Thankfully, retiring to Spain is easier than in other countries. There are retirement visas for foreigners looking to retire in the country. If you are thinking of retiring to Spain, then a non-lucrative visa is your best option. Since you might be new at this, it is advisable to hire the help of professionals who can guide you throughout the process. They can handle the application for you as well as answer any questions you may have about this type of visa. The non-lucrative visa is mainly issued to ex-pats looking to stay in the country without conducting any economic activity for the first two years of their stay. If you are issued this visa, you will have to renew it annually. Then, apply for a permanent residency.
Requirements for a non-lucrative visa
There are a few things you must possess if you want to apply and get this visa. You have to provide them while applying at a Spain embassy or consulate in your home country.
Evidence of subsistence
This is the main important factor when you are an applicant applying for a visa to a foreign country. The government would want to know if you are capable of taking care of yourself and can afford the cost of living in the country. As a retiree, finding a job might be difficult, so without a stable source of income such as your pension, you might be denied this visa. To qualify for this visa, you have to possess at least 30,000 in a bank account at the time of applying. This shows that you can sustain yourself in the country. EU citizens do not require this type of visa but it is best to always have sufficient funds before thinking of relocating to Spain.
Evidence of a healthcare insurance plan
Health is important to humans. If you are a retiree, then you are probably nursing a certain medical complication. As a non-EU citizen, you must buy private healthcare insurance in a Spanish company before applying for this type of visa. Healthcare services are not free in the country. Citizens must pay taxes to receive treatments. As an ex-pat, you might be entitled to emergency services but if you require serious medical treatments, checkups, or drugs, you will have to show evidence of an insurance policy. It is best to hire the services of a Spanish healthcare insurance company. Check online for the best and affordable companies. Remember to buy an insurance plan with only your name on it.
Provide the right documents
To qualify for this type of visa, a candidate must submit a clear and well-handled valid passport with no missing pages, altered names, or missing pictures. You must handle your passport with care before applying. Avoid submitting a forged passport or one without your full name. A copy of your birth certificate is also required. Provide one without alterations. If you are traveling to join your spouse who is a citizen in Spain or a resident, you have to submit a valid marriage certificate too. Lastly, you have to submit a document that shows your clean criminal records. This is to demonstrate that you are not a criminal on the run and would not be a threat to the country or its citizens during your stay.
Benefits of the non-lucrative visa
There are several benefits to using this type of visa. The following are just a few of them. Although you can’t work in the country, you can still work online while living in Spain.
Free movement within the Schengen area
As a country in the Schengen area, any visa issued by the Spain embassy grants its owner access to other countries within the Schengen area. As a retiree looking to explore Europe, this type of visa grants you entry and exit in any of the 26 countries in the Schengen area.
Travel with family
With this non-lucrative visa, you can retire in Spain with your family through the joint application feature applicable to this type of visa. All you have to do is ensure you meet all the requirements of the visa.
