Living in Spain as a UK Citizen After Brexit

The Big Change: You Now Need a Visa

Before January 1, 2021, UK citizens had EU rights in Spain. You could move freely, live indefinitely, and access public services as an EU citizen. That's over. Now you need to apply for residency.

The new rules: UK citizens can visit Spain visa-free for up to 90 days per 180-day rolling period. But to live there, you must hold a valid residence permit. This is a hard requirement—there's no grandfather clause.

The good news? The process is straightforward for most people. The bad news? Many UK expats in Spain didn't get residency when required and now face complications.

Visa Options for UK Citizens

Most UK citizens fall into one of these categories:

Non-Lucrative Visa (Most Common)

If you have pension or investment income (typically £1,500+/month), the Non-Lucrative Visa is your path. It allows you to live in Spain indefinitely on passive income without working.

• Processing time: 2-6 months
• Cost: €50-100 application fee + £1,500-2,000 for legal help
• Requirement: Proof of passive income above a threshold

Digital Nomad Visa

If you're self-employed or a remote worker earning €2,300+/month, Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is faster and easier.

• Processing time: 4-8 weeks
• Requirement: Proof of remote income from outside Spain
• Benefit: You can actually work, unlike NLV

Work Visa (Employed)

If a Spanish employer sponsors you, they handle the visa application. You need an employment contract and your employer registers you with authorities.

Healthcare: EHIC is Dead, S1 is Your Friend

This is the biggest change for UK pensioners. The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) no longer works for UK citizens in Spain. You can't assume you'll get free healthcare.

If You're a UK Pensioner: The S1 Form

If you're receiving a UK state pension (even a small one), you can apply for an S1 form. This makes you eligible for FREE Spanish public healthcare through the NHS-equivalent system. It's essentially free healthcare for UK pensioners.

How to get it: Contact the UK Overseas Healthcare Services (part of NHSBSA) and request an S1 certificate. You'll need proof of pension income. Once approved, you register with your local Spanish health centre and you're covered.

Processing time: 4-8 weeks typically.

If You're Not a Pensioner: Private Insurance Required

If you're under pension age or don't have a UK pension, you must have valid health insurance. Options:

• Private health insurance (€100–250/month depending on age)
• Register with Spanish public healthcare if you pay into social security
• Travel insurance (temporary only, not suitable long-term)

Driving Licence: Exchange It Officially

Your UK driving licence is valid in Spain, but if you become a Spanish resident, you should exchange it for a Spanish one. This is required if you're a resident and may be required by insurance companies.

Process: Visit the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) with your UK licence, NIE, proof of residency (empadronamiento), and a medical certificate. Cost: ~€20. Processing time: 4-6 weeks.

Pensions: Still Uprated in Spain (Unique Advantage)

Here's the unique good news for UK pensioners in Spain: Your UK state pension continues to be uprated annually (increased with inflation). This is thanks to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Many countries freeze pensions, but Spain doesn't.

Example: If your pension was £10,000 when you moved, it increases with UK inflation each year. In countries like Canada or Australia, it would have frozen at £10,000.

Banking: You Can Still Open an Account

Post-Brexit, UK citizens can still open Spanish bank accounts, but it's stricter now. You'll need:

• Your NIE (Foreign ID Number)
• Proof of residency (empadronamiento certificate)
• Passport
• Proof of income (pension statement, employment contract, etc.)

Get your NIE immediately upon arrival. Banks won't open accounts without it. The process takes 1-2 hours once you have documents.

The 90-Day Rule for Visits to the UK

As a UK citizen outside the UK, you can visit the UK visa-free, but only for up to 90 days per 180-day rolling period. If you exceed this, you can face entry bans on return to the UK.

Example: If you visited the UK March 1-May 15 (76 days), you can't visit again until September 12 (the 180-day mark).

Pro tip: Track your days carefully. There's no grace period or exceptions.

Double Taxation Treaty

The UK-Spain tax treaty means you won't be taxed twice on the same income. However, you must file taxes in both countries. The treaty provides credits and exemptions.

UK pensioners: You may not owe Spanish income tax if your income is below the threshold (€15,000 for 2026), but you must still file a tax return.