Britain has now left the EU, UK citizens in Spain must get used to the new rules about governing
travel and living in the country.
Brexit has brought changes in how
international travel and immigration work in Europe, and it is important
to know what's different.
What UK citizens must know before coming to Spain for travel, work or
to live, this article looks at what is different now that Britain is no longer
in the EU.
Tourism is Spain
One thing
that hasn´t changed since Brexit is the popularity of Spain for UK tourists.
The country is a favourite destination for British holidaymakers and over
18 million of them visit each year.
Tourism
is one of Spain’s most important industries and now that Britain is no longer going to be a European Union member, it enthusiastically welcomes tourists from
the country.
Some post-Brexit rules about travel do not affect tourism and short
stays in Spain. Therefore, it is expected that it will remain a popular
destination for tourists from the island nation.
Can UK
citizens live in Spain after Brexit?
Now that
Brexit has left the European Union, British citizens no longer hold the
automatic right to
reside in Spain. UK citizens in Spain will be able to remain for
a period of 3 months at a time, staying longer than this will require a visa.
To spend
more than 90 days in Spain in a period of 6 months Brits will need to acquire a
Spanish Schengen visa. You can obtain this from a Spanish
embassy or consulate in the UK.
Can UK
citizens work in Spain after Brexit?
One of
the biggest areas of change since Brexit is how British citizens can work in Spain. Whilst the UK was still a member of the European Union,
nationals had the right to work in the country visa-free.
Since the
end of the Brexit transition period in January 2021, British citizens have to hold
a valid Spanish work
visa to gain employment in the country. These must be obtained
before arriving in Spain from a national embassy or consulate.
Business
travel to Spain after Brexit
Some
business travel to Spain is slightly similar after Brexit to how it was before.
Although, there are some new rather important requirements that must be
followed.
Those
travelling to attend meetings in Spain and to stay in the country
under 90 days in any 180-day period can do so without any extra
paperwork. However, visitors will need a visa or work permit to enter for the
following reasons
- To transfer from a company’s UK branch to its
Spanish branch.
- To provide a freelance service in the country.
- To provide contractual services for an employer
with no Spanish or EU entity.
New rules for travel to
Spain after Brexit
Most
travellers will not notice many differences when travelling to Spain, but there
have been some changes. These are important to understand before coming to the
country either as a tourist or for other reasons.
What do I
need to travel to Spain after Brexit?
Whilst
Brexit has brought many changes to how Brits may travel around Europe, some things have not changed. You can still visit Spain without a
visa for short touristic trips.
What is
different is that British tourists must now only be in possession of a passport
that was issued no more than 10 years ago AND that has over 6 months
left before its expiry. Also, they may need to provide evidence of:
- Return or outbound flights
- Travel insurance