Spain is recognized as one of the most attractive European destinations for tourists and immigrants. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live in this country? Today we tell you about an option that will allow you to stay legally for a whole year in the Spanish territory: the non-profit residency. Read on and find out how you can apply!

What is non-profit residency?

The non-lucrative residence visa is an authorization that allows non-European citizens to reside in Spain without performing any work activity, provided they have sufficient funds to support themselves and meet the established requirements.

As its name indicates, it is a non-profit residency, which means that the applicant must consider that he/she will not be allowed to work for any company operating in the country, nor carry out any type of economic or professional activity that generates income.

Regarding the duration of this type of residence, the regulations stipulate that the period of time allowed to stay in Spain will be one year. However, subsequently the foreigner will have the possibility of requesting its renewal for two extra years.

Who is the non-profit residency for?

As we have just mentioned, this visa is for foreigners who want to live legally in Spain. Therefore, it is ideal in the following cases:

• Those persons wishing to retire in the Spanish territory

• Foreigners with sufficient funds to remain in the country without working

• Non-European Union citizens working remotely from Spain

• People who wish to spend the first year in Spain without working, in order to be able to extend their stay and obtain a work permit.

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Application requirements

In order to apply for a non-profit residency application in Spain, you must first ensure that you meet the following requirements:

• Not be a citizen of a state of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

• Not being a family member of a community member

• Not to be irregularly present in Spanish territory

• Not to be prohibited from entering Spain, nor to be listed as rejectable in the territorial space of the countries with which Spain has a corresponding agreement.

• No criminal record in Spain, as well as in the countries of previous residence for crimes existing in the Spanish system in the last 5 years.

• Demonstrate that you have sufficient financial means to be able to pay for your stay and return, and, if applicable, those of your family members.

• Have public or private health insurance from an entity authorized to operate in Spain.

• Not suffer from diseases that may have serious public health repercussions.

• Not being within the period of commitment not to return to Spain.

Necessary documents

Now, in addition to the requirements mentioned above, you may ask, what is the documentation I must have in order to apply for the non-profit residency visa? Basically they are made up of:

• Passport or travel document valid for at least one year

• Residence visa application form

• Certificate of criminal record

• Proof of financial means (minimum of 26,000 euros).

• Proof of valid health insurance documentation

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Procedure

Once you have the appropriate documentation, the application process is usually quite simple, and is divided into two parts: before and after entering Spain.

Before entering Spain

To begin the application for a non-profit residency visa you must be in your country of origin or in the country where you are currently legally resident.

Now, if this is your case, to start the process you will have to send all the documents mentioned above to the Spanish Consulate, and the government delegation in charge will proceed to analyze each one of them.

Generally, the deadline for notification of a resolution to your application is usually three months, counted from the day following the date on which the application was received. Therefore, after this period of time has elapsed, if you do not receive any response, it is understood that the application has been rejected due to administrative silence.

On the other hand, after you obtain a favorable response to the granting of the non-profit residence visa, you will have one month to pick it up in person, and if you do not comply with the established time, it will be understood as a waiver.

After entering Spain

Subsequently, once you have the visa in your possession, you must enter Spain within the permitted period of validity, which in no case must be longer than three months.

After arriving in Spanish territory, you will have one month to apply in person for your Foreigner Identification Card (TIE) at the Immigration Office or Police Station in the province where the authorization was processed.

In a nutshell, once you obtain the non-profit residency visa, you will be allowed to enter Spain and stay for a full year legally.

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Advantages of non-profit residency

This type of visa is quite attractive for those foreigners who wish to migrate and build a future in a new country, as it allows them to have a whole year to find out if the city suits their vision of life.

In addition, we can mention 4 indisputable advantages offered by the non-profit residence:

1. You will have the opportunity to stay in Spain on a long-term basis by applying for permanent residence, as long as you renew your non-profit residency and complete 5 consecutive years of residence in the country.

2. It will allow you to move freely within the Schengen area.

3. Allow your family members to also have the opportunity to apply for the visa.

4. It is not necessary to make an investment in Spain, but you will have the possibility to do so if you wish.

Now that you know a little more about the non-profit residency visa, would you like to start the process and enjoy Spanish life? At TAS Consultoría, we take care of every one of your immigration procedures, visit our website and contact our experts for advice!