Guidance

Living in Spain

Official information for British people moving to or living in Spain, including guidance on EU Exit, residency, passports and healthcare.

Published 22 March 2013
Last updated 15 March 2019 — see all updates
From:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office

EU Exit: what you should do

You should:

EU Exit updates

To keep up to date with information about EU Exit:

Residency and visas

You must register as a Spanish resident if you want to stay in Spain for more than 3 months. You will get a green A4 certificate or credit card sized piece of paper from Extranjeria or the police.

After EU Exit, you will need to change your registration document for a new card. We will update this guidance when we know how and when this will happen. For more information you can:

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Spain. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.

Passports and travel after EU Exit

You must check your passport is suitable for travel. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there will be new travel rules. You must have at least 6 months left on your passport from the date of travel. If you recently renewed your passport, you may need to have more than 6 months left.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the European Commission has said you may not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the Schengen area or the EU. You may be able to stay for up to 90 days in any EU country, within an 180 day period.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

Healthcare

You need to make sure you are correctly registered for healthcare as a resident in Spain. You can read the NHS’s guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Spain and how to register.

If you are resident in Spain, you should not be using an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Spain.

If you are registered for public healthcare as a resident and are travelling outside of Spain, you should apply for a Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea (TSE) online (in Spanish), or go to your nearest social security office (Insitituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social). This is valid in the UK until the 29 March 2019

If you are an S1 form holder and are travelling within the EU, you should apply for a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This is valid until 29 March 2019. You can read the NHS’s guidance about the EHIC and how to apply.

You should also buy comprehensive travel insurance to cover anything not covered by your TSE, EHIC or for travelling to countries outside the EU.

You can also find an English-speaking doctor in Spain.

Healthcare after EU Exit

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you are resident in Spain, your access to healthcare will be protected for as long as you live in Spain.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your access to healthcare may change. You can read the Spanish government’s guidance on access to Spanish healthcare and EU Exit.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Spanish Royal Decree states that if you are currently registered for healthcare in Spain as a resident, you will be able to continue to access healthcare until at least the end of 2020. This is provided the UK makes the same agreement for Spanish nationals in the UK. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement between the UK and Spain about this.

Working in Spain

If you are registered as a resident in Spain, you have the right to work in Spain. Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for a:

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Spain to make sure that people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. You can ask the relevant tax authority about double taxation relief.

If you are a Spanish resident, you must declare your global income to the Spanish authorities, no matter which country it came from. If you are not a resident, you will only pay tax on income that came from Spain.

You can read guidance about:

For advice on paying tax in Spain, you can use a registered ‘gestor’ or find an English-speaking lawyer.

Declaration of overseas assets

You may need to file an annual declaration of overseas assets called a Modelo 720. There are severe penalties if you do not file, or give incorrect or incomplete information.

National Insurance

You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad so that you protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Money and tax after EU Exit

The double taxation agreement with Spain will not change.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your bank card in Spain. Read our guidance on using a bank card, insurance or other financial services if there’s no Brexit deal.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in Spain, you can claim:

If you get a Life certificate form in the post, you must fill it in promptly otherwise your payments may be suspended.

Pensions after EU Exit

The UK government will continue to pay the UK state pension to eligible UK nationals after the UK leaves the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on pensions.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Spain, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Spanish pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Spanish government has proposed that they will take into account periods of work in the UK before 29 March 2019 when calculating your Spanish pension. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement on this.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Spain. You should:

If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you.

Spanish benefits

You may be entitled to Spanish benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Spanish benefits and how to claim, you can:

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Benefits after EU Exit

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Spain, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Spanish contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Spanish government has proposed that they will continue to take periods of work in the UK before 29 March 2019 into account when claiming Spanish contributions-based benefits. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement on this.

Driving in Spain

If you are resident in Spain, you should exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one (PDF). You can still use your Spanish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

If you hold an old UK licence that doesn’t have a 10 year validity period, you must renew or exchange it for a Spanish licence once you’ve been a resident in Spain for 2 years.

If you are in Spain and your UK driving licence is lost, stolen or expires you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will need to apply to the DVLA for a ‘certificate of entitlement’ in Spanish to be able to apply for a Spanish driving licence.

For information on driving in Spain, read our guidance on:

Driving after EU Exit

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the transition period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you have 9 months from the 29 March 2019 to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one. Your UK licence will be recognised in this 9 month period.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

If you register as a resident or spend longer than 6 months of the year in Spain, you must register your vehicle with the Spanish authorities and you may need to pay some taxes. You can read the European Union’s guidance on car registration rules and taxes in Spain.

You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

Voting

You can vote and stand in local elections. To do so, you must:

  • register on the municipal register where you live (padrón municipal)
  • formally declare your intention to vote and register on the local electoral roll
  • confirm your padrón status every 2 to 5 years to remain registered and be able to vote

You can go to your local town hall and check your padrón status and the municipal electoral roll at any time.

You cannot vote in general or regional elections in Spain.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

Voting after EU Exit

UK nationals will still be able to vote and stand as candidates in local elections in Spain. This includes the next local elections in May 2019, as long as you registered on the electoral roll before 30 January 2019.

UK nationals will no longer be able to vote in European elections.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Spain, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Spain you can:

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for British nationals in Spain.

Accommodation and buying property

Read guidance on how to buy or let property in Spain.

Pets

When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret. But the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe if there is no deal.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or:

  • 091 for police
  • 061 for health emergencies
  • 080 for firefighters
  • 092 for local police

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.

Returning to the UK

Check if your tax status will change if you return to the UK.

Tell the UK and Spanish authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently. To help prove you are now living in the UK, you should deregister with your:

  • local town hall (padrón)
  • the Spanish National Police (Residencia)
  • your local health centre

If you get UK State Pension or benefits payments, you must tell the International Pension Centre and the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social.

If you get healthcare in Spain through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 or Seguridad Social to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Spanish authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

You may also want to use this list of useful websites for British nationals living in Spain.

Published 22 March 2013
Last updated 15 March 2019 + show all updates
  1. We have updated this guidance with what you should do to prepare for EU Exit and what the Royal Decree means for UK nationals.
  2. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
  3. EU Exit update: links added to Spanish governments' brexit website and Spain's no-deal contingency measures as published in the Royal Decree
  4. Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
  5. EU Exit update: updated information on double taxation
  6. EU Exit update: updated information on access to healthcare
  7. EU Exit update: New information on voting in local elections in Spain added to the voting section
  8. EU exit update - updated information on pensions and driving
  9. We have added the latest information with the new website of the Spanish Government for UK Nationals in Spain
  10. EU Exit update: Added information about the Spanish government announcement on EU Exit in the Visas and Residency section.
  11. EU Exit update: New information on voting in local elections in Spain.
  12. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in Pets section.
  13. Brexit update: Added in information about citizens outreach meetings across Spain
  14. June 2018
  15. Updated March 2018
  16. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
  17. Updated hyperlinks and corrected a grammar error.
  18. Taxation information updated.
  19. Updated the information on UK benefits abroad
  20. Information added on returning to the UK
  21. Updated Life Certificate information
  22. Updated to include details of the double taxation treaties between Spain and the UK
  23. updated arrangements for signing of life certificates in Spain
  24. guide and category changed.
  25. First published.
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