Does buying a property in Spain entitle you to stay longer in the country after Brexit? This is a typical question being asked since we left the European Union and the answer is – it depends.
Since the beginning of 2021, anyone from the UK who hadn’t already obtained Spanish residency - or a visa - can only stay in Spain for 90 days in every 180, whether they own a property or not. In some other countries, ownership of a property of any value automatically gives you the right to residency, but this is not the case in Spain.
How many days can you stay in Spain if you have a holiday home?
If you own a holiday home in Spain you can spend 90 days there in the summer – should you wish – and then another 90 days there over the winter, as long as you return to the UK in between and don’t roll the two 90-day stays together. Bear in mind that the 90-day limit includes the whole Schengen area, and time spent travelling through it, if you drive through France to reach Spain.
Read more
- Top tips for applying for a Non-Lucrative Spanish Visa
- Free guide to Buying in Spain
- Is it cheaper for me to live abroad?
Are the number of days you spend in Spain counted?
Are these days counted? Apparently so, and by the end of 2022 a new ‘smart border’ centralised system in the EU will register the entry/exit of all third-country nationals each time they cross a border.
If you’d like to spend more than 90 days in one go in Spain you can apply for a visa – the Non-Lucrative Visa is available for those with sufficient financial means to support themselves whether they own a property or decide to rent one. If you buy a property in Spain for at least €500,000 you can apply for a Golden Visa that entitles you to residency because you have invested a reasonable sum of money in the country.
There are also other types of visa – for work, study and self-employment – that will also permit you to stay more than 90 days at a time.
