What Is The Minimum Income For Residency In Spain In 2026?

If you're planning to move to Spain and stay longer than 90 days, you will need some form of residency visa – and in most cases that means proving you have enough income to support yourself. Whether you are a retiree, a digital nomad, or relocating with family, understanding the minimum income requirements is one of the key factors in getting approved in 2026.

Most residency categories also require private health insurance, so immigration officials look at your finances and your medical cover together rather than in isolation.

Why income requirements matter for Spanish residency

Most Spanish residency visas require non-EU applicants to demonstrate sufficient financial means to live in Spain without becoming a burden on the state. This applies in particular to British nationals after Brexit and other third-country citizens who are not automatically entitled to work or access public benefits.

The minimum income you need depends on:

- The type of visa you apply for (non-lucrative, digital nomad, work, self-employed, family reunification, etc.).
- How many dependants (spouse, children, parents) you include.
- Whether you intend to work in Spain or rely on passive or foreign income.

Spain uses two key reference indicators to calculate thresholds: IPREM for many immigration procedures, and the minimum wage (SMI) for the Digital Nomad Visa and employment-linked routes.

IPREM and SMI in 2026: the two reference points

Before looking at each visa, it helps to know the official reference figures for 2026:

- IPREM 2026: 600 euros per month (unchanged), used for non-lucrative visas, family reunification and many other extranjeria procedures.
- SMI 2026 (minimum wage): 1,221 euros per month in 14 payments, which is 17,094 euros per year.

Most income rules are expressed as a percentage of one of these figures (for example 400% IPREM, 200% SMI), so knowing the base amounts makes it easier to calculate what you need.

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) – Minimum income in 2026

The Non-Lucrative Visa allows non-EU nationals to live in Spain without carrying out any work or professional activity for Spanish entities. It is widely used by retirees, people with passive income, and those working remotely for non-Spanish employers who are happy to refrain from local employment.

In 2026 the IPREM remains at 600 euros per month. For the NLV, the standard rule is:

- Main applicant: 400% of IPREM.
- Each family member: +100% of IPREM.

That translates to:

- Main applicant: 600 x 4 x 12 = 28,800 euros per year.
- Each dependant: 600 x 1 x 12 = 7,200 euros per year.

Example income requirements (2026):

- UK couple (main applicant + spouse):
28,800 + 7,200 = 36,000 euros per year.
- Family of four (two adults, two children):
28,800 + 3 x 7,200 = 50,400 euros per year.

What consulates actually look for in 2026

Recent practice shows that many consulates now:

- Want to see the full annual amount already available as savings or guaranteed income, not just a monthly pension figure.
- Scrutinise where the money comes from (pensions, long-term investments, rental income) rather than accepting large last-minute transfers.
- Often prefer a mix of ongoing income plus savings, especially for younger applicants without a long pension history.

In some cases, they also look at the 14-payment version of IPREM when assessing means, so exceeding the bare minimum is highly advisable.

Typical proof of funds for the NLV

- Bank statements for at least the last 6–12 months.
- Pension award letters and annual statements.
- Investment portfolio reports and dividend statements.
- Rental contracts and proof of rental income.

All documents should usually be officially translated into Spanish and legalised or apostilled where required.

The non-lucrative residence permit can be renewed at one year, then two-year periods, and after five years of legal stay you can normally apply for long-term EU residency, provided you also meet health-insurance and integration conditions.

Digital Nomad Visa – Minimum income in 2026

The Digital Nomad Visa is aimed at remote workers and certain self-employed professionals who work mainly for clients or employers outside Spain. Unlike the NLV, the Digital Nomad route is explicitly tied to economic activity and therefore uses the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) as a base.

For 2026:

- SMI: 1,221 euros per month x 14 = 17,094 euros per year.

Many specialist legal sources interpret the income threshold as:

- Main applicant: at least 200% of SMI.
- Spouse or first dependant: +75% of SMI.
- Each additional dependant: +25% of SMI.

Using the 2026 SMI figure, this gives approximate annual amounts:

- Main applicant (200% SMI): 34,188 euros per year.
- Spouse or first dependant (75% SMI): 12,820.50 euros per year.
- Each additional dependant (25% SMI): 4,273.50 euros per year.

Example for a remote worker with spouse and two children (2026):

- Main applicant: 34,188 euros.
- Spouse: 12,820.50 euros.
- Child 1: 4,273.50 euros.
- Child 2: 4,273.50 euros.
- Total: 55,555 euros per year (approx.).

What you need to show for the Digital Nomad Visa

- An ongoing employment contract with a foreign company, or proof of self-employment with foreign and limited Spanish clients.
- Income meeting or exceeding the percentage of SMI, demonstrated via contracts, invoices, bank statements and tax returns.
- Social security coverage, either via Spanish social security (when registered) or a valid international or home-country scheme recognised by Spain.

Given the relatively high threshold, it is sensible to aim above the bare percentages, particularly if your income fluctuates from month to month.

Self-Employed Visa (Autónomo Visa) – Income expectations

For the Self-Employed (Autónomo) Visa, Spain does not publish a single fixed minimum income figure. Instead, immigration authorities assess:

- The viability of your business plan.
- The credibility of your projected income.
- Whether your expected earnings will allow you to support yourself and any dependants without relying on public funds.

In practice, many lawyers advise showing access to funds at least comparable to, or higher than, the NLV level (28,800 euros per year for the main applicant), plus enough capital to cover start-up costs, social security contributions and taxes.

Useful supporting evidence includes:

- Signed client contracts or letters of intent.
- Market analysis and pricing structures.
- Proof of business experience or qualifications in your field.

Family reunification – Income to support dependants

If you already hold legal residency in Spain and wish to bring family members under family reunification, minimum income is again calculated using IPREM.

The general rule is:

- 150% of IPREM for the first family member.
- +50% of IPREM for each additional family member.

Using the 2026 IPREM (600 euros per month) and 12 months:

- 150% IPREM = 900 euros per month → 10,800 euros per year.
- +50% IPREM = 300 euros per month → 3,600 euros per year per additional person.

So, typical annual amounts are:

- One family member: 10,800 euros per year.
- Two family members: 10,800 + 3,600 = 14,400 euros per year.
- Three family members: 10,800 + 2 x 3,600 = 18,000 euros per year.

Bear in mind extranjeria offices may ask for higher income if they consider your housing costs or existing dependants make your situation borderline.

How minimum income and health insurance work together in 2026

For many residency categories, meeting the minimum income is not enough on its own – you also have to show that your healthcare is fully covered, usually through private insurance.

For example:

- Non-Lucrative Visa: consulates expect comprehensive private health insurance with no co-payments, valid across Spain, with coverage equivalent to the Spanish public system. Travel insurance or emergency-only policies are often rejected.
- Digital Nomad Visa: in the early stages you normally need private health insurance; once you register with Spanish social security, public cover may replace or complement it, but the visa decision is based on what you present at the time of application.
- Family reunification and other non-working statuses: if you are not yet contributing to Spanish social security, private health insurance is frequently required until you qualify for public healthcare.

From an immigration officer's perspective, a strong application in 2026 is one where:

- Your income clearly exceeds the relevant IPREM or SMI threshold.
- Your funds are stable and traceable.
- You have visa-compliant health insurance that leaves no gaps in cover.

If the insurance is non-compliant, the application can be refused even if your income is high enough.

Practical tips for getting approved in 2026

To improve your chances of a successful residency application:

- Provide at least 6–12 months of financial documentation (pension statements, bank statements, contracts).
- Aim above the minimum income – in borderline cases, consulates favour applicants who clearly exceed the threshold.
- Avoid last-minute transfers – large recent deposits without clear origin can raise questions.
- Use sworn translators for all non-Spanish documents, and legalise or apostille documents where required.
- Get professional advice if your situation includes self-employment, fluctuating income or complex family structures, as rules and interpretations can change with each consulate.

Final thoughts

Securing residency in Spain is perfectly achievable, but meeting the minimum income requirement – and pairing it with suitable health insurance – is one of the most important parts of the process. For 2026, the non-lucrative route still revolves around IPREM, with 28,800 euros for the main applicant plus 7,200 euros per dependant, while digital nomads must now clear higher thresholds tied to the increased minimum wage, starting at around 34,188 euros per year for the main applicant and more if you bring family.

If your finances are well documented, your income comfortably exceeds the threshold and your health cover is fully compliant, you will be in a much stronger position to obtain the Spanish residency that lets you enjoy life in the sun long term.

For more detail on specific routes, see our guides to the non-lucrative residency visa and our overall guide to Spanish residency visas.

Need health insurance for your visa application?

Most Spanish residency visas, including the non-lucrative and digital nomad options, require private health insurance with no co-payments. Our expat-friendly private medical insurance plans are fully compliant with immigration requirements and trusted by thousands of applicants each year.

Fast approval. No co-pays. Visa-ready coverage.