Now that the UK has left the European Union, British citizens do not hold the automatic right to reside in Spain. UK citizens may remain for a three-month period, but a visa is required for longer stays. To reside more than 90 days in Spain during a period of six-months, British citizens will need to acquire a Spanish Schengen visa. This can be obtained from either a consulate in the UK or the Spanish embassy.
Work visa
One of the most substantial change in the law since Brexit is how British citizens may work in Spain. When the UK was still a member of the European Union, nationals had the right to work in the country without a visa. However, that right is no longer operative.
Since January 2021, which marked the end of the Brexit transition period, UK citizens are required to possess a valid Spanish work visa in order to be gainfully employed in Spain. It is obligatory to obtain such a visa from a national embassy or consulate before arrival in Spain.
ETIAS travel authorization
Currently, the majority of British citizens will not need a visa to travel to Spain. The country still permits access to British visitors without a visa for up to 3 months for tourism and business purposes.
However, British citizens will soon need a visa waiver to enter Spain. The new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorization launches in 2022 and is obligatory for all third country nationals such as Americans, Canadians and Brits.
UK travellers can stay in Spain and the Schengen Area for up to 3 months as before but will need to hold a valid ETIAS visa waiver before arriving. This is to guarantee that the borders of the Schengen Area remain safe and that all non-EU-citizen travellers arriving in this multi-national zone are screened before arrival.
At Marti and Associats, we can provide you with assistance regarding work visas and ETIAS travel authorisations.
