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Moving from the UK to Spain after Brexit: the 2026 checklist

Facts last verified on against 10 sources (7 official). By the Relocate+ team.

Short answer

Since Brexit, UK nationals can stay in Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; to live there you need a residence visa from the Spanish consulate before you go, applied for in person at the BLS centre in London.[4][1]

The most common routes are the non-lucrative visa (400% of IPREM: €28,800 a year in 2026) and the digital nomad (telework) visa (200% of the minimum wage). Once in Spain you register on the padrón, get your TIE card and exchange your UK driving licence within six months.[1][8][2][3]

Key facts at a glance

Visa-free stays
90 days in any 180 days (Schengen)[4]
Border system
EES fully operational since 10 April 2026; ETIAS not yet running[5][6][7]
Non-lucrative visa funds (2026)
€28,800/year + €7,200 per dependant[1][8]
Where to apply (London consulate)
BLS Spain Visa Centre, 20 St Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AG[1]
Decision time (NLV, London)
2 months (legal period)[1]
UK licence after residency
Exchange within 6 months[3]

Visa options

Non-lucrative visa (retire or live on savings)

Best for: Retirees and Brits living on pensions, savings or investments who won't work in Spain.

Requirement: 400% of IPREM (€28,800 for 2026) plus 100% of IPREM (€7,200) for each dependant. The London consulate asks for bank documents showing balances on 31 December of the previous year and the previous year's average balance.[1][8]

  • Health cover must come from an insurer authorised in Spain and cover everything the Spanish public system covers — or show a receipt of your S1 registration.
  • The London consulate issues the visa with one year's validity.

Digital nomad / telework visa

Best for: Remote employees and freelancers working for companies outside Spain.

Requirement: Income of 200% of Spain's minimum wage (about €2,849/month in 2026, based on €17,094 a year), three months with your employer (or clients), and a company that has existed for at least a year.[2][9]

What changed recently

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) went live on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026: your passport is registered with fingerprints and a photo when you cross the Schengen border. Once you have a TIE card you're exempt from EES registration; the old green residence certificate doesn't give that exemption.[5][6][3]

ETIAS (the travel authorisation for visa-free visitors) is still not operating, and the EU has not announced a new start date.[7]

Step-by-step timeline

  1. 1

    6+ months before

    Check the 90/180 rule against your plans

    Visa-free, you can only spend 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen area. If you want to live in Spain longer, you need a residence visa — apply from the UK before you move.[4][1]

  2. 2

    3–6 months before

    Order your ACRO police certificate

    Submit an ACRO certificate for UK records, plus certificates from any country you lived in during the last five years. They should generally be under six months old and need a sworn Spanish translation.[1]

  3. 3

    Within 3 months of applying

    Get a medical certificate and apostille it

    A registered doctor must issue it within three months before you apply. It needs a Hague Apostille and a sworn translation if it isn't in Spanish. The London consulate only accepts certificates from the UK or Spain.[1]

  4. 4

    2–3 months before

    Apply in person at BLS London

    Bring your form, passport, proof of funds, insurance (or S1 registration receipt), ACRO certificate and medical certificate. Pay the residence permit fee using form 790 code 052.[1]

  5. 5

    Decision

    Collect your visa within a month

    The legal decision period is two months. After a favourable decision, collect the visa within one month.[1]

  6. 6

    First month in Spain

    Padrón and TIE

    Apply for your TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) within one month of arriving, and register on the padrón at your local town hall. Children need their own residence documents.[1][3]

  7. 7

    Within 6 months of residency

    Exchange your UK driving licence

    A UK licence can be used for six months after you become resident; apply for the exchange before then, using a DVLA check code. Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man licences can't be exchanged.[3]

Document checklist

  • Signed national visa application form and passport[1]
  • ACRO police certificate (+ other countries lived in during the last 5 years), sworn translation[1]
  • Medical certificate from a registered doctor, under 3 months old, apostilled[1]
  • Health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, or S1 registration receipt[1]
  • Bank documents: balance on 31 December and the previous year's average[1]
  • Form 790 code 052 (residence permit fee)[1]
  • After arrival: padrón certificate and TIE application[3]
  • DVLA check code for your licence exchange[3]

Official fees

ItemAmount
Spanish national visa feeThe London consulate says fees are set in local currency and can change.Paid in GBP; see the consulate's fee list[1]
Residence permit feeForm 790 code 052[1]
Apostille and sworn translationsVaries by provider[1]

The London consulate doesn't publish a fixed GBP amount on the visa page itself, so check its current fee list before your appointment.

Tax basics

Spain generally treats you as tax resident if you spend more than 183 days there in a calendar year.[10]

The UK–Spain double taxation agreement helps you avoid paying tax twice on the same income. As a Spanish resident you must also declare assets held outside Spain; the UK government recommends using a Spanish tax adviser or gestor.[3]

You can keep claiming your UK State Pension while living in Spain.[3]

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules depend on your situation — speak to a qualified adviser.

Moving with family

Add 100% of IPREM (€7,200 for 2026) per dependant for the non-lucrative visa. Children need their own residence documents once you're in Spain.[1][8][3]

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Moving first and sorting the visa later. The 90/180 rule caps visa-free time, and residence visas are applied for from the UK.[4][1]
  • An unapostilled or foreign medical certificate. London wants it from a UK or Spanish doctor, apostilled, and under three months old.[1]
  • Keeping the green certificate instead of a TIE. Only the TIE exempts you from EES registration at the border.[3]
  • Assuming you can hold both passports. Spain doesn't recognise dual citizenship with the UK.[3]

Frequently asked questions

How long can I stay in Spain without a visa as a UK citizen?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. To live in Spain longer you need a residence visa, applied for at the Spanish consulate in the UK before you move.[4][1]

How much money do I need for the non-lucrative visa from the UK?

400% of IPREM — €28,800 for 2026 — plus €7,200 for each dependant. The London consulate asks for bank documents showing your 31 December balance and the previous year's average balance.[1][8]

Can I use my S1 for the Spanish non-lucrative visa?

Yes. The London consulate accepts a receipt showing your S1 has been registered with Spanish Social Security as the medical insurance for this visa.[1]

Do I need to exchange my UK driving licence in Spain?

Yes. You can drive on your UK licence for six months after becoming resident; apply for the exchange before those six months are up, using a check code from the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland).[3]

Do I need ETIAS to travel to Spain?

Not yet. ETIAS is not operating and the EU hasn't announced a launch date. EES (fingerprint and photo registration at the border) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026; residents with a TIE are exempt from it.[7][6][3]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to one of these. Official = government, consulate or official gazette.

  1. [1] Non-working residence visa (updated 6 July 2026) — Consulate General of Spain in LondonOfficial · checked 18 October 2026
  2. [2] Telework visa — Consulate General of Spain in New York (same national requirements)Official · checked 18 October 2026
  3. [3] Living in Spain (last updated 3 July 2026) — GOV.UKOfficial · checked 18 October 2026
  4. [4] Spain travel advice: entry requirements (90 days in any 180-day period) — GOV.UK (FCDO)Official · checked 18 October 2026
  5. [5] The new Entry/Exit System went live on 12 October 2025 — European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs)Official · checked 18 October 2026
  6. [6] EES fully operational since 10 April 2026 — Government of Poland (EU member state notice)Official · checked 18 October 2026
  7. [7] Europe scraps 2026 ETIAS launch timeline (11 Aug 2026) — Gulf News · checked 18 October 2026
  8. [8] El IPREM en 2026 y cómo afecta a los trámites de extranjería — ARC Legal · checked 18 October 2026
  9. [9] Real Decreto 126/2026: salario mínimo interprofesional 2026 — Fieldfisher · checked 18 October 2026
  10. [10] Ley 35/2006 del IRPF (consolidated text, art. 9) — Boletín Oficial del EstadoOfficial · checked 18 October 2026

Immigration rules change often. Always confirm requirements with the consulate or authority that handles your application before you book or pay for anything. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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