Retiring to Torrevieja on a non-EU passport: the non-lucrative route

The request goes in while you still live abroad, at the Spanish consulate whose district covers your address. Every consulate posts its own document list and runs its own appointments. Asking from Torrevieja during a holiday is, as a rule, not how it works.

• Income or savings that count as sufficient under the rules, for you and any family who come; the consulate gives the current level
• Private medical insurance from a company authorised to operate in Spain, with full cover
• A criminal record certificate from the countries you have lived in recently
• A medical certificate
• A passport valid for the stay

Once you land, two local steps follow. Put your address on the padrón, the register of residents, with the Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja, or with your own town hall if you live in Orihuela Costa, Rojales or another municipality. Then book the fingerprint appointment for your TIE, for the province of Alicante, with form EX-17; the time allowed runs from your entry.

This residence rules out paid work in Spain, whether for an employer or on your own account. For renewals, the Oficina de Extranjería is the place: the State body that rules on residence permits. In this province, the Subdelegación del Gobierno lists residence authorisations at its premises on Calle Ebanistería 4 y 6, Alicante. Each renewal brings a new card from the police; to travel while one is pending, ask first for a return authorisation.

Selling a house at home, shipping furniture, finding a doctor: if you want one firm to organise the whole move, AnchorLess handles relocation to Spain. Here, we prepare the padrón, the card and the appointments with you.