Are you from the United Kingdom and looking to move to Spain? Then keep reading. In this article you will learn how to get residency in the Spanish territory as a UK citizen. We will explore your different options and alternatives, and the requirements you must meet for each so that you can assess the right option for your move.

Spanish residency visas for UK nationals and British citizens

 

As a non-EU citizen, you will have to follow a longer path to obtain residency in Spain.

Nevertheless, we have good news: the Spanish immigration system offers many alternatives and options, so finding the right visa for you will not be a complicated task.

What’s next is a summary of the main residency visas that UK nationals use in order to move to Spain.

Bear in mind that all options we will explore allow you to include your spouse and children within your same application, so that you can move to Spain with them.

 

Non-lucrative visa

 

This is perhaps the most popular residency for British citizens, especially for those who wish to retire in Spain. 

This visa, also called retirement visa, grants you residency as long as you proof you have, at least, 28.800€ in your bank account, and hire private health insurance. 

Its requirements are quite simple, and it will grant you the right to live in Spain (but not to work) for 1 year, which can be renewed for an extra 2 years (by demonstrating 2x the initial amount). 

Besides, the non-lucrative visa is also a great option in order to enter the country, stay for one year while travelling around, and then move to a working residency.

 

Investor’s visa

 

The golden visa or investor’s visa is another widely-used option.

It is a 3-year residence permit (renewable) granted to foreigners who invest at least 500,000€ in Spanish real estate. 

It allows you to work in the country, and one of its advantages is that for its renewal, it just requires you to visit the country once per year (while ALL other residency options require you to spend at leas 183 days). This will alow you not to become a resident for tax purposes.

 

Student visa

 

If you wish to study in Spain, either to take a Spanish language course or to pursue a university degree or masters, the student visa is also a perfect alternative.

On the one hand, because it allows you to work up to 30 hours per week (as long as you pursue superior studies), and on the other hand, because once you complete those studies, you will be able to easily move to work permit.

That is why it has become an ideal entry-door into Spain.

 

Digital nomad visa

 

The rise of remote work has allowed many UK citizens to start their new life in Spain and manage their work online. 

So, in case you:

• Work as an employee for a company located outside Spain
• Are a freelance with several clients abroad

The digital nomad visa is for you. 

It offers a fast-track application process of just 20 labor days, and in case you come as an employee, you will even be able to benefit from the Beckham Law and enjoy especial tax dicsounts.

 

If you are not sure which is the right residency option for you, we recommend that you contact one of our immigration lawyers so that we can evaluate your situation and provide the best alternative according to your particular case.

 

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Required documents for British citizens who want to get residency in Spain

 

The exact documents you will have to submit depend on the exact visa or residency you apply for.

Nevertheless, here you can find a list with the documents that you will typically will have to include no matter the path you choose as a UK national:

• Passport, which must have a validity of at least 6 extra months at the time of your application
• Application Form: Completed application form for the specific visa category. This form is called EX- and followed by a specific number assigned to the permit you are applying for
• Proof of Financial Means: Evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependents. This can include bank statements, proof of income, or savings
• Health Insurance: Private health insurance that provides coverage in Spain (this is not needed if you come as an employee to work for a company)
• Background Check: A police clearance certificate from the UK to demonstrate no criminal record for the past 5 years
• Medical Certificate: To confirm you do not have any diseases that could pose a public health threat.
• Proof of Accommodation: Evidence of where you will be living in Spain, such as a rental agreement or property deed.
• Photographs: 3 Recent passport-sized photographs.

 

Living in Spain after Brexit for UK citizens

 

Finally, we will now cover some other relevant issues related to important legal issues that will regulate the life of a UK citizen in Spain after Brexit.

 

Working in Spain: the problem with the work permit

 

What will happen with the work permit application process?

Here, there is something worth considering. We know that for non-European Union citizens, the process to get a work permit is really tough.

A lot of requirements, tons of documents to present, a shortage list… 

Conversely, for European Union citizens, the application procedure is really easy. French citizens, Germans, or Italians with their European passports, can get a work permit in Spain in just 24 hours. 

So what is currently happening to British citizens who wish to work in the country?

In this case, they have 3 options:

• The first one is to apply for a regular work permit in the country, which is quite tedious sometimes. That is why a good alternative is exploring options under the Entrepreneur’s law, like the work permit as a highly qualified professional instead of going for a regular work permit.
• Then, there is also the option to obtain any type of visas that is not a work permit that also allows you to work, like the student visa (allows you to work up to 30 hours per week), or the golden visa.
• And, of course, those who were able to exchange their residency thanks to the withdrawal agreement and those who obtained the special transitory permit will continue keeping their legal capacity to work in the country.

 

About the family member of an EU citizen residency

 

As you already know, one way to get a residence and work authorization in Spain is to be a family member of a European Union citizen. And that is how many non-EU citizens got their residence permit in the country: by being married to a UK citizen, for example. 

But that is something that worked till today. What will happen now after Brexit, as UK citizens are no longer European Union citizens?

Again, if the British citizen has been able to benefit from the withdrawal agreement, their relatives too. This means that they can get their card by fulfilling the requirements we have seen in the previous section (or keep the one they got if they had exchanged it during 2020).

Otherwise, the EU relative card will no longer be an available path, and they will need to apply for a regular residence permit (perhaps by formalizing a joint application with the British citizen); or resort to the family reunification process.

 

What will happen to your taxes?

 

Another crucial issue: taxes.

As a European Union resident, you don’t need to be in Spain 183 days a year to keep a green card. However non-EU citizens with a residence permit are required to stay in the country for at least 183 days to maintain their residency.

And that implies becoming a tax resident in Spain, therefore paying income tax for all the incomes generated worldwide

Thus, UK citizens who get their residence permit from 2021 onwards will become residents for tax purposes if they wish to renew their residency, with all the relevant tax conditions that implies.

Nevertheless, the UK has special double-taxation agreemtns with Spain, which will allow you to optimize your tax payments. 

 

Purchasing a property

 

Can I still buy a property in Spain as a UK citizen after Brexit?

Yes, you can do it; and under the same circumstances as before.

The prices won’t also differ now that you are not an EU citizen, but it will be important to monitor fluctuations between the Euro and the Pound (as this may really affect your purchasing power in the country). 

Nevertheless, there are some differences to consider, as you will now pay non-resident tax on the property at 24% instead of 19%.

 

Driving license validity

 

Finally, something many are concerned about. The validity of their driving license. Will there be an automatic renewal or will it be disqualified as soon as Brexit happens? What we know is that, during this transitory period of 2 years, all these things like driving licenses, social security,… will remain protected.

But what happens if your driving license expires in 10 years, time by which the transitory period will have completely ended?

Then probably there will be a way to exchange the European driving license. A lot of countries who are not from the EU, like Ukrania, can exchange the Ukrainian one for the European one.

Therefore, it is highly likely that you as a UK citizen will need to update for the new one as a non-European Union country.

 

Get specialized assistance

 

As you have seen, as Brexit consequences end up being fully incorporated, many areas of the lives of British citizens in Spain will drastically change. Taxes, their legal status as foreigners, social security…

As immigration lawyers with tons of British clients, we can advise you while making sure none of those changes becomes a real problem. That is why, if you need specialized legal advice in any area, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you!

 

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