Becoming a resident

@1happykamper

I completely messed up that number ha ha... I think it's 27,500 € per year and I have 25,700€ income.

@1happykamper

The best option is probably the No Lucrativa Visa (NLV). The requirement is 400% of IPREM (minimum salary) in passive income (pension, rent, dividends, etc.).

https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/losangeles/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-residencia-no-lucrativa.aspx

http://www.iprem.com.es/

It's currently 600 euros per month, I think, which would mean 2,400 euros is required. Besides, they will accept savings (for a year) instead of income, and I'd imagine you have a stash bigger than 29k euros. So I doubt you need any wiggle room! :-)

Alternatively, neighbouring Portugal has the very popular D7 visa which has much lower income requirements (less than 8k euros per year) plus a very favourable income tax treatment.

https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal

Ohhh... 29k savings... In Spain or any country?

@1happykamper

The best proof is a local (Spanish) bank account, with a high balance, and you get an official, stamped statement from your branch. Which might be no big deal anyway if you're going over for a couple of months of sightseeing and house-hunting. However, while I don't know the exact rules, I'd imagine they are pretty flexible about the location of your savings.

As you have a pension, I'd certainly get some kind of official entitlement letter. Especially as your pension is, on its own, pretty much at the required level. Any extra savings is just to reassure them, so I'd suggest some kind of bank/brokerage statement showing a chunk of savings (in the USA or UK or elsewhere). Most retirees relocating to Spain intend to buy a property, so these funds alone would likely be far more than 29k!

As you have a US passport, you probably file a US tax return which would show your pension income and other income from your savings. So perhaps a copy of this would support your application too.

BTW do you have a UK pension? Do you know about voluntary NICs?