Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain
Change description : 2019-09-23 16:55:00: Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement. [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-09-03 15:26:25 +00:00..2019-09-23 17:16:22 +00:00
Guidance
Official information British people moving to or living in Spain need to know, including guidance on Brexit, residency, passports and healthcare.
This page tells you what to do ahead of the UK leaving the EU. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.
You should:
The British Embassy regularly holds events across Spain for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Spain after Brexit.
You can also:
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.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, any UK national arriving in Spain before the end of the implementation period will be able to register as resident in Spain under the current rules, and will have their right to residence in Spain protected for as long as they remain living here.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, any UK national residing in Spain before the date the UK leaves will be considered legally resident for a period of 21 months, irrespective of whether they currently hold a residency document.
In some parts of Spain, UK nationals are currently unable to register as a resident as appointments are not available. If you don’t yet have a residence certificate, the residency advice on the Moncloa website is to make sure you have proof you were living here before Brexit (such as padrón registration or a rental contract), and to keep checking the online appointment system for new appointments.
After Brexit, in any scenario, you will need to change your registration document for a new card. For more information:
UK nationals arriving in Spain after Brexit will have to meet the requirements of the general immigration regime.
If you are planning to move to Spain, check the entry requirements.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Spain.
From 1 September 2019, Spanish minors and foreign minors resident in Spain under the age of 18 years old may need written authorisation by a parent or legal guardian if a minor is travelling unaccompanied, with a third party or other circumstances. This is in addition to a valid travel document.
British consulates do not provide travel authorisation documents. If a certified authorisation is required, you will need to seek the services of a public notary or other competent authority in Spain. Parents and legal guardians of Spanish minors are also able to obtain a certified authorisation form at a national police station, or at the Guardia Civil.Civil.
After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
If there is 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.
If there’s no deal, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
If there’s no deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180-day period. You must retain evidence of travel (such as train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.
You must register for healthcare as a resident in Spain.
Read the NHS guidance on who can access healthcare in Spain and how to register.
If you live in Spain and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.
If you are entitled to an S1, you are also entitled to apply for a UK-issued EHIC.
If you are not an S1 holder, but are registered for public healthcare in Spain in another way and are travelling outside of Spain, you must apply for a Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea (TSE - a Spanish-issued EHIC) online (in Spanish), or go to your nearest social security office (Insitituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social).
You must also buy comprehensive travel insurance to cover anything not covered by your TSE, EHIC or for travel to countries outside the EU.
If you are resident in Spain, you must not use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Spain.
When you travel from Spain for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in the country. During that short stay:
If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You can also find an English-speaking doctor in Spain.
If there is a deal and you are resident in Spain, your current rights on access to healthcare in Spain will remain the same as long as you remain a resident in Spain.
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If there’s no deal, your Spanish TSE may not be valid for use in the UK. If you are an S1 holder your UK-issued EHIC may not be valid for travel to other European member states. In either case, you must ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance.
Read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Spain and how it may change after Brexit.
Read the Spanish government’s guidance on access to healthcare and Brexit.
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.
To apply for a job, you may need to provide a:
Whether or not there is a deal, if you are already registered as a resident, your right to work will not change after Brexit.
Read the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit.
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.
As 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.
Read guidance about:
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Spain. You can use a registered ‘gestor’ or find an English-speaking lawyer.
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.
Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.
If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.
Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.
The double taxation agreement with Spain will not change. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
If there’s no 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.
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 from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
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If there is 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 there’s no deal, the Spanish government has proposed that they will take into account periods of work in the UK before Brexit when calculating your Spanish pension. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement on this.
Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Spain.
Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
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.
If there is 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 there’s no deal, the Spanish government has proposed continuing to take into account any periods of work in the UK before Brexit, when working out your entitlement to Spanish contributions-based benefits. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement on this.
Read the guidance on benefits and pensions if there’s no deal.
If you are resident in Spain, exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one. 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:
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. 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.
If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.
If there’s no deal, the Spanish government has said you will have 9 months from the day the UK leaves the EU to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one. Your UK licence will be recognised in this 9 month period.
Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.
You can vote and stand in local elections. To do so, you must:
You can go to your local town hall and check your padrón status and the municipal electoral roll at any time.
Whilst the UK remains in the EU, we will participate in the European Parliament elections. As a UK national living in Spain, you can choose to vote in your home country or in your country of residence. If you have spent less than 15 years out of the UK, you can vote for UK candidates. If you are already registered to vote in Spain, you can vote here for the Spanish candidates for the European Parliament. However you cannot vote in both countries.
Read more information on voting in the European Parliament elections.
Read more about how to register as an overseas voter.
You cannot vote in general or regional elections in Spain.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
UK nationals will no longer be able to vote in European elections after Brexit.
UK nationals will still be able to vote and stand as candidates in local elections in Spain.
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.
Read guidance on how to buy or let property in Spain.
You will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret after Brexit, but the rules will change. Read guidance on pet travel to Europe.
While the UK is still an EU member state, you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you must visit your vet to obtain a pet passport.
Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.
For moving pet horses and other equines read the guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.
You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or:
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.
Read our guidance on:
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 must deregister with your:
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.
Please note 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 view this list of useful websites for British nationals living in Spain.
2025-04-08 11:55
Information added on the estimated launch date of the European Entry Exit System (EES).
2025-04-03 13:31
Information added to the ‘Emergencies’ section about the mobile app ALERT COPS.
2025-03-21 11:23
Information added on the need for British residents in Spain to have a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) to be exempt from the European Entry Exit System (EES). Green Certificates will not be recognised.
2024-11-26 16:15
Added information about getting a marital status certificate for a cohabitation arrangement. Added information about an administrative letter known as a ‘baja consular’.
2024-08-13 15:23
New link to the European Union’s page of frequently asked questions about the ‘Entry Exit System’ (EES).
2024-05-22 14:16
New guidance on the EU’s Entry Exit System and registration exemptions.
2024-05-13 13:32
New information for British residents in Spain on the introduction of the EU’s Entry Exit Scheme (EES) in Autumn 2024 and the documentation required to be exempt from registration.
2024-01-16 08:30
New information on the removal of the 15-year limit on voting rights for British citizens living overseas. See ‘Voting’ section for full details.
2023-12-21 11:15
Updated guidance published on the recognition of the certificate of registration ‘green’ residency certificate in Spain; removal of information on voting and standing in the May 2023 local elections.
2023-08-04 09:59
Updated guidance on UK driving licence exchange in Spain
2023-03-16 11:33
The UK and Spanish governments have agreed new temporary arrangements for exchanging UK and Gibraltar driving licences in Spain (from 16 March 2023).
2022-11-22 14:18
Voting section updated with information for UK nationals who wish to vote in local Spanish elections in May 2023
2022-04-29 19:09
Driving section updated: from 1 May 2022 UK driving licences will no longer be valid for driving in Spain if you have been resident for more than 6 months.
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Spain, and National insurance sections if you work in Spain, even if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-03-01 10:46
Voting section updated with information about participating in local elections including standing as a candidate.
2022-02-23 12:05
Updated ‘Driving in Spain’ section: extension to the grace period for residents to drive in Spain using a valid UK licence.
2021-12-29 06:44
The grace period when UK driving licences will be recognised for driving for residents in Spain has been extended to 28 February 2022.
2021-10-27 15:23
Driving in Spain section updated: your valid UK driving licence will be recognised for driving in Spain until 31 December 2021.
2021-10-11 15:57
Visas and residency section updated: the additional support provided by the UK Nationals Support Fund to UK nationals making their residency application, will end on 31 December 2021. Contact the relevant implementing partner before this date if you need this additional support.
2021-02-16 14:16
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
2020-09-07 12:14
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021.
2020-08-11 15:36
Addition to the UK Nationals Support Fund section regarding the provision of assistance with residency applications in Valencia and Castellon regions (Babelia Association).
2020-07-21 09:06
Visas and residency section updated to include information about how to access the UK Nationals Support Fund for those who may find it harder to complete their residency application.
2020-07-20 10:18
Driving section updated with additional guidance on how to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one.
2020-07-09 14:22
Visas and residency section updated with information about the new residency document – Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)
2020-01-23 14:07
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2020-01-09 12:34
Updated information on children travelling from Spain.
2019-09-23 16:55
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement.
2019-09-03 16:15
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-08-29 11:02
Information on new requirements for minors travelling from Spain from the 1 September in the passports and travel section
2019-06-10 10:00
EU Exit update – additional information added to the passports and travel section.
2019-04-30 13:48
Information on voting in the European Parliament elections.
2019-04-16 15:54
EU Exit update: Added in new information on EU Exit in pensions, passports, healthcare and returning to the UK section.