Moving to Spain After Brexit: The Complete UK Citizen Checklist (2026)

You are now treated as a non-EU national

Since Brexit, UK citizens no longer have freedom of movement in the EU. To live in Spain for more than 90 days, you need a visa or residency permit just like a US or Canadian citizen would. The most common routes are the Non-Lucrative Visa (for those with passive income) and the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers).

The Green NIE certificate is no longer valid for UK citizens

If you registered in Spain before Brexit and hold an old Green Certificate, it does not confirm your current residency status. British citizens now need the TIE the biometric plastic residency card issued to non-EU nationals. Using an old Green Certificate for insurance, car registration, or banking can cause real problems. See our TIE module for the full process.

Private health insurance is mandatory

Before applying for any long-stay visa, you must hold a compliant private health insurance policy. It must be comprehensive, cover the whole of Spain, have no copayments, and have no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Standard travel insurance does not meet this requirement.

Your driving licence must be exchanged within 6 months

Once you've established legal residency in Spain, you have 6 months to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one. After that, you cannot legally drive on your UK licence as a resident, and your car insurance may be invalidated. The fine for driving on an unexchanged licence is up to €500. See our Driving Licence module for how the exchange works.

UK pensioners: the S1 form gives you public healthcare access

If you receive a UK State Pension, you may be entitled to an S1 form from the NHS. This transfers responsibility for your healthcare costs to the UK government and gives you access to Spain's public health system without needing to pay into the Spanish Seguridad Social or take out private insurance.

Already registered before December 31, 2020? The Withdrawal Agreement protects you

British citizens who were legally registered in Spain before the end of the Brexit transition period have protected rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. This includes the right to remain, work, and eventually apply for permanent residency without needing a visa. If this applies to you, your existing rights are preserved, but you should ensure your documentation is current.