The Brexit transition period ended at midnight on 31 December 2020, meaning the way people live, work and travel to Spain has changed.
The UK government has chosen to end freedom of movement for people from the EU and therefore its own citizens as a result, meaning the rules for travelling to Spain are different.
These changes will impact certain things such as passport validity, border checks, EHIC cards and of course entry requirements.
You can spend up to 90 days in Spain within any 180-day period without needing a visa. This may limit the time you can spend in your Spanish property, but your property rights will not change.
To stay longer, to work or study, for business or other reasons, you will need to meet the Spanish government's entry requirements. Check with the Spanish Embassy in the UK for what type of visa and/or work permit you may need. If you then stay in Spain with a visa or permit, this does not count towards the 90-day visa-free limit.
Any time you spent in Spain before 1 January 2021 does not count towards your 90-day limit either.
UK citizens who own and let property in Spain will no longer be able to claim expenses if they are non-residents. They will also be subject to an increase in rental income tax which is 24% for Non-EU citizens.
From January 1st British travellers may need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing upon arrival at the Spanish border.
As Spain receives large numbers of Brits, it may make exceptions and allow UK travellers to join the EU queue. However, by law border officials are required to ask non-EU travellers extra questions, so you may be asked a few extra questions on arrival.
Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit to Spain and you may be asked to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay.
To help your trips to Spain run as smoothly as possible, check if you need to renew your passport before travelling. On the day you travel, you'll need your passport to:
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.
This requirement "does not apply if you are entering or transiting" your EU country of residence. So Brits returning to their homes in Spain in the New Year should be able to enter if they have less than six months validity on their passport.
This applies to the whole of Spain, including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera).
Your EHIC from the UK will no longer be valid in Spain from 1 January 2021. If you're planning on visiting Spain and want to be covered for emergency healthcare while there, you'll need to apply for the Spanish equivalent, called the Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea or TSE card. Perez Legal Group can help to organise the best health cover for you.
Brits in Spain will need to pass a Spanish driving test unless they started the process to exchange their British licence for a Spanish one before the end of the transition period. They will then have 6 months to complete the exchange process.
If you're feeling in need of some guidance, Perez Legal Group is here to help you navigate the system. Contact us today to speak to our relocation experts.
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