How to stay in Spain for more than 90 days - An overview of residency visas!

 

The United Kingdom will no longer be a member of the Union after 47 years. After both Westminster and the European Parliament adopted the Withdrawal Agreement, the United Kingdom officially departed the Union on January 31, 2020. propertyfinder qatar

As most UK citizens are already aware, you are not allowed to stay in Spain for more than 90 days in a row after Brexit. The 90/180-day rule is the name for this annoying restriction. It should be remembered that you can stay up to 90 days in each rolling six-month period inside a calendar year. In plain English, you have the option of staying for up to 90 days in each calendar year (without visa). A visa is only required if you plan to stay in Spain for more than 90 days.

We've spent the last five months methodically publishing extensive in-depth articles explaining the various legal ways to get around the 90/180-day restriction. In today's essay, we'll take a quick look at the four most common legal choices. Please note that the purpose of this page is not to go into every nook and cranny, but rather to lightly skim the surface and compile all of the numerous legal choices available to UK nationals, acting as a repository. If a reader wishes to learn more, we recommend that they use the links provided below (just click on them) or contact us directly; one of our friendly staff members will be happy to speak with you.

To be completely transparent, there are more visas you can apply for besides the four stated, but we have purposefully chosen to eliminate them (student visas, work visas, etc.) because the majority of our clients never require them.

The four visas described below allow successful candidates and their dependents to stay in Spain for more than 90 days in a calendar year; additionally, you may stay all year if you like. It also provides its visa holders with unrestricted entry to the Schengen Area (26 European countries). In essence, you will be regarded equally to a Spanish national when entering and exiting the country, without the annoying border and customs hassles that irritate us so much.

In terms of taxation, none of them will immediately make you a tax resident of Spain upon completion. However, if you spend more than 183 days in Spain every year, you will be considered a tax resident. When applying for a visa renewal, you must show proof of long-term resident in Spain, which may trigger tax residence.

The following requirements apply to all of the visas listed below:

Non-EU citizen.

Hire a private health care provider.

No criminal history (previous 5 years)

Be self-sufficient (you will not claim benefits.

You must not be in Spain illegally at the time you submit your application.

1. Golden Visa for Investors

The investor visa is intended for high-net-worth individuals. It's also known as a 'Golden Visa.' It's a blue-ribbon visa that effectively throws the red carpet in front of its privileged holders and cuts through all the red tape. Its goal is to encourage international investment into Spain. While there are a variety of ways to obtain a GV, the most popular (and least cost) is through real estate investment in Spain. This will necessitate a property investment of €500,000. It is important to note that it is retroactive, meaning that any UK national (or other non-EU citizen) who purchased a house in Spain for more over 500k on or after September 28, 2013 may be eligible. Renewals do not require proof of year-round residence in Spain, unlike the other three visas listed below. They are predicated on the preservation of the investment. The opportunity to circumvent the 90/180-day restriction and avoid being "forced" to live in Spain distinguishes it and explains why it is so sought after.

Appropriate for:

Property purchasers with a high net worth

Developers and investors

High-flying individuals

Additional reading:

Spain's Golden Visa Law: An Investor's Guide - November 8, 2013

After Brexit, British investors can apply for a Golden Visa in Spain.

The Spanish Golden Visa is retroactive for British citizens!

2. Marriage visa - Reunification of EU Families

It's for families or couples who have been separated, both inside and outside the EU. It aims to bring them together as soon as possible within the EU. Although this sort of visa is sometimes referred to as a "marriage visa," it is more appropriately referred to as a "family visa" because its scope extends much beyond a married pair. It should be interpreted in a larger sense, as in a family reunion. Couples must be married, as the name implies (including same-sex partners).

Appropriate for:

Family members that have been separated and want to rejoin within the EU

couples who are married

Further reading: Reuniting the European Union's Families (marriage visa)