Can I Move to Spain from UK after Brexit?

The abundant sunshine, beaches, and several other unique features make Spain a fantastic place to live. Individuals from the European Union find it very easy to move to Spain since they don’t need a residence permit or work visa before living in Spain. However, things have changed a little for UK citizens now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union. So, you may wonder, can I move to Spain from UK after Brexit?

UK citizens can still move to Spain after Brexit, though not as easy as it used to be before Brexit. While UK citizens can still move to Spain without a visa, they can’t stay in Spain for more than 90 days.

If you are a UK citizen and you wish to stay in Spain for more than 90 days, you must obtain a visa stating a genuine reason why you need to live in Spain for more than 90 days. The requirements for moving to Spain from the UK vary just as the reasons vary also. Kindly read on to see the categories UK citizens can move to Spain.

How to Move from UK to Spain After Brexit

Most of the requirements for moving to Spain from the UK have changed after Brexit. The requirements vary based on the mode of application.

• AS AN INDIVIDUAL

UK citizens can move into Spain as individuals, including unemployed individuals. However, unemployed individuals must formally prove that they have enough funds to cover the cost of living in Spain and apply for a non-lucrative visa. Both employed and unemployed individuals must have a medical certificate to prove good health before moving to Spain.

UK individuals without a visa can legally stay in Spain for a maximum of 90 days. You must consider a visitor visa first if you wish to remain in Spain longer than 90 days.

• AS A WORKER

If you are moving to Spain as a worker after Brexit, you must have a contract for your employment. You must also have formal proof of payment you have received in the past. If you work for a Spanish organization, you need to obtain a Spanish work permit through your organization. If you are self-employed, you need to prove that your business is legal and obtain a self-employed visa.

A UK citizen working in Spain can stay within the country all through the period that his/her work and residency visa is valid. A work and residency visa has a validity period of one year and can be renewed when it expires.

• AS A FAMILY

A UK family planning to move to Spain must have a residency visa. The Spanish residency can easily be extended to one’s spouse and children, so just one residency visa is enough for a whole family while moving to Spain. Often, one family member will need to move to Spain alone and live there for a certain period to obtain a residency visa.

 • AS A STUDENT

You need a student visa before moving to Spain as a student. Also, you must prove that you have registered in a Spanish educational institution and have enough funds to support your stay in Spain. Students who are UK citizens can reside in Spain for the duration of their study program.

Can UK Citizens Get a Spanish Residency?

UK citizens can obtain both temporary and permanent Spanish residency. Here are the ways you can get this done:

TEMPORARY SPANISH RESIDENCY

Temporary Spanish residency allows UK citizens to live in Spain for more than 90 days but not more than five years. To obtain a temporary Spanish residence, UK citizens need to apply for temporary Spanish residency and submit the following together with the residency form:

• Proof of income or sufficient funds to cover the cost of living
• Proof of health insurance
• Passport
• Passport photographs

PERMANENT SPANISH RESIDENCY

As the name implies, permanent Spanish residency allows UK citizens to live in Spain for as long as they want. If you wish to obtain a permanent Spanish residence, you must first move to Spain, get a temporary Spanish residency, and stay in the country for at least five consecutive years. After that, you should apply for permanent Spanish residency. These are the documents you must submit together with your residency form:

• Proof of income or sufficient funds to cover the cost of living
• Proof of health insurance

Final Thoughts

Brexit doesn’t hinder UK citizens from moving into Spain. However, the time and effort required to process immigration documents of UK citizens have increased significantly after Brexit. Hence, UK citizens might encounter delays or difficulties when moving to Spain after Brexit. To make things easier, you can seek counsel from an immigration expert.