The 90-day rule and what comes after
The Canary Islands are Spain, Spain is Schengen. Citizens of the US, Australia, Canada, and around 60 other visa-exempt countries can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa — for tourism only, no working, no voting, no Spanish health card.
After 90 days: either leave or hold a long-stay visa. Overstaying is a breach of immigration law. It's rarely penalised on the spot, but when you later apply for a TIE or visa renewal, the overstay appears and can block the application.
There is no way to reset the Schengen clock with short trips. The 90/180 rule is cumulative — if you've spent 89 days in Spain, leave for a day in Morocco and return, you don't get another 90 days.
⚠️ British nationals: Since Brexit, the 90/180 Schengen rule applies to UK passports. A longer stay in Tenerife or Gran Canaria requires a Spanish long-stay visa — the same as for US citizens.
Non-Lucrative Visa — for retirees and early retirees
The Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is the visa for anyone who wants to live in the Canaries without working — retirees, early retirees, people living on capital gains, dividends or rental income. It is the most straightforward path to long-term residency if you don't need a Spanish income.
Income requirement 2026: at least 400% of the monthly IPREM — €2,400 per month for the main applicant. Add €600 per accompanying adult and €357 per child. The IPREM (Spain's official public income reference index) stands at €600 per month in 2026.
The income must be passive: pension, rental income, dividends, interest. Since 2026, consulates also require formal proof that you have ceased employment — either a termination letter from your employer or, for the self-employed, a notarised declaration that no work will be carried out during the stay.
What you cannot do: any form of work — employed, self-employed, or remote for foreign clients. The NLV categorically excludes paid activity. Remote workers need the Digital Nomad Visa.
Application: in person at the Spanish consulate in your home country, before travelling. Approval gives you a national D visa for 1 year, after which you apply for the TIE and renew the NLV (2 + 2 years). After 5 years, permanent residence is possible.
⚠️ Practical note: Consulates assess not just whether the minimum figure is met but whether the account looks stable and credible. Showing exactly €28,800 reads as engineered. A comfortable buffer of €60,000–€100,000 held consistently over 6–12 months substantially reduces the risk of refusal.
Digital Nomad Visa — for remote workers
The Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) was introduced in 2023 and is now the preferred route for anyone working remotely for non-Spanish companies or clients. It allows you to live in Spain — and therefore in the Canaries — while continuing to work, as long as your employer or clients are based outside Spain.
Income threshold 2026: 200% of Spain's minimum wage (SMI) per month — €2,849 net for a single applicant. Add €1,069 per accompanying adult and €357 per child. The SMI stands at €1,221 gross per month in 2026.
Conditions: at least one year of demonstrable remote-work history, an employment contract or service agreement with a non-Spanish company or client, with no more than 20% of income from Spanish sources.
Tax advantage: DNV holders can apply for the Beckham Regime (régimen especial) for the first 4 years — a flat 24% rate on Spanish-sourced income instead of the standard progressive rate of up to 47%. For many remote workers from the UK or US, this is a significant financial benefit.
Duration: 1 year as a visa, extendable to 3 years as a residence permit, then a further 2 years — up to 5 years in total, after which permanent residence becomes available.
Application: either at the consulate in your home country before travelling (recommended), or in Spain directly at the Oficina de Extranjería after entering on a tourist visa.
Work visa and self-employment visa
Anyone employed by a Spanish company needs a work visa (Cuenta Ajena). Crucially, it is the employer, not the employee, who files the first application — with Spain's Ministry of Labour. Only after the job offer is approved does the employee apply for the visa at their home country consulate. The process typically takes 3–6 months.
Anyone wanting to set up as self-employed in the Canaries and serve Spanish clients needs the self-employment visa (Cuenta Propia). Requirements include a business plan demonstrating economic viability and registration as an autónomo. The application also runs through the consulate.
Both visas allow renewal as a residence permit after one year and provide entry into Spain's social security system.
TIE and NIE: the two cards you need
Anyone who has arrived on a long-stay visa must apply for the TIE — Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (foreigner identity card) — within 30 days of arrival. This is the physical card that proves residence status and is required for all dealings with authorities, banks and landlords. An appointment at the Oficina de Extranjería or Policía Nacional is mandatory — nothing moves without one. In Gran Canaria and Tenerife, waiting times for appointments run to 4–8 weeks; book as early as possible.
The NIE — Número de Identidad de Extranjero (foreigner tax number) — is a lifelong tax ID that never changes, regardless of how your residence status evolves. It is included in the TIE but can also be applied for separately, for example to complete a property purchase before formally arriving on a long-stay visa.
Without a TIE: no bank account, no tax return, no rental contract. This is the first practical step after arrival — even before the Empadronamiento.
Empadronamiento and health insurance
The Empadronamiento — registration at your local town hall — is compulsory for non-EU residents too, and matters practically: it opens access to schools, some social services and is a prerequisite for various administrative processes. It requires the TIE, though many municipalities also accept a pending TIE application.
Private health insurance is mandatory for non-EU citizens without employment before they can enter Spain: the consulate requires proof of a policy covering all risks in Spain, with no co-payment and no expiry date during the intended stay. Sanitas, Adeslas and Asisa are the main providers in the Canaries; costs range from €80 to €250 per month depending on age and coverage.
Anyone working in the Canaries and paying social security contributions — as an employee or autónomo — gains access to the public health system (SCS) after registering with the Seguridad Social. Private insurance is then no longer compulsory, though many keep it as a supplement.
Path to permanent residence
After 5 years of continuous residence in Spain, non-EU citizens can apply for permanent residence (Residencia de Larga Duración). Continuous means: no single absence of more than 6 months, and no more than 10 months total across 5 years.
The permanent residence permit is open-ended but renewed every 5 years. It grants almost the same rights as Spanish nationals — unrestricted right to work, full access to the social system, the right to vote in local elections.
After 10 years, naturalisation is possible — Spain generally requires the renunciation of the previous nationality. Exceptions apply to nationals of Latin American countries, Portugal, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Andorra, who may retain dual citizenship.
Q&A
I'm a US citizen and want to retire in Gran Canaria. Which visa do I need?
The Non-Lucrative Visa. Requirements: at least €2,400 per month in passive income, private health insurance, a Spanish address. Application in person at the Spanish consulate in the US, before travelling.
I work remotely for a British company. Can I work from Tenerife on a tourist visa?
No. Remote work during a Schengen tourist stay is not legally permitted. The Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route — it was designed precisely for this situation.
How long does the TIE application take in Gran Canaria?
Appointment wait: 4–8 weeks. Processing time after the appointment: another 4–6 weeks. Plan for 2–3 months in total. Book your appointment as early as possible — ideally before arriving.
Can the Non-Lucrative Visa be renewed?
Yes: 1 year initially, then two renewals of 2 years each. After 5 years, apply for permanent residence.
The Golden Visa is gone — what are the alternatives?
The Golden Visa was closed to new applicants in April 2025. Existing holders can renew. For newcomers, the NLV and DNV are the main routes; there is no longer a fast-track option through property investment.
Do I need the NIE before the TIE?
Not necessarily — the NIE is included in the TIE. If you need it earlier (for example, to buy a property before arriving on a long-stay visa), you can apply for it separately at the Spanish consulate in your home country.
Can I work for Spanish clients on the Digital Nomad Visa?
Up to 20% of your total income may come from Spanish sources. If most of your clients are Spanish, you need the self-employment visa (Cuenta Propia) instead.