USA citizen looking help how to retire in Valencia Spain

Josemojena · 2025-02-03T10:45:04+01:00

Discover tips for USA citizens on obtaining retirement or non-lucrative visas to reside in Valencia, Spain. Get practical advice from fellow expats.

Josemojena New member

Member since 03 February 2025

JosemojenaNew member03 February 2025 08:45:04

Hi, my name is Jose Im retired and USA citizen and served in the Arm Forces, moved to Panama City, Panama almost a year and now I鈥檓 in Greenville, SC. Have friends in Valencia and would like to move there. I need all the help to how apply for a Retirement Visa or Non lucrative Visa, I know perfect Spanish and English, please any help would be appreciated how to deal with the process. Thanks

gwynj Bulgaria Expert

Member since 30 June 2020

gwynjBulgaria Expert03 February 2025 13:54:41

2519

@Josemojena

We lived on Avenida Balboa in Panama City for some years, with a vacation apartment on the beach in Coronado. Panama has its charms. but I was happy to leave, and I find living in the EU far better. There are many nice Spanish cities, and Valencia is one of them. We're down by the Costa Blanca too, next to Alicante.

The NLV is pretty straightforward with all the requirements published online. You need about 2.5k euros pm in passive income (pension, rent, dividends, etc.) or 30k euros in savings.

If you're a Panama resident, you could apply in Panama. Or somewhere in the USA, based on your state of residence (driving license, etc.). Here's the BLS page in Washington DC as an example (Spain outsources most visas to BLS now).

GuestPoster8490 Guest

GuestPoster8490Guest03 February 2025 22:56:36

FYI for nlv applicants going to the San Francisco office: they are requiring a separate background document from any state if you have any incidents. I had a 40 year old dui and am being required to obtain a background check from the state it occurred. Even though neither the consulate nor BLS website list it as a required document. Also, I'm retired and have been collecting my pension for over 2 years. But, as I am not collecting social security, they are requiring a notarized affidavit that I'll not work while residing in Spain. So just be aware of little pitfalls that may set you back. The San Francisco office is requiring every type of visa application be brought in personally. The application for appointment may or may not be available. If it's not you just have to keep checking daily.