Applying for the NLV at a Consulate or Visa Centre
You apply for the non-lucrative visa (NLV) at the Spanish consulate responsible for where you live, normally in person. Depending on the consulate, that means a contracted visa centre such as BLS or the consulate itself. The consulate forwards the authorisation part to the immigration office. If it's approved, the consulate issues the visa.
Which consulate
Visa applications are lodged at the consular office for the area where you live. Consulates define their areas, and some also set conditions for non-citizens living there. Los Angeles, for example, requires non-US citizens to hold a Green Card or a valid long-term US visa, and doesn't accept applications from B-1/B-2 visitors. Check the jurisdiction page of the consulate you think covers you.
How you submit
| Consulate | How it works (as published) |
|---|---|
| London | In person at the BLS visa centre |
| Edinburgh | In person at the BLS centre, appointments via BLS |
| Los Angeles | In person by appointment at BLS |
| Washington | In person by appointment at BLS |
| New York | In person at the consulate, appointment by email |
| Toronto | In person at the consulate, appointment by email |
| Sydney | The page mentions both post and in person; check with the consulate |
The consulate pages we checked expect the applicant to submit in person (or a parent, for a minor). The regulation allows a representative only where the rules provide for it or, exceptionally, where travel to the consulate is impeded.
Fees
You pay the visa fee and the authorisation fee (form 790, code 052). Visa fees depend on your nationality and are paid in local currency. In London, for example, a British applicant pays £516 for the NLV visa. In the US, a US citizen pays $140 plus $13 for the authorisation. Check the payment method too: some US consulates accept money orders only.
After you submit
- The consulate checks your form, passport, criminal record, medical certificate, means and insurance.
- The immigration office decides the authorisation within a month of receiving it from the consulate. No reply within that time counts as refusal.
- The consulate issues the visa within a month of a favourable decision.
- You travel and apply for the TIE in person within a month of entering Spain.
Consulate pages give their own overall timings: two months in London and three months at most others we checked. The visa issued is valid for 90 days at some consulates and one year at others.
On the day
- The night before. Lay the file out in your consulate's order, with originals and copies side by side.
- Check the dates. Your criminal record and medical certificates must still be within the consulate's window, and your passport must be valid for at least another year.
- Bring the fee in the right form. Some US consulates take money orders only.
- Hand in the file yourself. A parent submits for a minor.
- Keep your receipt. It's your record of the date the application went in.
- Watch for requests. Answer any request for more documents quickly.
My Spanish NLV
A guide to the NLV consulate appointment.
- Which consulate covers you
- How to book, and what to bring
- Booking guidance in the managed service
Opens provider website. No details shared.
Platinum Legal Spain
Guides to individual Spanish consulates and how each takes visa applications.
- A guide for each consulate listed
- Consulates in the UK and other countries
- A consultation to prepare and check your file
Opens provider website. No details shared.
We don't pass your details to either service. Choosing one opens its website in a new tab, where you start a separate enquiry.
Where the insurance fits
Time the policy to your plans: the certificate has to match your application and your consulate's wording. See when your insurance should start and our NLV health insurance guide.
Common mistakes
- Applying at the wrong consulate. It must be the one for where you live.
- The wrong payment method. Some consulates take money orders only.
- Booking before documents are ready. Validity windows run from the issue date, not the appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply in Spain?
The NLV is applied for at the consulate for where you live. If you're already in Spain, ask a service about your options.
How long does it take?
The regulation gives the immigration office one month to decide once it receives the application, and the consulate a month to issue the visa. Consulate pages quote two to three months overall.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes, at most consulates we checked, either through the visa centre or by email. Sydney's page mentions both post and in person; check with the consulate.