24,019 a year at today’s rate
- €28,800 a year
Moving your money to Spain
Your bank could charge you about £721 a year to change this into euros
- €28,800 at today’s rate €1 = £0.8340
- £24,019
- High-street bank margin median 3%
- + £721
- Total from your UK bank account
- £24,740
UK high-street banks charge a median of 3% on top of the exchange rate. Source: FXC Intelligence.
The non-lucrative visa income requirement in 2026
Spain sets the requirement as a multiple of IPREM, a public income index frozen at €600 a month since 2023: 400% for the main applicant and 100% for each family member included in the application.
| Household | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Just me | €2,400 | €28,800 |
| Me and 1 family member | €3,000 | €36,000 |
| Me and 2 family members | €3,600 | €43,200 |
| Me and 3 family members | €4,200 | €50,400 |
| Me and 4 family members | €4,800 | €57,600 |
What counts towards it
You can show regular income, savings, or both. Income usually means pensions (state, workplace or private), rental income from property you own, and dividends or interest from investments. It must not come from working in Spain: the visa doesn’t allow you to work. Consulates look at bank statements and pension letters, and some prefer regular income to savings alone.
Other requirements
- Private health insurance with full cover in Spain, from an insurer authorised to operate there.
- A criminal record certificate for the countries you have lived in recently, and a medical certificate.
- Applying from the UK: in person at the Spanish consulate for where you live (London, Manchester or Edinburgh), through BLS International.
- The first permit lasts one year. To renew it you show the financial means again.
Each consulate publishes its own document checklist, and it changes: check the current one for your consulate before you apply, or use a Spanish immigration lawyer.
Moving your money to Spain
Your pension or savings will be in pounds, and you’ll be changing them into euros for as long as you live in Spain. UK high-street banks charge a median of 3% on top of the exchange rate (FXC Intelligence), which on a year of the single-applicant requirement is about £721.
Our currency partner Key Currency offers great exchange rates and no transfer fees.
Questions
How much money do you need for the non-lucrative visa in Spain?
In 2026 the main applicant needs €2,400 a month, or €28,800 a year (400% of IPREM, Spain’s public income index). Each family member included adds €600 a month, or €7,200 a year. A couple needs €36,000 a year.
Can I use savings instead of income?
Usually, yes: you can show regular income (such as pensions, rental income or investment income), savings, or a mix. Consulates assess each application, and some prefer regular income, so check the current checklist for the consulate you apply to.
Can I work on a non-lucrative visa?
No. The visa is for people who can support themselves without working in Spain, so you cannot take a job or work for yourself in Spain on it.
Where do UK residents apply?
At the Spanish consulate for where you live in the UK: London, Manchester or Edinburgh. Applications are made in person through BLS International, which handles appointments for the consulates.
How long does the non-lucrative visa last?
The first residence permit is for one year. To renew it you show the financial means again, along with the other requirements.
Does my UK pension count?
Yes. State, workplace and private pensions all count as income. They are paid in pounds, so the amount in euros depends on the exchange rate, and each transfer through a high-street bank carries its margin.
Buying a home in Spain too? Work out the taxes and fees on your purchase.
Figures based on IPREM at €600 a month (€7,200 a year), checked 6 November 2026, and the requirement of 400% of IPREM plus 100% per family member published by the Consulate General of Spain in London. My Home Abroad does not give legal or financial advice; currency transfers are provided by Key Currency Limited.