Non-Lucrative Visa Refused? What to Check Next
A non-lucrative visa (NLV) can be refused at two stages:
- by the immigration office, which decides the residence authorisation;
- by the consulate, which decides the visa.
Either way, the notice must be reasoned and must tell you the remedies available, where to file and the deadlines. Where the authorisation was refused, it must cover both decisions in the same document. The letter may contain a deadline, so obtain advice promptly.
Which body decided, and on what
| Stage | Who decides | What it assesses |
|---|---|---|
| Authorisation | The immigration office (oficina de extranjería) | The no-return condition, and public order, including a Spanish criminal record check and a police report |
| Visa | The consulate | Your passport, criminal record certificates, medical certificate and form, plus your financial means and health insurance |
The immigration office has one month from receiving the file to decide the authorisation. If it doesn't answer in that time, the application is treated as refused. The notice should make clear which stage the refusal came from.
The NLV requirements most often in question
The refusal reason will usually point to one of the requirements:
- Means: whether the funds or income reach 400% of the IPREM index for each month, plus 100% per family member, and whether the evidence shows the details asked for on foreign accounts.
- Not working: whether anything in the file suggests work or professional activity in Spain, including remote work.
- Health insurance: whether the policy matches your consulate's wording.
- Certificates: whether the criminal record and medical certificates came from the right authority, within the consulate's validity window, with apostille and translation.
- Doubts about the file: the visa can be refused where identity, the validity of documents or the reasons given aren't established beyond doubt.
Challenge or corrected new application?
On an NLV, the answer often turns on what the file showed. If your means met 400% of the IPREM and the consulate misread the evidence, a challenge may be worth considering. If a foreign account statement lacked the year-end balance, or the policy didn't use your consulate's wording, the gap is usually quicker to close in a new application. Couples and families should decide together, because every application in the household rests on the same means. Get advice on your own case before you choose. Do not assume you can reapply immediately; have the refusal reason reviewed first.
Help after an NLV refusal
My Spanish NLV offers a review of NLV refusals, then an appeal or a strengthened reapplication. Platinum Legal Spain publishes guidance on refusals and appeals. Ask each which steps it can take on for your case. The providers describe different arrangements following a refusal. Check the engagement terms before paying.
My Spanish NLV
A review service for refused NLV applications.
- Your refusal letter and its grounds assessed
- Options set out: an appeal or a strengthened new application
Opens provider website. No details shared.
Platinum Legal Spain
Answers on refusals, appeals and reapplying, with consultations.
- How appeals and new applications work
- A consultation on your case
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.
If insurance was the issue
NLV consulates word the insurance requirement in different ways. Some ask for cover of all public-system risks; others add no copayments, no deductibles or no limits. For a new application we match the policy and certificate to your consulate's wording and check them before you submit. Already insured with us? Tell us about the refusal, and we'll go through the options under your policy. See our NLV health insurance guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the deadline for challenging the decision?
Look for it in the notice. Where the authorisation was refused, the consulate's notice has to set out the remedies, bodies and deadlines for both decisions together.
Should my family reapply too?
Ask your service how the refusal affects the household file before anyone reapplies.
Will a new application cost the same?
Each service quotes for a new application. Ask about its terms for clients reapplying after a refusal. See NLV application cost.