Visiting Spain as a non-British Citizen

UK residents who do not have a British passport may need a visa to travel into Spain.

Visiting Spain as a non-British Citizen is easy. If you want to move to Spain, it is likely that you will want to travel there prior to making any concrete plans, in order for you to look around an area or house you are interested in living in.

Doing so is simple if you are a UK citizen, as you are not required to get a Spanish visa if you do not intend on staying in Spain for more than 90 days. However, it is slightly more complicated for people who currently live in the UK but are not British citizens.ย 

Many UK residents who do not hold a UK passport will be required to get a Schengen visa to travel to Spain. The list of countries the nationals of which are required to get a visa to travel to EU countries changes regularly. Click here to see the list of nationalities that are required to get a Schengen Visa.

Please note that if you are not a UK citizen, before you apply for a Schengen visa for Spain, you should check that your UK residence rights must extend at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave Spain. If this is not the case, then you will struggle to re-enter the UK.

From November 2023, all travellers from outside the EU will need to get authorisation from the EUโ€™s new security system, known as ETIAS. This will affect all travellers, including British nationals. Read more about the ETIAS here

How to apply for a Schengen visa 

You should apply for a visa at the Spanish Embassy/Consulate or Spanish visa application centre in the UK if Spain is the only Schengen country you plan on visiting, or if it is your main destination.

The documents you need to apply for the visa include:

  • A valid passport
  • Your UK residence permit
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Travel insurance 

You may also be required to provide a letter from your employer in the UK and bank statements that detail the last six months. The maximum time you can stay in the EU with a Schengen Visa is 90 days in any 180 period. 

How we can help

Many people who are planning on visiting Spain as a non-British citizen often arrange for their British partner or family member to go on their behalf, but if you want to join them in looking at a property in Spain, we can talk you through the process of getting a visa.

You can book a free 10-minute assessment with a member of our team, which will allow you to discuss what you want doing, and it will allow our team to see how they can help you. Following this, we can start making the next steps towards getting you to Spain.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you.

Contact us to speak to one of our friendly consultants

We are experts in Spanish emigration. We understand how the system works and guide our clients through the entire process.

Whether you are simply researching your options or ready to apply, we are here to help.

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