Visas and residency for retiring to Spain or Portugal

For many people, paperwork is the biggest worry about moving abroad. The good news: if you have a steady pension or savings, the routes to living legally in Spain or Portugal are well established. What you need depends mainly on your nationality.

If you are an EU citizen

German, Dutch, French, Belgian and other EU citizens can live in Spain or Portugal freely. You register as a resident after arrival, show that you have enough income and health cover, and receive a registration certificate. It usually takes a few appointments rather than a visa application.

If you are British or from outside the EU

• Spain's non-lucrative visa is designed for people who will not work in Spain and can support themselves from pensions, savings or investments. You apply at a Spanish consulate before you move.
• Portugal's D7 visa serves the same purpose for people with regular passive income such as pensions or rental income.
• Both require proof of sufficient income, private health insurance, a clean criminal record and a place to live, and both lead to longer-term residency if you renew.
• Spain's investment-based golden visa has closed to new applicants; Portugal's still exists but no longer accepts property purchases as the qualifying investment.

The usual route, step by step

1. 1

   Six months before

   Choose your visa route and collect pension, savings and health-insurance evidence.

2. 2

   Three to four months before

   Have documents translated and legalised; book your consulate appointment.

3. 3

   Visa approved

   Travel within the validity of your entry visa and find your home.

4. 4

   First weeks

   Register locally, apply for your residence card and tax number, and join the health system.

Practical tips

• Start six months before your planned move: consulate appointments and official translations take time.
• Keep income evidence simple and well documented, ideally in one account.
• Plan tax residency, pensions and inheritance at the same time as the visa, not afterwards.
• Use a specialist firm: the requirements change and details matter.

How Solera Village helps

Our team helps residents with local paperwork once they arrive, and we work with a specialist partner for visas and residency before you move.