Chapter
Buying property in Spain as a British citizen
Quick answer
British citizens can still buy property in Spain. Since Brexit they are third-country nationals for stays and residence, so visits follow the short-stay limit, living in Spain needs a visa or permit, and Spanish non-resident tax applies to owners who live in the UK. A UK-Spain tax treaty covers double taxation.
Applies toUK citizens who are buying, or already own, a home in Spain and want to know what changed after Brexit.
On this page: 14 sections
§ 1The right to buy
British citizens can buy property in Spain. The purchase is a civil transaction, governed by the process in the buying-process section of this handbook: a NIE, an independent lawyer, the checks, the deed and registration. Brexit did not close that door. What changed is the status of British citizens for stays, residence and some special rules. This chapter takes the changes in turn.
§ 2Visits
British citizens are now third-country nationals for immigration purposes. The UK government’s travel advice states that they can travel without a visa to the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and that visits to other Schengen countries count. The same advice sets conditions on the passport: it must have been issued less than ten years before arrival and be valid for at least three months after the planned departure. The detail is in the 90/180 rule for British owners, and the wider position after Brexit is in buying after Brexit.
§ 3Living in Spain
Staying longer than the short-stay limit needs a visa or permit. The UK government says new residents must check which visa or residence permit they need, and that the UK embassy cannot help with Spanish visa or residency applications. People who moved before 1 January 2021 have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, with the TIE as the document. See residency after Brexit.
§ 4Buying while living in the UK
A British buyer who lives in the UK is a non-resident for Spanish tax. The taxes and filings are explained in the costs section of this handbook. Buying as a UK resident sets out what a UK-based buyer should plan for.
§ 5Tax treaty
The UK government says the UK has a double taxation agreement with Spain. The UK-Spain tax treaty explains what that does, what it does not do and what UK residents should check.
§ 6Restricted zones
Nationals of EU member states are outside the military-zone restrictions that apply to some areas of Spain. British citizens are no longer EU nationals, so they should check whether the property lies in a restricted zone, as the chapter for non-EU buyers explains.
§ 7Practical steps
Decide whether you intend to visit, live part of the year or move. Check the passport rules. Plan your days. Appoint an independent lawyer. Budget for the non-resident taxes. Keep copies of all documents.
§ 8Sources and dates
This chapter draws on UK government pages and on Spanish official sources. Each page lists its sources with the date we checked them.
§ 9Keeping the file
Keep one folder with the deed, the Spanish returns, the receipts, the exchange rates and a log of your days. Your advisers in both countries will ask for the same documents each year, and they are also the proof of cost if you sell.
§ 10Reviewing as plans change
Revisit the position when your family, your income or your plans for time in Spain change. A new residence, a sale or a death can alter the tax and the legal steps, and early advice costs less than a correction.
§ 11Where to check
Official pages change, so confirm the point that matters to you on the source before you act, and keep a dated copy of what you read. Where a page here says we did not read a text, ask your adviser to read it for you.
§ 12Bringing it together
Read the points above in order: the right to buy, the limits on time, the tax position and the steps for residence. Then write down what you want from the home, how many weeks a year you will use it, and which advisers you still need. That short note makes the first meeting with a lawyer far more useful.
§ 13Back to the section
Buying by nationality explains how buying differs by nationality.
§ 14Other chapters in this section
The chapter for American buyers explains buying as a US citizen, including US reporting and the chapter for Canadian buyers explains buying as a Canadian.
The chapter for Australian buyers explains buying as an Australian and the chapter on EU and EEA buyers explains buying as an EU or EEA citizen.
The chapter on non-EU buyers explains the rules that differ for non-EU buyers.
FAQRelated questions
Can British citizens still buy property in Spain?
Yes. Buying is a civil transaction, open to foreigners, and Brexit did not change that. What changed is the right to stay and the treatment of UK nationals as non-EU for immigration and some rules on restricted zones.
How long can I stay in my Spanish home?
Without a visa, only short visits are possible, counted over a rolling window across the whole zone. A longer presence calls for a visa or permit. UK travel advice sets out the rule and the passport conditions.
Will I be taxed twice?
The two countries signed a treaty meant to prevent that, though it only allocates rights and gives relief. The result for you turns on where you live and the type of income, so put the facts to an adviser.
Sources
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Ley 8/1975 de zonas e instalaciones de interés para la Defensa Nacional (official source, opens in a new window), Disposición adicional (nationals of EU member states)Last checked 17 October 2026
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Spain travel advice: entry requirements (official source, opens in a new window), Short stays, passport rules, staying longerLast checked 17 October 2026
- UK Government: Living in Spain (official source, opens in a new window), Residence documents, visas, tax and declaring assetsLast checked 17 October 2026
Legal note. How the process works in general. It is not legal advice, and it never replaces an independent Spanish lawyer acting for you.