Some intend that eventually their second home will become their main residence – often by retiring to Spain – while others just enjoy spending prolonged periods of time in their Spanish holiday home, but want to keep their main home in the UK.
Well for those people the 90-day rule will kick in once the Brexit transition period ends on December 31st 2020.
The rule – the same one already in place for all non-EU citizens wanting to spend time in EU countries – states that you can spend 90 out of every 180 days in the EU without needing to get visas or residency.
So people who currently like to spend long, relaxed summers in Spain, or come here to avoid colder winters in the UK, will find that their plans are curtailed by Brexit.
This site has a fuller explanation of how the 90-day rule works, as well as a calculator to allow you to work out your visits.
A few things to note are;
- The rule allows for 90 days in every 180, so in total in the course of a year you can spend 180 days in Spain, just not all in one go
- The rule applies to the whole of the EU, so if you spend a whole three months in Spain you can't then go for a week in Paris within the same 180 day period
- The clock only stops once you leave the EU and head to a non-EU country (which the UK will be from December 31st 2020).
But are there ways round this to allow for longer trips?
Deal/lobbying
The 90-day rule is an EU rule but it's still possible that Spain and the UK could come to a separate bilateral deal here.
The UK operates the 180 day rule, where people can spend 180 days per year in the country without a visa or residency and they don't have to divide them into two 90-day blocks. This has raised hopes that a similar deal could be put in place for Spain.
While it could become a deal eventually, it's unlikely to be a priority for either government just yet ahead of trade deals and other contentious issues.
Visa
Assuming that the 90-day rule is in place, the way for non-residents to spend more time here would likely be to get a visa.
If you are not an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen (as those who have only UK passports will not be in 2021), you may need to obtain a long-term visa (Visa D). You can check the visa requirements for your specific situation on the EU Immigration Portal.
Or if you have €500,000 to invest, you coud be eligible for what is known as a “golden visa”.
Residency
If you really want to spend long periods in Spain you may be looking at taking up Spanish residency.
This is more than simply declaring that you live in Spain. To become resident you will need to apply for a residency permit – which comes with its own conditions, see more on those here.
However you will also need to become a tax resident in Spain, which means filing annual tax returns with Spain's Hacienda, even if all you income comes from the UK or elsewhere, and registering with the Spanish healthcare system (which may not be free.) These are some of the most commonly-cited reasons for people choosing not to take up Spanish residency, but they will now need to be weighed against the loss of European rights under Brexit.
You cannot be resident of two countries at once, so if you become an Spanish resident you have to give up your British residency which has an impact on things like tax and access to the NHS.
Hoping to slip under the radar?
Many British people have got used to coming and going with minimal paperwork or checks, and without having to keep track of how many days were spent where.
For non-EU nationals like Americans and Australians, Spain has earned itself a reputation as being not too fussy about the exact exit date of people who aren't working or claiming benefits in Spain as long as it's fairly close. It's also true that there is likely to be a 'bedding in period' for the new rules.
But passport checks are expected to become stricter from January 1st 2021, not least because British nationals will no longer be able tp use the EU/EEA/CH passport queue.
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> Assuming that the 90-day rule is in place, the way for non-residents
> to spend more time here would likely be to get a visa.
> If [a UK citizen] you may need to obtain a long-term visa (Visa D).
> You can check the visa requirements for your specific situation on
> the EU Immigration Portal.
Sadly that immigration portal does not cover non-residents
merely wishing to spend more time in Spain (eg 180 in 180).
Is there ANY way to get a six-month visa without being a
worker or being in another of the specialised categories?
“Swallows” will need this resolved by September 2021 to
make a decision on coming for autumn or winter. Many, I am
sure, would be willing to pay for a visa to gain a block
period of 180 days.
Those with residence protected under the Withdrawal Agreement
have lost the right to “onward movement”.
Presumably they still have “tourist” rights in rest of EU.
Will these be subject to the “90 in 180” Schengen rules and
exclude time in Spain? If so, how will this be monitored as
there is no “entry” into Schengen zone.
Alternatively will they have “free range” to travel in the
Schengen zone even though not permitted to reside or work?
In particular will France allow overland travel between UK
and Spain without establishing a Schengen entry event which
may never have a corresponding exit event or have one only
years later (with overstay consequences!)?