Spain Non-Lucrative Visa Translation Checklist
Documents commonly needed for non-lucrative visa applications in Spain.
The Spain Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is for non-EU nationals who want to live in Spain without working, supported by savings, passive income, or a pension. The application requires official documents to be sworn-translated into Spanish. The checklist below covers the documents most commonly required. Always confirm exact requirements with the Spanish consulate handling your case.
About This Checklist
Non-Lucrative Visa requirements can vary slightly depending on the consulate and your individual circumstances. Applicants with a spouse or dependants will need additional civil documents for each family member included in the application. This checklist covers the most commonly required documents across standard NLV applications.
A Note on Apostilles and Financial Documents
Criminal record certificates and civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates typically need to be apostilled before sworn translation. Financial documents — such as bank statements, pension letters, or proof of passive income — may or may not need apostilling depending on the consulate, but they will generally need to be sworn-translated if they are in a language other than Spanish. Always include apostille pages in the scans you send for translation so they are covered in the full sworn translation.
Checklist
- Criminal record certificate
- Apostille attached to the criminal record certificate
- Medical certificate
- Private health insurance certificate or policy
- Bank statements
- Bank certificate
- Pension letters
- Passive income documents
- Investment income documents
- Other proof-of-funds documents
- Marriage certificate, if applying with a spouse
- Birth certificates, if children are included
- Divorce decree, death certificate, or other civil-status records, where relevant
Common Questions
Do bank statements always need to be sworn-translated for an NLV?
Financial documents are generally required to be in Spanish for consulate submissions, so sworn translation of English-language bank statements or financial letters is typically needed. Confirm with your consulate whether all financial documents require sworn translation or only specific ones.
I am retired — do I need to translate my pension documents?
Yes. Pension letters and Social Security benefit statements are commonly required as proof of income for Non-Lucrative Visa applications, and if these are in English they will need to be sworn-translated into Spanish.
How far in advance should I get my translations done?
It is generally recommended to have your translations ready at least one to two weeks before your consulate appointment, to allow time for any additional documents that might be requested.