How to Retire in Spain 2026: Visa, Income and Budget

To retire in Spain from the United States, most people apply for the non-lucrative residence visa. In 2026 you must show €28,800 a year (€2,400 a month) for yourself and €7,200 a year more for each family member, hold a Spanish health policy with no copayments, and agree not to work. The Los Angeles consulate describes it as the visa for living in Spain without gainful activity, and it sets specific proof for retirees.

The income you need

The regulation sets the bar at 400% of the IPREM for you and 100% for each dependent (art. 62.1). The IPREM is €600 a month in 2026, so a couple needs €3,000 a month, or €36,000 a year. The full table and the document list are in the non-lucrative visa guide.

Household	Per month	Per year
Single retiree	€2,400	€28,800
Couple	€3,000	€36,000

The amount must cover the whole period of the permit (art. 62.2). The first permit lasts one year, so a single applicant shows €28,800, either as savings or as regular income.

What counts as retirement income

The regulation accepts “any means of proof admitted in law,” including property titles and certified checks (art. 62.3). The Los Angeles consulate spells out what it expects from retirees. You should be one of these:

• a beneficiary of a state pension paid in convertible currency, such as US Social Security;
• a beneficiary of a non-capitalizable life annuity paid by a public or private institution in convertible currency; or
• the holder of investment accounts.

Bring bank statements for the last three months and a copy of your latest tax return. Every bank document must show the bank’s name and address, the account details, the opening date, the balance on 31 December of the previous year and the average balance for that year. The same consulate says applicants cannot have or leave loans or mortgages in the United States when applying. Other consulates may ask for different proof, so read the list for the one that covers your state.

Pension letters work best when they show a monthly amount. If your income is a mix (Social Security plus a 401(k) or IRA), the consulate looks at documents that prove regular receipt or a balance that covers the permit period. Ask your consulate how it treats retirement accounts before you pay for apostilles.

Health insurance

You need a policy with an insurer authorized to operate in Spain, valid for one year, covering what the Spanish public system covers, with no deductible, no copayment, no waiting period and no coverage limit. The Los Angeles consulate states that travel insurance with medical assistance is not accepted. Which policies pass is the step where many first applications fail, so check it before you apply. Once you are living in Spain, healthcare for expats explains how the system works day to day.

You cannot work

The visa is for people who will live in Spain without work or professional activity (art. 61.1). The Los Angeles consulate states that it does not allow teleworking. A retiree who wants a part-time consulting income should look at the digital nomad visa instead.

Taxes once you live there

The non-lucrative permit renews only if you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain (art. 64.2.f). That is also the first test for Spanish tax residency: you are resident if you stay more than 183 days in the calendar year, or if your main economic interests are in Spain (Ley 35/2006, art. 9.1). A tax resident is generally taxed on worldwide income, which includes pensions and investment income from the US.

That means a retiree who follows the visa rules will almost always become a Spanish taxpayer. Read Spanish tax residency for the rules and US Social Security and pensions in Spain for how the pension side works. US citizens also keep filing US returns.

Will your income cover Spain? A budget example

The budget below uses the site’s own city data: an 80 m² flat at the city’s asking rent per m², plus two people’s average annual spending in the region (INE 2025) divided by 12. Rent is idealista’s September 2026 asking rent, so a long-term lease can cost less or more.

City	Rent: 80 m² × €/m²	Spending: 2 × annual ÷ 12	Monthly total, couple
Valencia	80 × €16.3 = €1,304	2 × €9,927 ÷ 12 = €1,654	€2,958
Málaga	80 × €16.5 = €1,320	2 × €8,880 ÷ 12 = €1,480	€2,800
Alicante	80 × €13.9 = €1,112	2 × €9,927 ÷ 12 = €1,654	€2,766

A couple meeting the €3,000 monthly minimum would cover these three cities on average spending, with a margin of €42 in Valencia and €234 in Alicante. Madrid (€3,693) and Barcelona (€3,345) come out above the minimum, so income at the legal floor would not stretch. See the cost of living in Spain for how each figure is built and best places to retire in Spain for the five-city comparison with climate.

These are averages for the region, not a plan for your life. Spending on travel home, a car or private medical care sits on top of what households report to INE.

Next steps

1. Check you can document the income and the clean criminal record (FBI check with federal apostille).
2. Get the insurance certificate and the medical certificate (issued within 90 days of applying).
3. Book the consulate appointment for your area; it is in person.
4. Once in Spain, apply for your TIE within one month of arrival (art. 63.5).