Living in Spain

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Spanish Government and your local authority. You can also read our Spain travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Spain see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

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

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Spain. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the majority of our outreach will be taking place online.

You can also:

• read the Spanish government’s website for UK nationals in Spain

The Withdrawal Agreement

IfThe Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you werecan legallycontinue residentto live, work and study in Spainthe EU broadly as you did before 131 January 2021,2020.

If you are resident in Spain at the end of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident in Spain.

Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. will be the subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information

YouIn shouldthe checkmeantime, thatmake sure you are correctly registered as a resident.resident Youin haveSpain. theWe rightwill toupdate obtainthis aguidance newas residencesoon documentas tomore evidenceinformation yourbecomes rights.available.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Visas and residency

Residency

If you wereare legally resident in Spain before 1the Januarytransition 2021,period ends on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay. You must ensureregister as a Spanish resident if you arewant correctlyto registeredstay asin aSpain resident.for more than 3 months. Children must also be registered with their own residency document.

If you are registeringliving forin theSpain firstbefore time,1 January 2021 and register as a resident after 6 July 2020, you will be issued with a biometric residence card called a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE). This card will prove your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you registered as a resident before 6 July 2020, you will have a green A4 certificate or credit card-sized piece of paper from Extranjeria or the police. This is still a valid document and proveswill prove your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

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You can exchange your paper EU residence documentstatus forand therights newin TIESpain. butBut, youthe are not required to.

The Spanish government recommendsadvises obtainingthat the TIE because the biometric card is more durable.durable Itand willmay also simplify some administrative processes and border crossings.processes.

Read the Spanish government’s guidance on how to apply for the new TIE.

If you move to Spain after 31 December 2020, different immigration requirements will apply. We will update this page when further information is available.

For more information:

• see the Spanish government’s information on residency for UK nationals living in Spain before 1 January 2021
• read the Spanish government’s guidance for UK nationals living in Spain
• sign beforeup 1for Januaryemail 2021updates to this guidance on living in Spain

Additional support

UK nationalsNationals whoSupport areFund

The residentgovernment inhas Spain,announced andfunding needfor helporganisations to completeprovide theirpractical residencesupport applicationto orUK registration,nationals canwho getmay supporthave fromdifficulty organisationscompleting fundedtheir byresidency theapplication UKor Nationals Support Fund.registration.

This support is only available only to peoplethose who need additional helphelp. toThis secure their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. They may include pensioners, disabled people, people living in remote areas or people who have mobility difficulties.

The Supportservices available includes:for people who need this additional support include:

• answering questions about residenceresidency applications, such as the documents yourequired need and how the application process works

  procedure

• guiding youindividuals through the process, if necessary

• supportsupporting ifpeople youfacing experience language barriers or difficulty accessing onlinetechnology

In informationSpain, this support is being provided by three organisations: The International Organisation for Migration will cover: Andalusia, Madrid and servicesMurcia; Babelia will cover Alicante, Valencia and Castellon; and Age in Spain will cover Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

If you,you or someone you know,know aremay havinghave difficulty completing residencethe paperworkpaperwork, oryou havecan anycontact questions,them contactusing the organisationdetails thatbelow coversto thediscuss regionhow wherethey you,may orbe they,able live.to help you.

IOM – The International Organisation for Migration (Andalusia, CastillaMadrid la Mancha, Castilla León, Ceuta, Extremadura, Madrid, Melilla and Murcia)

ContactVisit details:

• the IOM Spain website

• email:Email: UKnationalsSP@iom.int

• helplines:Helplines: Andalusia,Andalusia: Ceuta, Melilla: +34 650 339 754, Madrid,Madrid: Castilla la Mancha, Castilla León, Extremadura : +34 699 581 855, Murcia: +34 648 642 543, all available Mon to Thurs, 3.30pm to 5pm

Babelia (Alicante, Valencia and Castellon)

• Visit the Babelia website

Contact details:

• email:Email: info@asociacionbabelia.org

• BabeliaHelpline: contact form

• helpline: +34 865 820 229 available Mon to Fri, 9am to 2pm

Babelia contact form

Age in Spain (Aragon,(Catalonia Asturias,and Balearics,Balearic Basque Country (Pais Vasco), Canary Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Galicia, La Rioja, Navarra)Islands)

ContactVisit details:

• the Age in Spain website

• email:Email: residency@ageinspain.org

• Age in Spain contact form

• helpline:Helpline: +34 932 20 97 41 available Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm

Moving to Spain

Healthcare

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Healthcare

Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Spain and make sure you are correctly registered.

If your UK employer has sent you to Spain temporarily, your access to healthcare is different. Find out how to access healthcare as a posted worker.register.

State healthcare: S1

If you havelive ain registeredSpain S1and formreceive andan wereexportable livingUK inpension, Spaincontribution-based beforeEmployment 1Support JanuaryAllowance 2021,(ESA) youror rightsanother toexportable accessbenefit, healthcareyou willmay staycurrently thebe sameentitled fromto ifstate youhealthcare arepaid either:

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• receivingwill someneed otherto ‘exportableapply benefits’
• for a frontiercertificate workerof whoentitlement livesknown inas Spainan andS1 commutes to work in the UK

certificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow to get an S1 form

European inHealth SpainInsurance Card (EHIC)

If you are entitled to ensurean S1, you are correctlyalso registeredentitled into healthcare.

Europeanapply Healthfor Insurancea CardUK-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 wereare livingresident in SpainSpain, before 1 January 2021, you maymust benot eligibleuse foryour a new UK-issued EHIC iffrom you’re:

• athe UK studentto access healthcare in Spain
• Spain, unless you are a UKstudent Stateor Pensionerposted withworker.

  When ayou registeredtravel S1

• from Spain for a frontiertemporary workerstay within aanother registeredEuropean S1

ApplyEconomic nowArea for(EEA) acountry newor Switzerland, you can use your UK or Spanish-issued EHIC. to access state-provided healthcare in the country. During that short stay:

An

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

  Forinsurance

• for more informationinformation, read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance.

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Passports2021

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From You1 canJanuary apply2021, foryou or renew your British passport from Spain.

You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Spain, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

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.

You will need to Renewrenew your passport before bookingtravelling your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YouYour passport may alsobe needstamped tofor showvisits ato returnthese or onward ticket.countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longeris thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180-dayfor period,longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of timestay authorised byunder a visa or permit will not count towardsagainst the 90-day visa-free limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Children travelling from Spain

TravelOn to1 theSeptember UK2019, andthe IrelandSpanish hasauthorities notimplemented changed.

Childrena travellingnew fromregulation. Spain

Children (under 18 years old) resident in Spain, who travel out of Spain without a person who has parental responsibility, may need a certified authorisation by that person. This is required in addition to a valid travel document.

The Spanish authorities have confirmed that the regulation does not apply to foreign children resident in Spain who are subject to the law of their country of nationality, or to non-resident foreign children visiting Spain.

TheWe have notified the Spanish immigration authorities are aware that there is no similar standard regulation in the UK, equivalent, so British consulates do not provide travel authorisation documents. British children do not need written permission to travel unless they are subject to a court order which states that written permission is required from those holding parental responsibility. If the child is subject to such a court order, or to ensure that an unaccompanied child will be able to leave Spain without delay, you must obtain a certified authorisation from a public notary in Spain.

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

Driving in Spain

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

If you are resident in SpainSpain, andexchange have not exchanged your UK licence for a Spanish one,one. yourIf UKyou licencedo willthis continuebefore to31 beDecember recognised2020 untilyou 30will Junenot 2021.need to take a driving test.

IfYou youwill wereneed residenta invalid Spainresidence beforedocument 1to Januaryexchange 2021your andlicence.

To registeredstart yourthe detailsexchange process, book an appointment with the DGTSpanish (Spanish Traffic Authority)Authority before(DGT) 30online Decemberor 2020,by youcalling must060 make(Spanish language only). You can request an appointment withto theexchange DGTyour driving licence in a different province to completethe one you live in.

Make sure you request the exchangecorrect ofappointment option:

• if your UK licence byhas 30expired Juneor 2021.is Youdue willto expire in the next few months, you should choose ‘renovación’
• if you have tolost showyour prooflicence or it has been stolen you areshould registeredchoose as‘sustitución’
• for aall residentother atinstances thechoose appointment.
  ‘canje’

You should get a photocopy of your UK licence certified by a notary prior to initiating this process in case there are any delays. You will have to givehand over your UK licence to the Spanish Traffic Authority atwhen yourapplying appointment.to Theyexchange willit providefor youa withSpanish one.

You will be issued a temporary driving permit (‘autorización(“Autorización temporal para conducir’)conducir”) to use until your Spanish licence is processed. This document is only validrecognised by traffic authorities in Spain and is not a valid document in any other countrycountry.

ReadYou thecan Spanishinstruct Traffica Authority’sregistered guidance‘gestor’ on how to getcarry anout appointmentthis andexchange theprocess documentationon youyour mustbehalf provideif (useyou the option in the top-right hand corner to translate page to English).wish.

TheThese rules formay exchangingchange afrom licence have not been confirmed for those that did not register their details with the DGT or moved to Spain after 1 January 2021. We will update this pageguidance whenonce more information is available.

Driving in the UK with a Spanish licence

YouUntil the end of the transition period, you can still use your Spanish licence in the UK for short visits,visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

These Werules willmay updatechange thesefrom pages1 ifJanuary there2021. areWe anywill changesupdate tothis thepage rules,once asmore soon as information is available.

Lost, stolen or expired UK licences

If you live in Spain,Spain and your UK driving licence is lost, or stolen, or if it expires, you will not be able to renew yourit drivingwith licence in the UK. IfDriver yourand UKVehicle licenceLicensing isAgency lost,(DVLA). stolenYou or expired, you will need to apply to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (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.

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

Working in Spain

If you wereare legally resident in Spain beforeon 1or Januarybefore 2021,31 youDecember have2020, theyour right to work,work will stay the same, as long as you remain legallyresident resident.in Spain.

IfRead youour areguidance planningon toworking come to Spain to work, you may need a visa or permit. You should check with the Spanish Embassy in thean UKEU 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)

Frontier workers

If you live in Spain and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country, before 1 January 2021 you may need a permit to show that you are a frontier worker. You should also check that you are correctly registered for residency.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Spain to make sure that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. You can ask the relevant tax authority about double 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 needcan to pay National Insurance inwhile theabroad UK or social security contributions in Spain.

Banking

Whetherorder UK banks can provide service to customersprotect livingyour inState thePension EEA is a matter of local law and regulation.entitlement Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to makeother anybenefits changesand to your product or the way they provide it. allowances.

If you haveare anyemployed concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seekself-employed independentin financial advice.

Read the MoneyEU andor PensionEEA Service guidance on banking, insurance and financialyou serviceshave changesa forUK-issued moreA1/E101 informationform, onyou cross-borderwill banking.

Pensions

Readremain oursubject guidance on entitlement to UK benefitslegislation anduntil pensionsthe whileend youdate areon livingthe in Spain.form.

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 wereworked living in Spain before 1 January 2021
• pensions from working in other EU countries

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

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.

Benefits

Pensions after 31 December 2020

ReadThere ourwill guidancebe no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on entitlementclaiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are 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.

If you are living in Spain 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 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Spain on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

You whilecan youcontinue areto livingreceive your UK State Pension if you live in Spain.the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension.

Benefits

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

CheckYou 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 whileif you live abroad
• use andour howtool to check which benefits you can claim them.
  while you 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:

• 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.

Voting

Benefits after 31 December 2020

YouThere canwill votebe andno standchanges before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in localthe electionsEU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in Spainthe onceEU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you havewill beencontinue residentto receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for 3as years.long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If 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 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Spain on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

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
• reconfirmconfirm your registrationpadrón onstatus theevery electoral2 rollto ahead5 ofyears eachto electionremain withinregistered theand deadlinebe setable byto the electoral authoritiesvote

ReadYou thecan Spanishgo government’sto guidanceyour on voting in local elections.town Youhall canand alsocheck readyour thepadrón bilateralstatus agreementand between the UKmunicipal andelectoral Spainroll onat votingany rights (in Spanish).time.

You cannot vote in general or regional elections in Spain or European Parliamentary elections.

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

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

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

IfCurrent you have a pet passport issued by Spain or another EU member state, you can use it to travel withrules yourwill petstay tothe Greatsame Britainuntil and31 elsewhereDecember in the EU.2020.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime Northernyou Ireland.must Youvisit should speak to your vet before you travel to get thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read guidance on:

• on bringing your pet to GB
• travelling with your pet in the EUUK
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel..

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, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 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.