Living in Spain After Brexit

This is the single biggest change that affects every UK citizen visiting Spain. As a third-country national, you can spend a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen area. That is the Schengen area as a whole — not just Spain. Time spent in France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, or any of the other 27 Schengen countries all counts towards your 90-day allowance.

In practical terms, this means roughly three months in, three months out. You cannot, for example, spend 80 days in Spain and then pop over to Portugal for a fortnight — those 14 days in Portugal also come off your 90-day total. The 180-day window is rolling, meaning the clock is always ticking; it is not a simple calendar half-year.

Your passport is stamped on entry to and exit from the Schengen area. Border officials can (and do) count your stamps to check compliance. Overstaying can result in fines of €500 to €1,000 or more, future entry bans, and significant difficulties if you later apply for a visa or residency. Some people attempt to avoid stamps by entering through quieter border crossings or by driving, but this is risky and strongly not recommended — the consequences of being caught far outweigh any short-term convenience.

The old arrangement of spending six months in Spain and six months in the UK, with no paperwork and no questions asked, is simply no longer possible without a visa. If you own a holiday home on the Costa del Sol and want to spend more than 90 days a year there, you need to look at the visa options below.

If you want to spend more than 90 days in Spain, you need a visa. There are several routes available to UK citizens, each suited to different circumstances. Here is an overview of the main routes — for a full comparison, see our dedicated visa and residency guide.

Non-Lucrative Visa

This is the most popular route for retirees and anyone with passive income (pensions, investments, rental income). You must demonstrate sufficient financial means — approximately €28,800 per year for a single applicant (roughly €2,400/month), with additional amounts for dependants. The key restriction is that you cannot work in Spain on this visa. You must also hold private health insurance with a Spanish provider. The visa is initially granted for one year and can be renewed for successive two-year periods.

Digital Nomad Visa

Introduced in 2023 and increasingly popular with remote workers. You must earn at least €28,800 per year and work for a non-Spanish employer (or your own company registered outside Spain). The major benefit is a favourable 15% flat tax rate on Spanish income for the first four years, compared to the standard progressive rates of 19-47%. You can bring your family, and the visa is renewable.

Work Visa

Requires a Spanish employer to sponsor you. This is the least common route for property buyers, as it depends on having a job offer in Spain. The employer must demonstrate that the position could not be filled by a Spanish or EU citizen.

Regardless of which visa you hold, once you arrive in Spain you must register as a resident and obtain a NIE number if you do not already have one.

Healthcare is one of the areas where the post-Brexit landscape is most often misunderstood. Here is how the three main options work for UK citizens in Spain.

S1 Form (UK State Pensioners)

If you receive a UK state pension, the S1 form entitles you to full access to Spanish public healthcare — and Spain bills the UK for the cost. This is the most valuable healthcare benefit available to British retirees in Spain. Apply through the NHS Business Services Authority before you leave the UK, or as soon as possible after arriving. Once you have your S1, register it at your local INSS (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social) office in Spain to activate your entitlement.

GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card)

The GHIC replaced the old EHIC card for UK citizens. It covers emergency and medically necessary treatment during short visits to Spain — but it is not a substitute for proper insurance. It will not cover repatriation, ongoing treatment, or anything that is not considered immediately necessary. Think of it as a safety net for emergencies while on holiday, nothing more.

Private Health Insurance

Private health insurance is required for all visa applications, so you will need it regardless. Costs range from €80 to €250 per month depending on your age, pre-existing conditions, and level of cover. Even if you have an S1, many British residents maintain private insurance for faster access to specialists and English-speaking doctors. Sanitas and Adeslas are the two largest Spanish providers with dedicated English-language services and are widely accepted at private clinics along the Costa del Sol.

Tip: arrange your insurance before you apply for your visa — it is a required document, and some consulates are strict about the provider being a Spanish-registered insurer.

Once you arrive in Spain on your visa, you must register as a resident within 30 days. This involves two separate processes: registering at the Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigners' Office) and registering on the padron (municipal register) at your local town hall.

The TIE Card

The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is your physical residency card — a credit-card-sized document containing your photo, your NIE number, and your residency status. You apply for it at the Foreigners' Office, and you will need:

• Your NIE number (if you do not have one, see our NIE guide)
• Completed EX-17 form
• Passport plus photocopies
• Proof of address — a certificado de empadronamiento (padron certificate) from your town hall
• Proof of income and/or private health insurance (as required by your visa type)
• Modelo 790 fee payment (approximately €12)
• Passport-sized photographs

The Padron

Separately, you must register on the padron at your local ayuntamiento (town hall). This is the municipal population register, and it is essential for accessing public services. You need your padron registration for schools, public healthcare enrolment, voting in local elections (where applicable), and various administrative processes. Bring your passport, proof of address (rental contract or property deed), and your NIE. Registration is free and usually straightforward, though some town halls — particularly in busy areas like Mijas or Fuengirola — may require an appointment.

Tax is the area where most people underestimate the impact of moving to Spain. The fundamental rule is this: if you spend 183 or more days per year in Spain, you are a Spanish tax resident, and you must declare your worldwide income — not just income earned in Spain.

Income Tax

Spanish income tax (IRPF) is progressive, with rates ranging from 19% to 47% depending on your income. This applies to all income: pensions, employment, rental income, dividends, and interest. Your UK state pension is taxed in Spain only (not in the UK) under the UK-Spain double taxation treaty. Most private and occupational pensions are also taxed in Spain, though some government pensions remain taxable in the UK — check with your adviser.

Double Taxation Treaty

The UK-Spain double taxation treaty prevents you from being taxed on the same income in both countries. However, the mechanics are not always straightforward. UK rental income, for example, may be taxed in both countries, but you receive a credit in Spain for tax already paid in the UK. The treaty does not eliminate your obligations — it ensures you are not paying twice. For a broader overview of property-related taxes, see our costs and taxes guide.

Modelo 720: Overseas Asset Declaration

Spanish tax residents must declare all overseas assets worth €50,000 or more per category (bank accounts, property, investments) using the Modelo 720 form. This catches most UK property owners, pension holders, and anyone with savings in British bank accounts. The penalties for non-declaration were significantly reduced following an EU court ruling, but the obligation to declare remains. Filing is required in the first quarter of each year.

Get a tax adviser before you become resident. This is not optional. The interaction between UK and Spanish tax systems is genuinely complicated, and the cost of professional advice (typically €300-600 per year for annual tax returns) is insignificant compared to the cost of getting it wrong.

Your UK driving licence is valid for 6 months after you become a legal resident of Spain. After that period, you must exchange it for a Spanish licence.

Licence Exchange

The UK and Spain have a bilateral licence exchange agreement, renewed after Brexit, which means you can swap your UK licence for a Spanish one without taking a driving test. The process involves applying at your local DGT (Direccion General de Trafico) office, passing an eye test, and submitting your UK licence — which you surrender permanently (you will not get it back). The exchange typically takes 2 to 6 months to process. You will receive a temporary driving authorisation while you wait.

What Happens If You Do Not Exchange in Time?

If you miss the 6-month window, you may be required to take the full Spanish driving test — both the theory exam (in Spanish) and the practical test. The Spanish theory test is notoriously difficult even for native speakers, so exchanging your licence promptly is strongly recommended.

Car Insurance

UK motor insurance policies do not cover Spanish-registered vehicles. If you buy a car in Spain — or import one from the UK — you will need Spanish motor insurance. Shop around; prices vary significantly between providers and regions.

The EU pet passport is no longer available to UK pet owners, but bringing your pet to Spain is still perfectly doable — it just requires a few more steps.

Your pet needs:

• A microchip (ISO 11784/11785 compliant)
• A valid rabies vaccination, administered at least 21 days before travel
• An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a UK vet within 10 days of travel

Tapeworm treatment is no longer required for entry into Spain specifically, but it is worth checking the current rules before you travel, as requirements can change.

For getting to Spain with your pet, most airlines accept pets either in the cabin (typically under 8kg including carrier) or in the cargo hold. An excellent alternative is the Brittany Ferries service from Plymouth to Santander, which accepts pets in dedicated cabins — a popular choice for those driving down with a carload of belongings.

You will need a Spanish bank account for paying bills, taxes, mortgage repayments, community fees, and everyday spending. Opening one is straightforward but requires a few documents.

Opening a Spanish Bank Account

Most Spanish banks require your passport, NIE number, proof of address (UK or Spanish), and proof of income. CaixaBank, Sabadell, and BBVA all have branches with English-language services, particularly along the Costa del Sol. Some banks also offer non-resident accounts that you can open before you have a NIE, though these are more limited.

Transferring Money to Spain

This is where many people lose money unnecessarily. Never use your UK high-street bank for transferring pounds to euros — the exchange rates are typically 2-4% worse than specialist services. Instead, use a dedicated currency transfer provider such as Wise, CurrencyFair, or Currencies Direct. On a €300,000 property purchase, the difference between a bank transfer and a specialist provider can easily be €6,000 to €12,000.

For ongoing costs (bills, community fees, mortgage), set up a regular transfer with one of these providers to move a fixed amount each month at a competitive rate. For day-to-day spending, a multi-currency account from Wise or Revolut gives you the interbank exchange rate with minimal fees — far better than withdrawing cash from a Spanish ATM with a UK debit card.

Beyond the paperwork, there are some genuine cultural and practical differences to be aware of when settling into life in Spain.

Bureaucracy is real. Spanish administration runs on paper, stamps, and appointments. Getting anything official done takes longer than you expect. Patience is not optional — it is a survival skill. Accept it, and life becomes much less stressful.

Siesta culture. Many shops, businesses, and offices close between 2pm and 5pm. Supermarkets and large chains stay open, but if you need a plumber, a small hardware shop, or a government office in the afternoon, plan accordingly.

Meal times. Lunch is typically 2 to 3pm and dinner 9 to 10pm — or later. Restaurants that open at 7pm for dinner are catering to tourists. Adapting to the later schedule is one of the genuine pleasures of living in Spain.

Schools. You can choose between the Spanish state system (free, and generally good) or international schools (private, often following the British curriculum). Towns with large British communities — such as Benalmadena, Fuengirola, and Mijas — have several international school options. Check our location guides for specifics.

Learning Spanish. On the Costa del Sol, you can get by without Spanish — English is widely spoken in the main towns. But learning even basic Spanish enriches your daily life enormously, opens up friendships with your neighbours, and makes bureaucratic encounters far less painful.

Other differences. Pharmacies in Spain can dispense many medicines without a prescription that would require one in the UK. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up the bill is normal. And the weather, of course, changes everything — you will spend more time outdoors than you thought possible.

Here are the key contacts and resources you will need during your move to Spain:

• UK Government guidance on living in Spain — gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain
• British Embassy Madrid — +34 91 714 6300 (consular enquiries)
• Spanish Consulates in the UK — London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. For visa applications and NIE appointments
• NHS Business Services Authority — for S1 form applications (nhsbsa.nhs.uk)
• Citizens Advice Spain — free advice for British residents across Spain
• Local expat Facebook groups — search for your specific town (e.g. "Brits in Fuengirola", "British Expats Marbella"). These are invaluable for up-to-date, on-the-ground advice from people who have already been through the process

For the practical steps of purchasing your property in Spain, see our complete buying process guide. If you have not yet obtained your NIE number, start with our NIE number guide — it is the essential first step for any financial or legal transaction in Spain.