Australian Citizens — Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa for Australians
A growing number of Australians are choosing Spain as their new home. Here is everything Australian NLV applicants need to know — which consulate to use, the AFP check, Australian qualifying income, and how our 24/7 dashboard keeps you in control despite the timezone difference.
Health insurance on its own
Already arranging your visa yourself or through another company?
You can arrange your health insurance through us separately. You don’t need to use our visa service.
Whether you’re applying independently, working with another visa company or adviser, already hold your visa and need ongoing cover, or simply want private health insurance without a visa — you’re welcome to request a quote. You don’t need to buy our visa service or create a visa-dashboard account to request an insurance quote.
Already hold your NLV? Get a renewal quote · Living in Spain without a visa? Get a general quote · Not sure? Choose your quote
Why Australians Are Choosing Spain
Spain ticks boxes for Australians that few other European countries can match — climate, food, lifestyle, and proximity to the rest of the continent.
Familiar climate
Spain's Mediterranean and southern Atlantic coast regions share climatic characteristics with parts of Australia — warm, sunny, and dry. For Australians accustomed to abundant sunshine, Spain feels remarkably like home in the best possible way.
World-class food and lifestyle
Spain consistently ranks among the world's top food destinations. Fresh seafood, local produce, tapas culture, and outstanding wine regions make everyday life in Spain a genuine pleasure for Australians who appreciate quality food and relaxed living.
Gateway to Europe
Living in Spain puts all of Europe within easy reach. For Australians who have always wanted to explore Europe properly, Spain as a home base makes it remarkably achievable — budget flights, fast trains, and short driving distances to France, Portugal, and beyond.
Cost of living
Spain's cost of living is substantially lower than Sydney or Melbourne. An Australian superannuation income or pension that feels modest in Australia goes considerably further in most Spanish regions, particularly outside the major cities.
Growing Australian community
Spain has a growing and well-connected Australian expat community, particularly in Barcelona, Madrid, the Costa del Sol, and the Balearic and Canary Islands. Connecting with other Australians in Spain is easier than ever.
The NLV — the right legal route
As non-EU citizens, Australians who want to live in Spain without working need the Non-Lucrative Visa. It provides a clear, established legal path to long-term residency, with the option of permanent residency after 5 continuous years.
Which Spanish Consulate Do Australians Apply Through?
You must apply at the Spanish consulate covering your Australian state or territory of residence. Verify your coverage directly with the consulate before starting.
Spanish Consulate General — Sydney
Serves New South Wales (except Queanbeyan), Queensland and the Northern Territory, plus Papua New Guinea, Nauru, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Sydney's own instructions say documents, fee and original passport are sent by post, after which the consulate emails an in-person appointment for fingerprints.
Spanish Consulate General — Melbourne
Serves Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Applications are made in person by appointment, requested by email as set out on the consulate's website; postal applications are not accepted.
Embassy of Spain — Canberra (Consular Section)
Serves the Australian Capital Territory and Queanbeyan only. Applications are made in person by appointment.
Jurisdictions as published by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, checked October 2026. You apply at the office covering your state or territory of residence — confirm on the official website before you start.
The AFP National Police Certificate — Start This Early
The Australian Federal Police check and its apostille is one of the most time-sensitive steps for Australian NLV applicants.
AFP check — not a state police check
Spanish consulates require an Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Certificate — not a state or territory police check (e.g. not a NSW Police check or a Victoria Police check). The AFP check provides a national criminal record check across all Australian states and territories.
Must be apostilled by DFAT
After receiving your AFP National Police Certificate, it must be apostilled by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Australia is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Australian public documents can be apostilled by DFAT for international use in Spain. This is a separate step after obtaining the AFP check itself.
Plan for processing time
The AFP check itself is typically available within a few weeks online, but the DFAT apostille adds processing time. Our specialists guide you through obtaining the AFP check and the DFAT apostille efficiently, ensuring this document is ready well before your consulate appointment.
We guide you through every step
Our immigration specialists provide complete, step-by-step guidance on obtaining your AFP check and DFAT apostille correctly. We flag this as a priority from day one of your application to ensure it does not become the bottleneck in your overall timeline.
Australian Income Sources for the NLV
The NLV requires approximately €2,400/month for a single applicant (400% of Spain's IPREM). Here are the qualifying income sources most relevant to Australian applicants.
Superannuation income
Regular income drawn from your superannuation — such as an account-based pension or income stream — can qualify toward the NLV threshold. Super statements showing the income schedule and bank statements confirming deposits are required as evidence.
Australian shares and dividends
Dividend income from Australian shares and investment portfolios can qualify. Brokerage or share registry statements showing regular dividend payments and corresponding bank statements are required documentation.
Rental income
Rental income from Australian investment properties can contribute toward the threshold. Lease agreements and bank statements showing regular rental deposits are needed as evidence.
Savings interest and deposits
Interest income from Australian savings accounts or term deposits can supplement your income picture. Bank statements showing interest credits are required. Savings can also supplement monthly income where it falls below the threshold — depending on your consulate's approach.
Australian Age Pension
Centrelink Age Pension payments can count toward the NLV income threshold. Official Centrelink income statements and bank statements showing regular deposits are required as documentation.
AUD to EUR conversion
Your Australian dollar income is converted to euros at the ECB rate for threshold assessment. Our eligibility check uses the current rate to give you an accurate picture of where your AUD income sits against the EUR threshold before you commit to applying.
24/7 Dashboard — Built for Australian Clients
Spain is 8–10 hours behind Australian eastern time. Our application platform is designed so you never have to worry about timezone calls or waiting for business hours in Europe.
Upload documents any time
Our secure 24/7 online dashboard lets you upload documents, check your application status, and send messages at any hour of the day or night — whether it's 2am in Perth or 8pm in Sydney. No calls to Spain required.
Real-time application tracking
Log in at any time to see exactly where your application stands. Every document upload, review note, and status update is visible to you immediately through the dashboard — full transparency at all times, regardless of timezone.
Async communication
Leave messages and questions for your specialist at any time. Our team reviews and responds during European business hours, meaning you receive clear answers without needing to schedule inconvenient calls in the middle of the Australian night.
How We Help
From AFP Check to Approval — How We Help Australian Applicants
Your 24-hour dashboard and progress tracking (above) keep you up to date across the time difference. Alongside them, we take care of:
Document preparation
We tell you what to request and in what order — the AFP National Police Check and its DFAT apostille, your superannuation, pension or investment statements — and review every document before it goes into your dossier.
Video consultations
Talk your case through with our team by video, arranged from your dashboard — consulate, income evidence, family members and move date, answered face to face.
Health insurance quotes are provided through spanish-healthinsurance.com. You can request one whether or not you use our visa service.
Health Insurance
Health Insurance for Australian NLV Applicants
- Medicare and Australian private health funds don’t provide the Spanish policy and certificate the consulate asks for.
- For the NLV you need health insurance that meets your consulate’s requirements, including no copayments. We’ll help you choose suitable cover and send a personalised quote.
- Have your certificate ready for submission. Agree the policy start date against your intended arrival and your consulate’s current requirements.
- You can buy your health insurance through us whoever handles your visa — no visa-service purchase or dashboard account needed.
Australian Applicants — Frequently Asked Questions
Can Australian citizens get Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa?
Yes. Australian citizens are eligible for Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa. As non-EU citizens, Australians must apply through the Spanish consulate covering their Australian state of residence. You must meet the income threshold (approximately €2,400/month for a single applicant), hold NLV-compliant health insurance, and provide an apostilled AFP National Police Certificate among other required documents.
Which Spanish consulate do I apply through if I live in Victoria?
Victoria residents apply through the Spanish Consulate General in Melbourne, which also covers South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Always confirm on the official consulate website before starting your application. Our specialists will confirm the correct consulate for your specific state when you begin working with us.
What AFP check do I need and how is it apostilled?
You need an AFP National Police Certificate (not a state police check). You can apply for the AFP check online via the AFP website. Once received, it must be apostilled by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Australia is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so DFAT apostilles Australian public documents for use in Spain. Our specialists guide you through the complete process — AFP application, DFAT apostille, and how to present these documents to the consulate.
Does my superannuation income qualify for the NLV?
Regular income drawn from your superannuation — such as an account-based pension or pension income stream — can qualify toward the NLV income threshold. You will need superannuation statements showing the regular income and bank statements confirming the deposits. If you have a lump sum in super but are not yet drawing a regular income, our specialists can advise on how to structure your financial evidence most effectively for your specific consulate.
How much AUD income do I need for Spain's NLV?
The NLV threshold is approximately €2,400/month for a single applicant in euros. The AUD equivalent varies with exchange rates — our eligibility check calculates your AUD income against the current EUR threshold using the ECB rate so you get an accurate, up-to-date picture. For additional family members, add approximately €600/month per adult. Contact us for a free eligibility assessment.
What health insurance do Australian NLV applicants need?
You need NLV-compliant private health insurance: valid throughout all of Spain, with no co-payments, no waiting periods, and coverage equivalent to Spain's public health system. Check your consulate’s current checklist; if you have a medical condition, confirm how the policy treats it before relying on it. Australian Medicare does not apply in Spain. Our service arranges compliant policies through spanish-healthinsurance.com and 247expatinsurance.com. Premiums are typically €500–€2,000/year depending on age and coverage.
How do I apostille my AFP check through DFAT for the Spain NLV?
Once you receive your AFP National Police Certificate, you submit it to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for apostille. Australia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so DFAT can apostille public documents for use in Spain. You can apply online or by mail through the DFAT Consular Services portal. Our specialists guide you through the exact process and current processing times so this step does not delay your application.
How long does Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa take to process from Australia?
The full process for Australian applicants — from starting document preparation to visa in hand — typically takes 4–6 months. The AFP check is relatively quick (online applications usually return within a few weeks), but DFAT apostille adds time. Consulate processing takes a further 4–10 weeks after your appointment. Our 24/7 dashboard helps Australian clients manage the process efficiently across the timezone difference.
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Visa rules, consulate requirements, and processing times change frequently — always verify details with the relevant Spanish consulate or a qualified immigration specialist before submitting your application.