Non Lucrative Visa, and new life. - Moving to Mojacar: tips and advice - Mojacar forum - Costa de Almería forum in the Almeria province of Spain
Have Tools Will Travel
Grupo Platinum Estates
UK DIRECT REMOVALS
Mini Digger Almera
ASSSA Insurance

Join the Mojacar forum

Join the Mojacar forumMy name's Alex and this is my website all about Mojacar in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Moving to Mojacar: tips and advice and much more!

Non Lucrative Visa, and new life.

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 11:23am
10 replies566 views5 members subscribed
Henry11

Posts: 16

10 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 2 Jun 2022

Hi, new on here, and have already learned a lot, thank you!

We are driving over from U.K. end of the week for a look into if the area could be right for our new adventure. If so then we’d come over, rent until we knew it was for us, and then buy if we were 100%.

The more I look into the NLV, the more confused I get, and looks like I’m not alone. I now am of the opinion that doing it myself is not the best option, due to the translation and stamping of docs. Can anyone give advice as to whether it’s best to employ a English speaking Spanish solicitor whilst we over in Spain , who we could then use for purchases etc, or to find an English equivalent this end, just to do the visa. Names and experiences would be useful. Equally please tell me it is possible to do ourselves, not afraid of having a go!

Thank you

Mick1984

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 2:10pm

Posts: 68

36 helpful points

Location: Cantoria

Joined: 4 Nov 2020

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 2:10pm

Henry11 wrote on Sun Jun 5, 2022 11:23am:

Hi, new on here, and have already learned a lot, thank you!

We are driving over from U.K. end of the week for a look into if the area could be right for our new adventure. If so then we’d come over, rent until we knew it was for us, and then buy if we were 100%.

The more I look into the NLV, the more confused I get, and looks like I’m not alone. I now am of the opinion that doing it myself is not the best option, due to the translation and stamping of docs. Can anyone give advice as to whether it’s best to employ a English speaking Spanish solicitor whilst we over in Spain , who we could then use for purchases etc, or to find an English equivalent this end, just to do the visa. Names and experiences would be useful. Equally please tell me it is possible to do ourselves, not afraid of having a go!

Thank you

Hi,

We came over in June last year on a NLV. We started the process ourselves, too difficult so we employed a solicitor in Barcelona. She took us through every step, filling in the forms, advising on Police, medical etc everything that was needed for our appointment at the consulate in London. Be aware that the consulate will turn you away if paperwork is not in order!. We used her all the way to getting our TIE card appointment at Almeria last September. We will use again for our renewal this September.

These services do cost but it's worth every penny. Don't be put off or scared by some of the few negative comments you may see on some sites. The process with help is straightforward and if you meet the criteria you will get your Visa.

Good luck.

Henry11

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 3:08pm

Henry11

Original Poster

Posts: 16

10 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 2 Jun 2022

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 3:08pm

Mick1984 wrote on Sun Jun 5, 2022 2:10pm:

Hi,

We came over in June last year on a NLV. We started the process ourselves, too difficult so we employed a solicitor in Barcelona. She took us through every step, filling in the forms, advising on Police, medical etc everything that was needed for our appointment at the consulate in London. Be awa...

...re that the consulate will turn you away if paperwork is not in order!. We used her all the way to getting our TIE card appointment at Almeria last September. We will use again for our renewal this September.

These services do cost but it's worth every penny. Don't be put off or scared by some of the few negative comments you may see on some sites. The process with help is straightforward and if you meet the criteria you will get your Visa.

Good luck.

Thanks Mick, it’s good to hear from someone who’s actually done it fairly recently. May I ask how long it was between submitting visa request and actually getting it? Were you in Spain when you applied, or was everything posted to you? I appreciate we have to physically go to the London consulate.

I’m confident we meet all criteria, so it is purely a paperwork exercise, and getting it perfect first time!

Susi

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:19pm

Susi

Helpful member

Posts: 406

341 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 25 Apr 2017

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:19pm

My strong advice is to use a Spanish solicitor who speaks English  NOT the other way round. Luisa MaMorales of Euroabogados in Vera is my solicitor.  100% recommended absolutely without reservation.  This lady knows her stuff. 

Mick1984

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:56pm

Posts: 68

36 helpful points

Location: Cantoria

Joined: 4 Nov 2020

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:56pm

Henry11 wrote on Sun Jun 5, 2022 3:08pm:

Thanks Mick, it’s good to hear from someone who’s actually done it fairly recently. May I ask how long it was between submitting visa request and actually getting it? Were you in Spain when you applied, or was everything posted to you? I appreciate we have to physically go to the London consu...

...late.

I’m confident we meet all criteria, so it is purely a paperwork exercise, and getting it perfect first time!

Hi,

We we're in the UK at the time, (Covid delaying us). We had our appointment in London first week in June 2021. Our Visa was approved and ready for collection June 25th so about 3 weeks. All correspondence with our solicitor was done by email. She would fill the proof form/forms for the consulate then we would copy it ourselves.

The certificates we needed from the UK police, Doctors Bank etc we did ourselves.

The key for all this is timing, these UK certificates are only valid for 3 months.

We came out to our Villa end of June 2021 and the 1st year TIE was issued on 27th September in Almeria. I do agree with Susi, Spanish solicitor who speaks English! Hope it helps you.

Advertisement - posts continue below

Henry11

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 7:08pm

Henry11

Original Poster

Posts: 16

10 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 2 Jun 2022

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 7:08pm

Susi wrote on Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:19pm:

My strong advice is to use a Spanish solicitor who speaks English  NOT the other way round. Luisa MaMorales of Euroabogados in Vera is my solicitor.  100% recommended absolutely without reservation.  This lady knows her stuff. 

Thanks Susi, I’ve seen that lady mentioned on here a few times. Always good to have recommendations.

Henry11

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 7:20pm

Henry11

Original Poster

Posts: 16

10 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 2 Jun 2022

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 7:20pm

Mick1984 wrote on Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:56pm:

Hi,

We we're in the UK at the time, (Covid delaying us). We had our appointment in London first week in June 2021. Our Visa was approved and ready for collection June 25th so about 3 weeks. All correspondence with our solicitor was done by email. She would fill the proof form/forms for the consulate ...

...then we would copy it ourselves.

The certificates we needed from the UK police, Doctors Bank etc we did ourselves.

The key for all this is timing, these UK certificates are only valid for 3 months.

We came out to our Villa end of June 2021 and the 1st year TIE was issued on 27th September in Almeria. I do agree with Susi, Spanish solicitor who speaks English! Hope it helps you.

That’s great help Mick, After weeks of research it’s starting to look less daunting, just after contact with people than have gone through the process.

May I ask if you had to get Police check, proof of income, etc that you did yourself translated? Or did you acquire them and send them to your solicitor for translation ? 

Looks like if we get the right vibes on our trip, I’ll be able to get all questions answered when speaking with solicitor over there. Great to have found recommended people on the forum. Our new adventure seems so much closer, roll on Friday!

Mick1984

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 9:41pm

Posts: 68

36 helpful points

Location: Cantoria

Joined: 4 Nov 2020

Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2022 9:41pm

Henry11 wrote on Sun Jun 5, 2022 7:20pm:

That’s great help Mick, After weeks of research it’s starting to look less daunting, just after contact with people than have gone through the process.

May I ask if you had to get Police check, proof of income, etc that you did yourself translated? Or did you acquire them and send them to your solicitor for translation ? ...

...

Looks like if we get the right vibes on our trip, I’ll be able to get all questions answered when speaking with solicitor over there. Great to have found recommended people on the forum. Our new adventure seems so much closer, roll on Friday!

Hi,

We sent Police, Doctors and Bank ourselves. Proof of income was just our pension statement and saving certificates etc. Our Solicitor here in Spain gave us name of a translator in Spain who would also Apostled the documents which we sent all at once by email and returned to us by courier. All worked well for us but delays can happen so be aware.

Good luck and just go for it when your ready.

Andymac

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:21am

Andymac

Helpful member

Posts: 161

101 helpful points

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 1 Jul 2021

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:21am

Hi, We applied and received our NLV last year, we did it ourselves as like you, we considered using a Spanish Solicitor and discovered that firstly it was expensive and they would not cap their potential costs, secondly most of the stuff you need is in the UK and you have to apply for it in person anyway. 

We found a decent translator in the UK and a reasonable price. If you carefully follow the requirements on the Spanish website it is straightforward but like every experience you will have in Spain, extremely bureaucratic, no point in filling out one form when you can fill out 10..

A couple of pointers: If you live in the London based Spanish Consulate area, they are very busy and you could wait months for an appointment, the Manchester based Consulate is much quicker and I think, more engaging.

When you apply for your criminal record check, also get your GPs letter (worded as it states on the Consulate website) and any other documents with a signature, verified at the foreign office.

There is a time frame to the procedure, so once you start, you will need to continue but allow 3 months and everything should be fine.

It will be worthwhile opening a Spanish bank account and if possible have funds put in it, to cover the requirements, I think between 33-35,000 euros, it will save a lot of hasle with the UK bank statements  however if you do buy a property, the price you pay is taken into consideration, we presented our deeds at the Consulate and they appeared to almost disregard (not totally but as we also had pension statemrnts) the bank statements. 

Of you want more info, please private message me, I do not mind having a telephone conversation if that helps.

Henry11

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 6:45pm

Henry11

Original Poster

Posts: 16

10 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 2 Jun 2022

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 6:45pm

Andymac wrote on Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:21am:

Hi, We applied and received our NLV last year, we did it ourselves as like you, we considered using a Spanish Solicitor and discovered that firstly it was expensive and they would not cap their potential costs, secondly most of the stuff you need is in the UK and you have to apply for it in perso...

...n anyway. 

We found a decent translator in the UK and a reasonable price. If you carefully follow the requirements on the Spanish website it is straightforward but like every experience you will have in Spain, extremely bureaucratic, no point in filling out one form when you can fill out 10..

A couple of pointers: If you live in the London based Spanish Consulate area, they are very busy and you could wait months for an appointment, the Manchester based Consulate is much quicker and I think, more engaging.

When you apply for your criminal record check, also get your GPs letter (worded as it states on the Consulate website) and any other documents with a signature, verified at the foreign office.

There is a time frame to the procedure, so once you start, you will need to continue but allow 3 months and everything should be fine.

It will be worthwhile opening a Spanish bank account and if possible have funds put in it, to cover the requirements, I think between 33-35,000 euros, it will save a lot of hasle with the UK bank statements  however if you do buy a property, the price you pay is taken into consideration, we presented our deeds at the Consulate and they appeared to almost disregard (not totally but as we also had pension statemrnts) the bank statements. 

Of you want more info, please private message me, I do not mind having a telephone conversation if that helps.

That’s great thank you Andymac. I’ll pop a PM to you when my feet touch the ground. We arrived in Spain today , currently south of Madrid for a night and hit Mojacar Playa tomorrow. Our adventure wheels are finally turning!

Sign up for free or login to reply to this topic

Want to reply to this topic? Login or register for free to post your message:

Find more Moving tips and advice topics from a particular area:


Register for free!

Login to your account

Have Tools Will Travel
Grupo Platinum Estates
UK DIRECT REMOVALS
Mini Digger Almera
ASSSA Insurance
Advertise your business here
Advertise your property
Help with my computer