Living in Spain

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• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• follow the British Embassy in Spain on Facebook and Twitter

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

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.Spain after Brexit.

You can also:

• read the Spanish government’s website on forhow UKto nationalsprepare infor SpainBrexit

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read rights.Living It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to live, work and study in the EU: broadlyPrepare asfor youBrexit

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For more information:

• see the Spanish Interior Ministry’s information on residency (in Spanish) for UK nationals in Spain
• read the Spanish government’s guidance for UK nationals in Spain
• sign up for email updates to this guidance on living in Spain

Healthcare

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Healthcare

You must register for healthcare as a resident in Spain.

Read ourthe guidance on who can access healthcare in Spain and how to register.

State healthcare: S1

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.

You can apply for an S1 certificate through the Business Services Authority.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

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 your EHIC from the UK to access healthcare in Spain, unless you are a student or posted worker.Spain.

When you travel from Spain for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use youran UK or Spanish-issued EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in the country. During that short stay:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information, read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

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Healthcare after Brexit

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You can apply for updatesor torenew thisyour guidance.British passport from Spain.

Children travelling from Spain

OnThe 1Spanish SeptemberSecretary 2019,of theState Spanishfor authoritiesSecurity implementedhas published a newregulation regulation.(Instrucción ChildrenNúm. 10/2019) which states that from 1 September 2019, children (under the age of 18 years old) resident in Spain,Spain whomay travelneed outa ofcertified Spainauthorisation withoutby athe person whowith has parental responsibility,responsibility mayif needthe achild certifiedis authorisationtravelling byout thatof person.Spain without a person with parental responsibility. This is required in addition to a valid travel document.

The Spanish authoritiesAuthorities have confirmed that the above regulation doesis not applyapplicable to foreign children minors resident in Spain who are subject to the law of their country of nationality,nationality or to non-resident foreign childrenminors visiting Spain.

We haveThe British Embassy has notified the Spanish immigration authorities that there is no similar standard regulation in the UK, sotherefore British consulates do not provide travel authorisation documents. BritishIt childrenis do not needcustomary for British minors to require written permission to travel unless theythe areminor is subject to a court orderorder, which statesspecifically mentions that written permission is required from those holding parental responsibility.responsibility for the minor. If the childminor is subject to such a court order, or if you wish to ensure that an unaccompanied childminor will be able to leave Spain without delay,delay when passing through Spanish immigration, you mustwill have to obtain athe certified authorisation from a public notary in Spain.

IfThose youwith have parental responsibility forof Spanish children in Spain,Spain you can obtain a certified authorisation at a notary,Notary, national police station (in Spanish), or at the Guardia Civil (in Spanish).

Driving

Passports and travel after Brexit

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 Spainthe Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

DrivingIf licencethere’s rulesno 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 staynot need visas for short stays elsewhere in the sameEU. untilYou 31will Decemberbe 2020.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.

Driving in Spain

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:

• what you need to drive abroad
• driving rules in Spain

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Spain

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.

Working

Driving inafter Spain

Brexit

If youthere areis residenta indeal, Spaindriving onlicence orrules will stay the same as now during the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, the Spanish government has said that valid UK licences will be recognised for 9 months after Brexit. You must start the process of exchanging your UK licence for a Spanish one before 31 DecemberJanuary 2020,2020 yourin rightorder for the Spanish authorities to workguarantee that your UK licence will staybe exchanged during the same,9-month asgrace longperiod.

Visit asthe youSpanish remainTraffic residentOffice website (in Spanish) for more information on the specific measures that have been put in Spain.place for UK licence holders until 31 January 2020.

Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit if there’s no deal.

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 ananother EU country.

To apply for a job, you may need to provide a:

• UK criminal records certificate
• Spanish criminal records certificate (in Spanish) (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales)
• certificate from the Spanish sex offenders registry (in Spanish) (Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual) to work with children
• record of your employment history in Spain from Seguridad Social (a Vida Laboral certificate)

Working in Spain after Brexit

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.

Money and tax

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

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Spain have not changed.

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:

• telling HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad
• the tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Spain

You should get professional 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

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 or EEA and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

If there’s no deal and the end date on your form is after the day the UK leaves the EU, you should contact the relevant EU or EEA authority. They will confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after Brexit, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after 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.

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:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension
• your Spanish and UK State Pension from the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social if you worked in Spain
• pensions from working in other EU countries

Life Certificates for UK State Pensions

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.

Pensions after 31 January 2020Brexit

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If you arelive living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.Switzerland.

If youthere areis livinga indeal Spainand by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If 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 31the Decemberend 2020.of the implementation period.

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Benefits

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

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while youyour are abroad

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.

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:

• read the European Union’s guidance on claiming benefits in an EU country
• speak to a social worker (trabajador social) at your local town hall (in Spanish) (ayuntamiento)
• visit your nearest Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales office (in Spanish)

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

Benefits after 31 January 2020Brexit

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Read ourthe guidance on benefits and pensions inif thethere’s EUno deal.

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.

YouWhilst cannotthe 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 generalyour home country or regionalin 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 Spaingeneral or Europeanregional Parliamentaryelections elections.in Spain.

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

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

Voting after Brexit

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.

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:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Spain
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Spain

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

CurrentTravelling with your pet travelbetween rulesthe EU and the UK will staychange after Brexit. If you’re living in the sameEU, untilcontact 31your Decembervet 2020.before travelling to check requirements. Also read the guidance for UK nationals living in the EU on pet travel to Europe after Brexit page.

Whilst the UK is still in the EU, you can take your pet between the UK and the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first timetime, you must visit your vet to getobtain a pet passport.

Read guidance on bringingreturning your petcat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet horses and other equines read the guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

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

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:

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

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

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.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

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 UK nationals living in Spain.