Can my pension count as income?

Yes — state pensions, occupational pensions, annuities and regular drawdown all count. Lump sums in savings count too, scaled monthly.

Do I lose my US/UK pension if I move?

No. State pensions are paid worldwide. The UK freezes annual increases for residents outside reciprocal countries — Spain has a reciprocal agreement, so UK pensions are uprated normally.

Can I keep my home-country health insurance?

Visa applications require a Spanish-authorised policy with no co-pays. After 1 year of residence you can often switch to public SNS via the Convenio Especial (~€60–€157/month).

Does time on a student visa count toward Permanent Residency?

Only 50% of student visa time counts. NLV, work and DNV time count 100%.

What if I'm a UK citizen post-Brexit?

UK citizens are now treated as non-EU — same NLV process as Americans, Canadians, Australians. Withdrawal Agreement only protects those resident before 1 Jan 2021.

Residency

Retiree Residency in Spain — Visas, Registration & Renewal (2026)

Six legal routes for retirees to live in Spain long-term, from the Non-Lucrative Visa to EU registration and Permanent Residency after five years. We compare income thresholds, processing times and the renewal cycle that decides whether you stay or have to restart.

Last updated 29 June 2026

The six legal paths to residency for retirees

Most retirees moving to Spain pick one of three routes: the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) for non-EU passive-income retirees, EU registration for citizens of EU/EEA/Switzerland, or — for under-65s with capital but no pension yet — the Digital Nomad Visa structured around investment income. After five years on any route you can upgrade to Permanent Residency, and after ten you can apply for Spanish citizenship (usually requiring you to renounce your previous nationality unless you're from a former Spanish colony).

The Golden Visa (€500k+ property investment) closed to new applicants in April 2025 — existing holders can still renew.

Route	Who	Income / capital	Work in Spain?
NLV	Non-EU, passive income	€28,800/yr main + €7,200/dep	No
EU registration	EU/EEA/CH citizens	~€600/month + insurance	Yes
Digital Nomad	Non-EU, remote income	€2,762/month (~€33k/yr)	Remote only
Family reunification	Joining a Spanish/EU resident	Sponsor income proof	Yes (after 1 yr)
Permanent Residency	After 5 yrs legal residence	No new threshold	Yes
Citizenship	After 10 yrs (2 for Ibero-American)	Language + civic exam	Yes

The NLV — default retiree route

Applied for at the Spanish consulate in your home country BEFORE moving. Initial card valid 1 year, renewable for 2+2+2 years (total 7), then upgrade to Permanent. You commit to spending 183+ days/year in Spain — which makes you tax-resident from year one. Process takes 1–3 months once your file is complete.

✦Passive income only — pensions, rental income, dividends, savings drawdown. NO remote work.
✦Private health insurance from a Spanish-authorised insurer, full cover, no co-pays.
✦Apostilled criminal record (last 5 years) + apostilled birth/marriage certificates.
✦Income proof: 12 months of bank statements, pension statements, investment statements.

The 'no work' trap

NLV holders cannot work for ANY employer — including remote work for a non-Spanish company. This is the most common violation that costs people their renewal. If you need to keep working remotely, use the Digital Nomad Visa instead.

Renewal cycle (the part people forget)

Each renewal requires fresh income proof, fresh criminal record, fresh insurance, fresh padrón certificate, and proof you spent the required days in Spain. Start 60 days before expiry. Missing a renewal window forces you to restart from a new visa application abroad.

Upgrading to Permanent Residency

After 5 years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for Permanent Residency (Residencia de Larga Duración). It's a 5-year card that auto-renews indefinitely, removes income thresholds, and lets you work freely. Absences over 6 consecutive months or 10 months total in the 5-year window break continuity.

EU citizens

Simpler registration path.

Non-EU citizens

NLV and DNV in detail.

Taxes hub

What residency triggers.

Cost of living

Budgeting for the move.