Being Semi-Retired

If you gain the NLV then that will allow you to move to Spain but you will then be required to apply for residency within the first 90 days.

Having a NLV does not give you the right to an extended holiday. Whichever way you do it you will be limited to 90 days in 180 days for holidays. 

Steve 

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your comments.  The reason I am using the NLV route is exactly to have an extended holiday (not work) and not have to consider the 90/180 day rule.  I accept that there is residency application thrown in for good measure.  The visa only lasts for 12 months, so I'll see what I want to do nearer the end of the initial first visa.  I believe Spain will have its Digital Nomad Visa up and running in the coming months so that could be an option further down the line.

Cheers Ian.

Also, I forgot to add to my list of hobbies and interests for 'Being Semi Retired' should also include endless conversations on forums regarding Brexit and Visas  (doing a smiley laughy face cos I cant find the emoji's)

The NLV does not work like that. If you move to Spain on the NLV you are required by law to either apply for residency within the first 90 days or leave the country after 90 days holiday otherwise you are overstaying and then you could be classed as an illegal immigrant with all the consequences that entails. You cannot use a NLV for an extended holiday. 

Steve 

Hi Ian,

I retired to Spain, aged 55, with a plan similar to yours, but after 6 months of 'getting settled', I realised that wasn't going to sustain me - I quickly became bored.  But the good thing about living in Spain is that it has a way of drawing you into its lifestyle and culture - you'll certainly need your laid back approach to deal with Spanish bureaucracy 😉

Regarding the NLV, if granted the visa itself only lasts 3 months snd 15 days, during which time you move to Spain and apply for your temporary residency permit within 1 month of arriving in country.  If you decide to stay after the first year, your subsequent permit renewals last 2 years and at the 5 year point, you achieve permanent residency status.  You said that you're semi-retired, but the NLV wouldn't allow you to work, so there may be better visa options available to you.

Kind regards, 

Kim

Hi Kim,

Thank you for your response and information.  I will be instructing a solicitor to help me handle the NLV and subsequent residency completion in Spain - I think it is the TIE appointment to finalise the temporary residency.  Hopefully using a solicitor will help me deal with the initial spanish bureaucracy.

I don't intend to work in Spain with the NLV. I am lucky enough aged 51 to not have to work, but consider myself semi-retired as working further down the line could still be an option.  I also read that there is a new visa in the pipeline for remote workers that could allow me to legally work in Spain.

For the time being I will be sitting tight and visit Spain (La Marina) using a tourist visa until the travel restriction world we live in has eased further.

Regards - Ian

Hi Ian,

My "outlaws" lived on La Marina urb for 18 years and loved it - we´re not too far from there, so we still visit a couple of our favourite restaurants in the Grey Area: Curry Mahal and The Grill House.

If you have the time (and the inclination!), you may want to apply for the NLV yourself, as this has to be done at your nearest Spanish Consulate in the UK (London, Manchester or Edinburgh).  One of our members has already done this and has written a guide based on his experience:

How to apply for a Non-Lucrative visa (NLV)

When you come to apply for the TIE in Spain, I´d recommend using a gestor, rather than a lawyer - same service, much cheaper hourly rate!  I´d recommend Uma at Get Legal in Spain:

https://www.getlegalinspain.com/

Kind regards,

Kim

Kim,

Thank you again for tips and links - I had looked into doing the whole process myself and have read the indepth post on here but decided it would be best for me to pay my money and take away alot of the hassle.  I had not thought about using a Gestor for residency/visa application - my solicitors do an all inclusive package from start to to end. I wonder if the Gestor you recommend is able to do a start to end package?

I will still need to make contact with a Gestor for the future bureaucracy that will undoubtley come my way once my feet eventually arrive in Spain. 

Also, I am looking more to base myself in La Marina Pueblo/El Pinet than the Urb, but nothing is out of the running or set in concrete.

 Regards - Ian