Is there an age limit for Spain's non-lucrative visa?
It's available to non-EU citizens and is granted for one year. If you have enough passive income or savings, you can extend it for a further two years and then another two years after that until you're eligible for long term residency after five years.
As so many pensioners use this visa to be able to retire here, people may question as to whether there's an upper age limit to apply for it or not.
The Spanish government states that in order to be granted the non-lucrative visa you need to meet the following requirements.
Not be a citizen of a State of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or a family member of citizens of these countries to whom the Union citizen regime applies.
Not be in Spain illegally.
Have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you have resided during the last five years.
Not being prohibited from entering Spain or any other countries with which Spain has signed an agreement in this regard.
Have the necessary financial means to cover the expenses of stay and return and, where appropriate, those of their family members. This is 400 percent of the IPREM which equals €28,800 for the year. For every family member included in the residency application, it's an extra 100 percent of the IPREM, which is an extra €7,200 for the year.
Have public or private health insurance in Spain.
Not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations of 2005.
It does not mention any upper age limit at all, so in that regard, Spain will not deny you the visa because you are over a certain age.
The problem may come, however, with regards to health insurance, as this is one of the main requirements for being granted the visa.
According to Caser Insurance, 'It is typical in Spain to have an age limit for health insurance, typically between 65 and 75 years'.
MyInsuranceSpain corroborates this by saying that while "there is no upper age limit, but some companies will stop offering comprehensive health cover to new applicants between ages 65-75'.
And insurance broker Inovexpat states: 'In Spain, most insurance companies set a subscription age limit of 65. However, the insurance policies taken out have no specific age limit and are maintained throughout the life of the insured'.
So while there is no specific set limit for all private insurance companies, you may find it difficult if you are a new applicant and are over the age of 65.
You may also find it very difficult to get insurance if you have any pre-existing conditions because companies may not cover for these issues and you may be denied the visa if you don't have comprehensive cover.
There are, however, some companies that can offer options if you are nearing 75 and over.
According to Inovexpats, DKV Seguros and Sanitas provide insurance for those up to age 75 and ADESLAS offers a seniors' product with an upper age limit of 84.
Therefore, while it may be more difficult for you to find insurance companies to cover you the older you get, it may still be possible if you can afford it.
Another option, if you have already been in Spain for one year is to get private insurance for that one year and then switch over to the convenio especial.
This translates to 'special agreement' and allows foreigners in Spain to pay a monthly sum into the country's public health system to have access to it, even if you don't pay into Spain's social security system through work or a pension.
If you do this then you will meet the conditions to be able to renew your NLV, even if you are denied coverage in the private health sector.
Being on the convenio especial means you will be fully covered by the public system, even if you have pre-existing conditions.
It costs €60 per month for the under 65s, and €157 for those aged 65 and above.
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