Moving to Spain from the UK after Brexit is still very possible, and every week we meet British buyers settling in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and the villages inland. What has changed is the paperwork: since 1 January 2021 Britons are third-country nationals, so the free-movement shortcuts are gone. The good news is that buying property is unaffected – anyone can buy a home in Spain. Living here more than three months in every six, however, needs a visa and a plan. In this guide we explain the 90/180 rule, the new border checks, the realistic visa routes, healthcare, tax and the practical steps we see our British clients take, with figures checked in October 2026.
The 90/180 rule and the new EES border checks
Without residency, a UK passport holder can spend up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in the whole Schengen area, not just Spain. Owning a house here does not extend that allowance. Days in France or Portugal count towards the same total, and overstaying can mean a fine and an entry ban.
Counting used to rely on passport stamps. Since 10 April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational: on your first trip you register fingerprints and a facial image at the border, and the system records every entry and exit automatically. In practice the 90/180 rule is now enforced precisely, so second-home owners who used to stretch their stays should plan their calendar carefully.
ETIAS, the online travel authorisation (expected fee €20, valid three years), had not started as of October 2026; the EU withdrew its late-2026 target and has promised several months' notice before launch. Until then a valid passport is enough for a short visit.
Buying a home in Spain as a British citizen
Brexit did not change the right to buy. You need an NIE number, a Spanish bank account (recommended) and funds for the price plus purchase costs, usually around 11-13% on a resale home in the Alicante province – see our breakdown of buying costs. Mortgages for non-residents are available, typically up to around 60-70% loan-to-value.
Two things are different from before 2021:
- No golden visa. The residence-by-investment route was abolished on 3 April 2025 (Organic Law 1/2025). Buying a home, at any price, no longer gives you residency.
- The proposed tax on non-EU buyers is not law. The Government announced a possible charge of up to 100% on non-EU buyers in January 2025, but the bill has stalled in Congress and, as of October 2026, nothing has been approved. We follow it closely and tell every client the current position.
Most of our British clients start by browsing property for sale in Torrevieja or along Orihuela Costa, where English is widely spoken and services are used to new arrivals.
Visa routes for living in Spain full time
If you want to stay longer than 90/180, these are the routes we see British clients use most:
- Non-lucrative visa – the classic choice for retirees and people living on savings or pensions. For 2026 the main applicant must show about €2,400 a month (€28,800 a year), which is 400% of the IPREM index, plus around €600 a month for each dependant. You also need private health insurance with no co-payments and a clean criminal record. You cannot work in Spain on this visa. You apply at the Spanish consulate covering your UK address, before moving.
- Digital nomad visa – for people working remotely for non-Spanish employers or clients. The income threshold is 200% of the minimum wage, roughly €2,850 a month in 2026, and it can be applied for from inside Spain.
- Work or self-employment permits – possible, but they need a Spanish job offer or a viable business plan.
- Family routes – if your spouse is an EU citizen, you can usually reside as their family member.
Requirements change, so confirm current figures with the consulate or an immigration lawyer before applying.
Britons who were already resident before 2021
If you lived in Spain before 31 December 2020 and were registered, you are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. Your document is the TIE card that mentions the Agreement, and your rights to live, work and use public healthcare continue. We regularly meet owners in Ciudad Quesada and La Mata who still hold the old green certificate; it remains valid, but the TIE is far easier to use at the border and the bank, so we recommend switching.
Healthcare, driving and pets
Healthcare
Visitors use the UK GHIC for necessary treatment. UK state pensioners who become resident can register an S1 form, giving access to Spanish public healthcare on the same terms as locals; the area is served by Torrevieja University Hospital and the health centres in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Pilar de la Horadada. Non-lucrative visa holders need private cover, at least for the first year.
Driving
Under the UK-Spain agreement in force since March 2023, new residents can drive on their UK licence for six months and exchange it at the DGT without a test during that window. Leave it late and you may have to take the Spanish driving test.
Pets
Dogs and cats need a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an Animal Health Certificate from a UK vet issued within 10 days of arrival.
Tax for British owners and new residents
As non-EU owners, Britons who are not resident pay non-resident income tax through Modelo 210:
- Rental income: 24% on the gross rent, with no deduction of expenses (EU residents pay 19% and can deduct costs).
- Home not let: an annual "imputed income" of 1.1% or 2% of the cadastral value, taxed at 24%.
- Local charges such as IBI and rubbish collection apply to everyone.
Once you spend more than 183 days a year here, you normally become tax resident in Spain and declare your worldwide income, with the UK-Spain double tax treaty preventing double taxation. Residents with assets abroad above €50,000 per category usually file Modelo 720. Most UK government pensions remain taxed in the UK, while private pensions are usually taxed in Spain. Have a cross-border adviser review your situation before you move.
Where British buyers settle on the Costa Blanca South
From our office we see clear patterns. Torrevieja suits people who want everything walkable: beaches, the hospital, supermarkets and buses, with apartments from roughly €120,000. Orihuela Costa, including Villamartín and La Zenia, attracts golfers and families with British-curriculum schools nearby. Ciudad Quesada and Algorfa offer more space and detached villas inland, about 15 minutes from the beach. Alicante airport is around 45 minutes away by car and Murcia International (Corvera) about 40 minutes from the southern areas, with daily UK flights.
Many clients rent first: our long-term rentals in Orihuela Costa let you test an area through a winter before you commit.
Your step-by-step plan for moving from the UK
- Decide whether you will live here full time or visit within 90/180.
- If living here, choose a visa route and gather documents (criminal record check, financial proof, health insurance) with apostilles and sworn translations.
- Get your NIE and open a Spanish bank account.
- Rent or buy; register on the padrón at the town hall.
- Collect your TIE, register for healthcare and exchange your driving licence within six months.
- Take tax advice on both sides before your first Spanish tax year.
We help with every step that touches property and introduce you to independent lawyers for the rest. Contact us and tell us your timeline. This guide is general information checked in October 2026, not legal or tax advice; always confirm your own case with a qualified professional.