Moving to Spain from the UK after Brexit: when does the Non-Lucrative Visa make sense?

Moving to Spain from the UK is no longer simply a matter of packing your bags and settling here. Since Brexit, British citizens who are not protected by the Withdrawal Agreement must comply with the immigration rules that apply to third-country nationals if they want to establish their residence in Spain.

For retirees and financially independent people, one of the options that attracts the most interest is the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. However, having savings or receiving a pension does not automatically mean that this is the right residence permit for you.

If you are still working, want to divide your time between the UK and Spain, or expect your professional situation to change over the next few years, choosing the correct residence route from the outset can be just as important as meeting the formal requirements.

What changed for British citizens who want to live in Spain after Brexit?

Before Brexit, British citizens could move to Spain under the EU freedom of movement rules applicable to EU citizens.

That changed for people moving to Spain after the UK left the European Union.

Today, British citizens can travel to Spain and the rest of the Schengen Area without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If the intention is to stay longer and establish residence in Spain, the relevant immigration requirements must be met.

A different regime applies to British citizens who were already legally resident in Spain before 1 January 2021 and who remain protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.

So before discussing visas, there is one basic question that needs to be answered:

Are you planning to visit Spain, or do you actually intend to establish your residence here?

If the answer is the latter, the next step is to determine which immigration route best fits your financial, family and professional circumstances.

What options does a British citizen have when moving to Spain?

There is no single “visa to live in Spain” that applies to every British citizen.

The appropriate route will depend on factors such as:

• whether you are retired;
• whether you are still working;
• whether you work online for a foreign company;
• whether you are self-employed;
• whether you have enough financial resources to support yourself without working;
• whether you are coming to study;
• whether you are moving with family members;
• and how much time you actually intend to spend living in Spain.

For someone who wants to live in Spain without carrying out any employment or professional activity, the Non-Lucrative Residence may be one of the options worth considering.

When can the Non-Lucrative Residence be suitable for a British citizen?

The Non-Lucrative Residence allows foreign nationals to live legally in Spain without carrying out employment or professional activities. Among other requirements, applicants must have sufficient financial means and appropriate health insurance.

This can make it particularly suitable for certain profiles.

British retirees who want to live in Spain

This is probably the clearest example.

A retired person receiving a pension or holding sufficient savings may find that this residence route fits their plans if they want to settle in Spain and do not need to continue working.

Being retired, however, does not remove the need to prepare the application properly.

Applicants must prove their financial resources, arrange suitable healthcare coverage and submit the required documentation to the competent Spanish consulate.

Financially independent applicants

The Non-Lucrative Residence is not exclusively for retirees.

It may also be suitable for people who have capital, investments, savings or other sufficient financial resources that allow them to support themselves in Spain without carrying out a professional activity.

In these cases, the amount of money available is not the only issue. It is also important to demonstrate clearly that those funds exist and are genuinely available throughout the period of residence.

People who want to spend a period of their life in Spain without working

Some applicants are not retired but may decide to stop working temporarily and spend a period living in Spain.

These situations need to be assessed individually.

The important point is not simply whether the applicant has enough money. Their actual circumstances must also be consistent with a residence permit specifically designed for people who intend to live in Spain without working.

How much money does a British citizen need in 2026?

Although this article is not intended to replace a complete guide to the requirements of the Non-Lucrative Residence, financial capacity is one of the first issues that should be checked before considering this route.

The regulations require the main applicant to demonstrate resources equivalent to 400% of the monthly IPREM, with an additional 100% of the IPREM for each accompanying family member.

In 2026, the monthly IPREM remains at €600.

This means, as a general reference:

• Main applicant: €2,400 per month, equivalent to €28,800 for 12 months.
• Each additional family member: €600 per month, equivalent to €7,200 for 12 months.

However, there is an important difference between having a certain amount of money and properly proving sufficient financial means to the Spanish Consulate.

Bank statements, pensions, investments, savings and other sources of funds should be assessed in the context of the individual application.

For a detailed breakdown of the documentation and requirements, see our guide to Non-Lucrative Residence in Spain.

The key issue: what if you continue working for a British company?

This is one of the situations that generates the most questions.

Imagine a British citizen who:

• works from home;
• earns a good salary;
• can perform all their duties using a computer;
• and wants to move to Spain without leaving their UK job.

At first glance, they might appear to be an ideal candidate for a Non-Lucrative Residence because they have more than enough income.

But the problem is not financial.

The problem is that they are still working.

The Non-Lucrative Residence is legally structured as a permit for living in Spain without carrying out employment or professional activities.

Maintaining an active professional activity while living in Spain may therefore mean that another immigration route should be considered.

This is also one of the issues that can create difficulties during an application. You can read more in our analysis of Non-Lucrative Visa refusals based on suspected remote work.

Non-Lucrative Residence or Digital Nomad Visa: a crucial difference

Spain currently has a specific residence route for certain foreign nationals who work remotely using IT and telecommunications systems for companies based outside Spain.

A British citizen who wants to move to Spain while continuing to work online should therefore not choose a residence permit simply because it is well known or because they believe they meet the financial requirements.

The better question is:

Which residence permit accurately reflects what I will actually be doing once I live in Spain?

In simplified terms:

The aim should not be to choose the permit that appears easiest.

The aim is to choose the permit that reflects the activity you will genuinely carry out while living in Spain.

If you intend to continue working remotely, you can also review our guide to the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain.

I want to retire in Spain: is the Non-Lucrative Residence the right option?

For many British citizens who want to retire in Spain, the Non-Lucrative Residence can be a particularly natural fit.

It allows a residence strategy to be based on a pension, savings or other financial resources without the need to carry out professional activities.

However, before making a decision, it is worth looking beyond the initial residence permit.

• Do you want to live permanently in Spain or divide your time between both countries?
• Do you expect to carry out any occasional work?
• Do you want to qualify for long-term residence in the future?
• Are you moving alone or with your partner?
• How will you demonstrate healthcare coverage?

The answers to these questions can significantly affect the right strategy.

The problem with living six months in Spain and six months in the UK

For many British citizens, one of the attractions of Spain is precisely the possibility of maintaining close ties with both countries.

Someone may imagine spending the winter in Spain and then returning to the UK for several months.

But if you choose the Non-Lucrative Residence, absences from Spain need to be planned carefully.

Since the current Immigration Regulations came into force, renewal requires applicants to have genuinely and effectively resided in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year.

This is particularly important because there is still a great deal of information online based on the previous rules.

For years, there was a different legal debate surrounding absences from Spain and the termination of certain temporary residence permits. However, the regulations currently in force expressly include the requirement to have resided effectively in Spain for more than 183 days in order to renew a Non-Lucrative Residence permit.

Anyone who intends to use Spain mainly as a seasonal residence should therefore consider this issue before applying, rather than waiting until the renewal stage.

Where does a British citizen apply?

The initial Non-Lucrative Residence application must be made from outside Spain.

For applicants residing in the United Kingdom, the application must be submitted in accordance with the procedure established by the competent Spanish consular office.

Before preparing the application, it is important to confirm which consulate has jurisdiction over your place of residence and to review its current instructions.

UK documents: do not leave everything until the last minute

Moving from the UK involves preparing documents that cannot always be obtained or used immediately.

Depending on the application, documentation may be required regarding:

• criminal records;
• financial circumstances;
• health insurance;
• civil status when applying as a family;
• medical certification;
• passport;
• and proof of residence within the relevant consular district.

Certain foreign documents may also need additional formalities before they can be accepted in Spain.

A common mistake is therefore to start collecting documents without first determining exactly what must be submitted, in which format and with what period of validity.

Obtaining certain certificates too early can also create problems if they expire before the application is filed.

Health insurance deserves more attention than it often receives

Health insurance is sometimes viewed as one of the easiest requirements to deal with.

That is not always the case.

The regulations require applicants to have health insurance, and the Consulate may check that the policy provides the level of coverage required for this type of residence permit.

Applicants should therefore not automatically purchase any international health policy or insurance product designed primarily for travel.

Before taking out a policy, it is important to verify that it is suitable for a Spanish residence application.

Can age or an existing medical condition prevent you from obtaining residence?

The application also involves a medical requirement, but this is often misunderstood.

The medical certificate is not a general health examination designed to determine whether someone is young enough or in perfect health to live in Spain.

Therefore, being older or having a chronic medical condition does not automatically exclude someone from obtaining Non-Lucrative Residence.

The important issue is to meet the health requirements established for the procedure and to prepare the corresponding documentation correctly.

Getting the visa is only the first step

One of the most common mistakes people make when planning a move to Spain is to build their entire strategy around obtaining the initial residence permit.

The question is usually:

“How do I get the visa?”

But for someone considering moving their life to another country, there are equally important questions:

• Will I be able to renew it?
• What happens if I want to return to work in two years?
• How much time can I spend outside Spain?
• What will I need to qualify for long-term residence?

The initial Non-Lucrative Residence permit is valid for one year. It can subsequently be renewed provided the relevant requirements continue to be met.

As a general rule, access to long-term residence requires five years of legal and continuous residence in Spain, subject to the applicable rules on absences.

A good immigration strategy should therefore not focus only on entering Spain.

It should also consider what happens during the years that follow.

Five mistakes to avoid before moving from the UK

1. Choosing the visa first and analysing your circumstances afterwards

The process should work the other way around.

First, determine how you intend to live in Spain, where your income comes from and whether you intend to continue working.

Then choose the appropriate residence permit.

2. Confusing high income with compatible income

Someone can earn a substantial amount of money through remote work and still have a compatibility problem with a residence permit intended for people who do not carry out professional activities.

It is not only about how much you earn. It is also about where that money comes from and what activity you intend to continue carrying out in Spain.

3. Thinking only about the first year

Obtaining the initial permit does not necessarily mean that the same strategy will remain suitable when renewal time comes.

Periods spent outside Spain and future changes in professional circumstances should be considered from the outset.

4. Relying on information published before the regulatory changes

Particularly in relation to the residence requirements for renewal, it is easy to find articles and videos based on the previous Immigration Regulations.

Always check when the information you are relying on was published.

5. Preparing the application without reviewing the UK documentation

Certificates, apostilles, translations, financial statements and health insurance policies can all create problems if they are not prepared in accordance with the requirements applicable to the application.

A review before filing can prevent an apparently simple requirement from delaying the entire process.

So, is the Non-Lucrative Residence worthwhile for a British citizen?

It depends primarily on how you intend to live in Spain.

For a retiree or financially independent person who wants to establish their residence here and does not need to work, it can be a very attractive option.

For someone who wants to continue working online for a British company, actively manage a business or spend a large part of the year outside Spain, the analysis is different.

The Non-Lucrative Residence should not be chosen simply because it is well known or appears straightforward.

It should be chosen when it genuinely fits the applicant’s intended lifestyle and circumstances.

Plan your move before submitting your application

Since Brexit, moving from the United Kingdom to Spain requires more planning than it once did.

You need to consider not only the residence permit itself, but also employment, financial resources, healthcare coverage, future renewals and how much time you genuinely intend to spend in Spain.

A properly prepared application begins before you start collecting documents.

It begins by defining what you want to do in Spain over the next few years and which residence permit allows you to do it legally.

If you are considering moving to Spain from the UK, the team at Sterna Abogados can review your personal and professional circumstances, determine which immigration route is the most appropriate and help you prepare the process from the outset.

Book a consultation with our immigration team before starting your move to Spain.