Getting to grips with the various visa and residency requirements is key for anyone from abroad looking to buy property in Spain. This holds particularly true for British buyers who, post-Brexit, have moved from enjoying the benefits of EU free movement to facing the stricter rules applied to non-EU citizens.

Lately, there have been instances where British individuals have bought homes or even businesses in Spain, only to discover later that they don't qualify for permanent residency or the right to work there. It's a common mistake to think that moving to Spain is easy, seeing so many British expats living there, especially along the Spanish coast. However, it's important to note that most British residents in Spain secured their residency status before the UK's departure from the EU, allowing them to gain settled status similar to that of EU citizens living in the UK.

For British buyers now, moving to Spain to work or start a business isn't as straightforward as it once was.

There are many misconceptions about the rights of British Citizens to live in Spain post Brexit and it is important to remember that conversations in bars and on social media are full of misinformation. Well meaning misinformation, but misinformation all the same. For me the simplest way to explain the changes is to look at them from the perspective of the Spanish authorities. From Spain’s perspective the law has not changed. Broadly speaking there have always been two sets of rules; one for Citizens of EU Member states (EU Citizens) and one for Citizens of Non EU Countries. 

When the UK left the EU, the Spanish Authorities, bound by the overriding visa rules of the Schengen area, started applying the rules that had always applied to non-EU Citizens to British Citizens. For brevity, and in an attempt to tiptoe around a political minefield, throughout this book I will simply refer to EU and Non-EU Citizens where different rules and procedures apply.

Buying property in Spain is open to everyone, no matter where in the world you're from. Although non-EU citizens might face different ongoing tax rates (any differences will be highlighted as we go on), the initial purchase costs and taxes are the same for everyone.

However, the visa requirements to live in Spain vary based on your nationality, financial situation, and whether you plan to work or start a business there. Let's go through these options one by one.