To travel to Spain from the UK, a British citizen does not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. To spend longer in a Costa del Sol home, they need a Spanish national visa: the non-lucrative visa if they live on pensions, rental income or savings, or the international telework (digital nomad) visa if they work remotely. Buying a property no longer gives the right to live in Spain: the so-called golden visa was abolished in April 2025.
Do I need a visa for Spain from the UK?
Not for short stays. Since Brexit, British citizens enter the Schengen area as visa-free visitors for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. According to the UK Government's official travel advice, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and expire at least 3 months after the day you leave Schengen. At the border you may be asked for a return ticket, a hotel booking or proof of address if you are staying in your own home, and enough money for your stay.
How the 90/180-day rule works
The limit does not reset on 1 January or when you cross into another country: every day spent in any Schengen country in the previous 180 days counts. On any day you are in Spain, look back 180 days and add up all your days in Schengen; the total cannot exceed 90.
| Example of stays | Days used | Within the limit? |
|---|---|---|
| January and February on the Costa del Sol (59 days) + 31 days in March | 90 | Yes, but you cannot return until days drop out of the 180-day window |
| Three one-month stays in March, June and September | About 60 in any 180-day window | Yes |
| Four months in a row in summer | 120 | No: you need a visa |
Owning a home does not add any days: the UK guidance only says you can show proof of address for your own property at the border. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which is now being rolled out across Schengen, replaces passport stamps with a record of fingerprints and a photo, so days are counted automatically. The ETIAS travel authorisation is not yet in operation; check the official EU website travel-europe.europa.eu before you travel.
Which visa do I need to live in Spain as a British citizen?
It depends on how you will live and where your income comes from. These are the visas most used by British buyers on the Costa del Sol:
| Visa | Who it is for | Minimum income 2026 (applicant) | Can you work? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-lucrative | Retirees, people with rental income or savings | €2,400 a month (400% of IPREM) | No |
| International telework (digital nomad) | Remote workers for companies outside Spain | €2,442 a month (200% of the minimum wage) | Yes, remotely; freelancers with up to 20% Spanish clients |
| Employment or self-employment | People with a Spanish job offer or business plan | Depends on the contract or business plan | Yes |
| Study | Students at an authorised institution | Proof of own means | With limits |
We explain both in detail, with the official sources, in our guides to the non-lucrative visa and the digital nomad visa. The figures depend on IPREM and the minimum wage, which can change, so check them when you apply.
Does buying a home in Spain give you residency?
No. The property investor visa, the golden visa, was abolished by Organic Law 1/2025, and no new applications have been accepted since 3 April 2025. A British citizen can buy without restrictions, but without a visa they can only stay 90 days in every 180, even in their own home. What buying does is make the rest easier: a stable address to register on the town hall roll (padrón) and apply for the foreigner identity card (TIE), and no dependence on a long-term rental, which is expensive and scarce on the coast.
You do not need residency to buy, but you do need an NIE. Many of our British clients complete the purchase during their 90-day stay and then apply for the visa from the UK.
How to apply for a Spain visa from the UK
- Choose the visa according to your income and whether you will work.
- Gather the documents: passport, official form, proof of income, health insurance, criminal record certificate (in the UK, from ACRO) with apostille and translation, and a medical certificate where required.
- Book an appointment with the Spanish consulate for your area; in the UK appointments and applications are handled by the external provider BLS.
- Once granted, enter Spain within the visa's validity and apply for the TIE at the police station in your town within one month.
The non-lucrative visa must be requested from the country where you live, not from Spain as a visitor. The telework permit, by contrast, can also be applied for inside Spain as a residence authorisation if you are here legally.
At EVS Property Group we help British buyers in Málaga, Marbella, Benalmádena and the rest of the Costa del Sol: we help you choose the area and the home, and put you in touch with trusted immigration lawyers for the visa.
FAQ
Do I need an ETIAS to travel to Spain?
Not yet: the ETIAS system is not yet in operation. Check its start date on the official EU website before you travel.
How much money do I need to get Spanish residency?
For the non-lucrative visa in 2026, the main applicant must show €2,400 a month (€28,800 for the first year) plus €600 a month for each dependant.
How long does a Spain visa take from the UK?
For the non-lucrative visa, the immigration office decides within one month of receiving the file; add the time for the appointment and the consulate's processing.
Can I get a Spain visa in 15 days?
There is no guaranteed fast track for residence visas. Book well ahead, especially if you want to arrive before your 90 days run out.
