According to current legislation, all non-EU foreign nationals who can prove that they have sufficient financial resources to support themselves while residing in Spain can obtain a non-lucrative visa (VNL). However, what happens if you want to change your non-lucrative visa for an alternative work or residence permit? What options do you have?

Non-lucrative residence, as its name suggests, is a residence permit that prohibits you from working in Spain, either with a Spanish employer or independently.

Instead, you must prove that you have ‘sufficient financial means’, such as money in the bank or other ‘passive’ assets or investments that generate income, which can cover all your expenses and prevent you from being considered a burden on the state.

When this residence permit is granted, it allows you to reside in Spain as a non-EU citizen for more than 90 days, obtaining a temporary/short-term residence permit, as well as a TIE identity document (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero/a), which must be requested at the police station.

Given that the two subsequent renewals of a residence permit without entitlement to benefits or a visa without entitlement to benefits (NLV, as it is commonly referred to in English) are for two years, you must always prove that you have income, but this time multiplied by two. For this reason, many immigrants cannot ‘afford’ these renewals and must opt to look for a job and change their authorisation.

This raises the question: is it possible to change a non-lucrative visa for another visa or residence permit? On the other hand, many people can use the non-lucrative visa to stay in Spain indefinitely without working until they retire. In this case, is it possible to convert the non-lucrative visa into one that grants permanent residence?

The answer to these questions is yes.

There is no problem in converting a non-lucrative visa into a residence permit to work for someone else or on your own through a procedure known as ‘Modification of residence’.

Converting a non-lucrative visa into a residence and work permit for employed persons

We assume that, during the last few months before your non-lucrative residence permit expires, you have successfully applied for jobs in Spain with the expectation of obtaining a work permit and, therefore, a change of authorisation. This situation would greatly simplify things for you and your potential employer, as you would remain a legal resident in Spain.

To convert your non-lucrative permit into a work permit, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have been legally resident in Spain for at least one year (in some cases, you may apply before the year is up).
• You must not have a criminal record in Spain, be banned from entering Spain, or have been rejected by any country with which Spain has geopolitical ties.
• You must have a preliminary contract signed by both the company and yourself. It is called a preliminary contract because it is conditional upon the granting of a work permit.
• Your working conditions must comply with current regulations and the current minimum wage.
• Your employer must be registered with Spanish Social Security. They must also be up to date with their payments to the Spanish Tax Agency, in addition to their Social Security payments.
• The company or employer must have sufficient financial means to pay you the agreed salary.
• You must have a professional qualification or the necessary training for the profession you are applying for.

Converting a non-lucrative residence permit into a residence and self-employment permit

It is also possible to convert a non-lucrative permit into a permit to work on a self-employed basis if you choose to set up a business as an entrepreneurial initiative and become self-employed instead of looking for a job.

In this case, there are two requirements that we have seen above that remain valid. But they are not the only ones. These are:

• You must have been legally resident in Spain for at least one year.
• You must not have a criminal record in Spain, be banned from entering Spain, or have been rejected by any country with which Spain has geopolitical ties.
• Comply with the requirements established by current legislation for the establishment and operation of the activity you wish to carry out.
• Have the required professional qualifications or proven experience to carry out your professional activity, as well as, where applicable, membership of accredited bodies, where appropriate.
• You must be able to demonstrate that the investment planned for your activity is sufficient and that, where applicable, it will lead to job creation.
• También es posible que tengas que presentar un plan de empresa y obtener un certificado de la Asociación de Trabajadores Autónomos de España en el que conste que el proyecto es viable.
• You may also need to submit a business plan and obtain a certificate from the Spanish Association of Self-Employed Workers (Asociación de Trabajadores Autónomos de España) stating that the project is viable.

Conclusion

Is it possible to obtain permanent residency once my non-lucrative residence permit expires? The answer is yes. To do so, you can extend the benefits of your non-lucrative residence and continue residing in Spain without working by renewing your non-lucrative residence for two more years.

As mentioned above, you will be required to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family members for two years. In 2025, this amount may vary between £57,600 for one person and £14,400 for each additional family member.

At the end of this period, you will have accumulated a five-year stay in Spain, allowing you to apply for long-term or permanent residence, which is valid for ten years.

By changing your non-lucrative residence status to a permanent or long-term residence permit, you will be exempt from providing proof of financial resources related to non-lucrative residence for the entire ten-year period or for any subsequent period. In addition, you will be able to work and reside in Spain without any restrictions. However, a prolonged absence or legal problems may lead to the revocation of these privileges.

Permanent residence in Spain is also renewable and, after ten years in the country, you can apply for Spanish nationality, provided you meet certain requirements.

Important: If you wish to apply for permanent residence in Spain during your first five years with non-lucrative residence authorisation, you may only be absent from Spain for a maximum of ten months. In addition, there is a limit of one continuous period of absence of six months, so you only have four months per year to be absent from Spain during this five-year period.