The old routine for British people, of pitching up in Spain with a passport, signing a lease and sorting out the paperwork later, ended on 31 December 2020. Moving to Spain from the UK today is more like emigrating to any non-EU country: you need a legal basis to stay, and you need it before you settle. Many British people already living in Spain are protected by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. If you are arriving now, you are not.
This guide explains which side of that line you are on and what to do about it. It reflects the information published by GOV.UK and the Spanish authorities in autumn 2026; consulate checklists change, so confirm with the consulate before you pay for anything.
Who is protected by the Withdrawal Agreement?
If you were living in Spain legally before 1 January 2021 and have lived there since, you keep your rights. The proof is the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), which GOV.UK describes as the only valid residency document under the agreement. The fee is €12.
Everybody else, which means anyone moving after that date, falls into the general regime for non-EU nationals. A British person arriving now does not get the EU registration certificate that other Europeans get (see the EU residence certificate) and cannot apply for it.
What visa do you need for moving to Spain from the UK?
You apply for a visa or residence authorisation before you travel, through the Spanish consulates in London, Edinburgh or Manchester. Spain grants permits for many purposes: work, study, retirement, family reasons, research and more. The two routes that matter most for private individuals are these.
The digital nomad (teleworking) visa. It is for people who work remotely for a company outside Spain. The requirements come from the Spanish law on international teleworking and the consulate checklists: a degree or at least three years of professional experience, documents showing that you have worked with the company for at least the last three months and that it allows remote work, evidence that the company has been genuinely active for at least a year, proof of Spanish social security coverage (or UK coverage with a declaration) and proof of financial means. Freelancers may do up to 20% of their work for Spanish clients. The financial threshold is linked to the Spanish minimum wage and changes every year.
The non-lucrative visa. It is for people who live in Spain on their means without working. The consulate checklists say it does not allow any work, including remote work for a foreign employer. It requires full health insurance and proof of enough funds.
Requirements, fees and thresholds change often and differ slightly between consulates. Read the checklist of the consulate that covers your area. If you do not fit neatly, a lawyer who specialises in immigration is worth the fee.
Which route fits your situation?
| Your situation | Likely route |
|---|---|
| Living in Spain legally before 1 January 2021 | Withdrawal Agreement rights, proven by the TIE |
| Working remotely for a company outside Spain | Digital nomad (teleworking) visa |
| Living on savings or a pension, not working | Non-lucrative visa, or another residence permit |
| Hired by a Spanish employer | Work authorisation as part of the permit |
| Family member of an EU citizen | Residence card for family members of a Union citizen, with the same €12 fee |
| Studying | Student visa |
This table is a map, not legal advice. The conditions of each permit are set by the Spanish immigration authorities and applied by the consulate, which is the body that decides.
In what order should a British newcomer do things?
- Choose your route and apply for the visa at the consulate before you travel. Gather your documents early: criminal record certificates for the UK must be ACRO certificates, according to the Edinburgh consulate's checklist.
- Sort out your health cover for the first year, because most visas ask for it.
- Travel, find an address and register on the padrón.
- Apply for your TIE at the foreigners' office or police, within the deadline stated on your visa.
- Open a bank account, register for social security and set up online access with Cl@ve.
- Exchange your driving licence before six months are up.
- Decide your tax residence and keep records: you will file in Spain once you are resident, and the UK-Spain treaty decides which country taxes which income.
Many British newcomers underestimate how much of this happens before they leave. The consulate appointment, the criminal record certificate and the insurance policy are the long poles in the tent. Start them first.
Once you are in Spain: TIE, padrón and NIE
On arrival you do the usual things in the usual order. You register on the padrón at your town hall (padrón and Cl@ve explains it) and you obtain your residence card, the TIE, from the foreigners' office or the police. The NIE is attached to your residence authorisation. A British person can also ask for an NIE on its own when they have interests in Spain, for example to buy a property: see the NIE number.
Banks ask British customers for the TIE instead of the EU certificate. The right to a basic payment account depends on legally residing in the EU, so it works once you have a residence document. See opening a bank account in Spain.
Healthcare: S1, GHIC and private insurance
A UK State Pensioner can have the NHS pay for their care in Spain with an S1 form, which is registered with Spanish social security (the INSS) so that the regional health service issues a health card. If you leave Spain, you tell the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team to cancel it. A UK-issued GHIC covers temporary visits by British visitors, but it does not replace health cover when you live in Spain.
For others, access depends on your situation: employees and self-employed people are covered by Spanish social security through work. People without work or a pension usually start with a private policy, which most non-working visas require anyway. After one year of effective residence in Spain, time spent in the EU, the EEA, Switzerland or the UK counting towards it, a person with no other access can sign the convenio especial with the regional health service: €60 a month under 65 and €157 a month from 65 (check the current amounts). Our guide to healthcare in Spain goes through each route.
Driving: exchange your UK licence in time
You can drive in Spain for six months on a UK licence after you settle. Before the six months end, exchange it. Spain and the UK have had an exchange agreement since 16 March 2023, without a theory or practical test for cars and motorcycles. You need a DVLA (or DVA, for Northern Ireland) check code. Licences issued in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man cannot be exchanged. The details and fees are on the DGT website, and our guide to driving in Spain explains the renewal rules and the DGT appointment. A car brought from the UK is imported from outside the EU, so the customs steps come first.
What does moving to Spain from the UK mean for work, pensions and tax?
Without a permit that allows it, British people cannot just take a job in Spain. Those protected by the Withdrawal Agreement keep their right to work. For others, the work authorisation is part of the visa or permit.
The UK State Pension is increased each year for people living in Spain, according to GOV.UK. A UK-Spain tax treaty exists: under its article 17, a private pension is generally taxed where you live, and under article 18, a civil-service pension is generally taxed by the country that pays it, unless you are also a Spanish national. Check the position with the Spanish tax agency or an adviser before you decide where to be resident for tax.
Scottish readers: Scottish income tax bands apply only to UK tax. Spain taxes you as any other resident.
And in the Canary and Balearic Islands?
The immigration rules are national, so the same visa and the same TIE apply. In the islands you deal with the foreigners' office or the police of your island, and the main practical difference is the length of the queue.