Non-lucrative visa Spain sworn translation for retirees and couples

We are not affiliated with any Spanish consulate, BLS or VFS centre.

In Spanish this is a traducción jurada para el visado de residencia no lucrativa. Upload your scans to get a fixed quote for your non-lucrative visa file. After you arrive, your TIE (foreigner's identity card) and renewals at Extranjería need a sworn translation too; see translations for Extranjería after you arrive.

Which non-lucrative visa documents need translating?

For Spain's non-lucrative visa, foreign public documents not in Spanish need an official sworn translation. That usually means the criminal record certificate, the medical certificate and, for a spouse or children, marriage and birth certificates. Each is apostilled first, then translated with its apostille by a MAEC-appointed sworn translator.

Most documents for this visa are ones you already hold, and only a few need translating. This page is part of our sworn translation services by procedure. Tick what applies:

• Criminal record certificate covering the last 5 years: police certificate
• Medical certificate: medical certificate
• Bank statements or pension letters, if your consulate asks: bank statements and pension letters
• Marriage certificate, if your spouse comes with you: marriage certificate
• Birth certificate for each child: birth certificate

We translate each apostille together with its document, as Spanish offices expect. Not sure of the order? Read apostille before or after translation. Our guide to Spain non-lucrative visa requirements sets out the full eligibility rules.

Does private health insurance need translating?

Usually not. The non-lucrative visa needs health insurance with an insurer authorised in Spain, and that insurer's certificate is normally issued in Spanish. A document already in Spanish needs no translation. Consulates often add conditions, such as no co-payments, no waiting periods and no limits. Many consulates, including London, list their own insurance conditions, so follow your checklist.

How long are police and medical certificates valid for a non-lucrative visa?

Validity is set by each consulate. London wants the criminal record certificate no older than 6 months, unless it states otherwise. The medical certificate must be issued within the 3 months before you apply. Both are apostilled where required and sworn-translated if not in Spanish.

London accepts only UK or Spanish medical certificates, apostilled if issued outside the EU. Elsewhere, requirements vary by consulate: many require an apostille, and validity is usually 3 months (sometimes 6). Work back from your appointment:

Short on time? Add your appointment date to the form and we plan delivery from it.

Sources: Hoja 6, autorización de residencia no lucrativa, Ministerio de Inclusión · Consulate General of Spain in London, non-lucrative visa checklist. Last checked: 1 October 2026.

How much income must my translated statements show?

The non-lucrative visa requires 400% of IPREM: €2,400 per month for the applicant, plus €600 per month for each family member. The London checklist confirms these 2026 figures. Some consulate pages still show older amounts, so rely on the official figure and your current checklist.

Whether bank statements or pension letters need translating depends on the consulate. Some consulates exempt financial documents; Mumbai's student visa checklist, for example, excludes economic proof documents. Check your consulate's current checklist. Where a translation is asked for, an official sworn translation is the safe choice.

No work is allowed on this visa. Planning to keep working remotely? See digital nomad visa Spain sworn translation instead.

Which certified translation do consulates accept for the non-lucrative visa?

For a non-lucrative visa, the official translation is a sworn translation (traducción jurada). It is made by a translator appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). It is valid in Spain without further legalisation (Real Decreto 724/2020). Spanish consulates that require an official translation accept it.

In Spain, when an office asks for an official or 'certified' translation, it means a sworn translation (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator. A certified translation made outside Spain, for example by a UK or US translator, is not a sworn translation, and most Spanish offices won't accept it.

Each consulate publishes its own checklist, so check yours. You will need a sworn translation once you file in Spain, for example for your TIE or a renewal. Check any translator in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ).

Which route do US, UK, Canadian and Indian documents follow before translation?

Each country has its own apostille route, and the apostille always comes before the sworn translation. The FBI check goes to the US Department of State and UK documents to the FCDO. Canada issues apostilles, and Indian documents go to the MEA after state attestation.

• USA. A state apostille on an FBI check is rejected (US Department of State, Office of Authentications). Our walkthrough of the federal FBI check and apostille for Spain covers it.
• UK. 382,474 UK nationals held a Spanish residence document on 31 December 2025 (Ministry of Inclusion / OPI). The ACRO certificate gets a paper apostille (gov.uk, get a document legalised). Our guide to using a UK ACRO certificate in Spain has more detail.
• Canada. The Embassy in Ottawa wants the apostille on the RCMP signature itself, and we translate both.

English documents go through our English to Spanish sworn translation service. Need the stamp too? See apostille and sworn translation.

What do we check on a retiree's file before the sworn seal goes on?

Before delivery, we check that every apostille is present and translated, that names match each passport, and that every page carries the translator's seal. You approve a draft of names, dates and places first.

• FBI check. It carries the federal US Department of State apostille, not a state one.
• Medical certificate. Its date falls inside your consulate's window.
• Every page. Each page and each apostille is translated and sealed.
• Names. Married, maiden and middle names match each passport. Where spellings differ, the translator adds a note.
• Figures. Pension amounts, currencies and dates are reproduced exactly as written.

If an office rejects the translation on formal grounds, we redo it free and prioritised under our re-issue terms.

Retiring to Spain: reassurance before you order

Sending a pension letter and an FBI check to the Spanish consulate in Chicago, or an ACRO certificate to London? These are the answers to settle first.

• Is the translator real? Each translator holds every registration and authorisation Spain requires for sworn translation. Check the seal on your translation against the official MAEC list with our guide to checking a translator's appointment.
• What if the consulate rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds, such as a maiden name that does not match a passport.
• Is my data safe? Medical and financial files are used only for your order and deleted within 7 days of delivery; see our privacy policy.
• Appointment soon? Our 24-hour and same-day sworn translation often fits short certificates in.

What does a non-lucrative visa translation package cost?

You pay one fixed total for the whole file, shown before payment. The price depends on how many documents and pages need translating, including apostilles. Short certificates take 24–48 hours. A couple's file is one package, with one translator per language pair and one spelling for both spouses.

As an indicative market range, sworn translations in Spain cost about €30–120 a page: roughly €30–80 for the first page and €15–40 for later pages (Cronoshare, January 2026). This is a market range, not our price.

Prices are for common languages such as English, French or Portuguese. Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian or Romanian documents start from €39 per certificate. Chinese, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali and other rare languages start from €49. See the full sworn translation price list for each document.

Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, PayPal, bank transfer (SEPA or international), Apple Pay and Google Pay. Prices include VAT where it applies.

These are starting prices. For your final price, send your details through the quote form. We email you a written quotation, and work starts only after you approve it.

Need it sooner? 24-hour delivery adds 30% to the order price. Same-day delivery adds 60%, with a €25 minimum. A tracked paper copy costs €9 within Spain, or from €29 abroad.

Where can retirees moving to Spain find related help?

• Sworn translation for a Spain visa for other visa types
• Translations for buying property or inheriting in Spain, such as powers of attorney and deeds
• Relocation firms arranging a move: sworn translation for relocation and HR teams

Frequently asked questions

How do I start the sworn translation for my non-lucrative visa?

Send a scan or photo of every page, including the apostille. Originals are never needed. Add your appointment date, and we plan the file around it. You see a fixed total and delivery date before you pay.

We only translate. We never sell appointments.