· 13 min read
Moving from UK to Spain: The Complete Post-Brexit Expat Guide
By Language Lab editorial team
Moving from the UK to Spain post-Brexit? Visa options, NIE number, empadronamiento, healthcare, and what Spanish you actually need.
Visa options for British expats moving to Spain
Since Brexit, British citizens can no longer use EU freedom of movement to live in Spain indefinitely. The most popular visa for British nationals is the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), which allows residency in Spain without the right to work, requiring proof of passive income (approximately €2,400/month for a single person in 2025). For those who want to work, Spain introduced the Digital Nomad Visa (Visado para nómadas digitales) in 2023, allowing remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies to live in Spain legally. The Beckham Law — a special tax regime — can reduce Spanish income tax to a flat 24% for the first five years for qualifying individuals. Applications for Spanish residency (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — TIE card) are processed at the Oficina de Extranjería or police stations designated for foreigner services. The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is required for almost all official transactions in Spain and should be the first administrative step for any British expat.
| Visa/Status | Who it's for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative Visa | Retirees, passive income holders | €2,400+/month passive income |
| Digital Nomad Visa | Remote workers for non-Spanish employers | Proof of remote employment, €2,646+/month |
| Work Visa | Spain-employed workers | Job offer from Spanish employer |
| Student Visa | Students at Spanish institutions | Enrolment confirmation |
The essential Spanish bureaucracy sequence
The administrative sequence for British expats in Spain: (1) Obtain your NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) — this tax identification number is required before opening a bank account, signing a lease, or registering with any Spanish authority. Apply at the Oficina de Extranjería or designated police station; some consulates also process NIE applications. (2) Complete empadronamiento — register at the Padrón Municipal at your local Ayuntamiento (town hall) with your address and NIE. The Certificado de Empadronamiento is required for most subsequent steps. (3) Register with Spanish healthcare: EU or Spanish private health insurance is required for most visa applications, and registration with a local Centro de Salud (health centre) is the first step for accessing the public healthcare system. (4) Open a Spanish bank account — requires NIE and empadronamiento. Language Lab's Spanish for Expats phrasebook covers NIE appointment language, empadronamiento registration, and the Spanish needed for each of these bureaucratic encounters at the level of detail that conversational Spanish courses don't reach.
Frequently asked
Can I use English for everything in Spain as a British expat?
In the main expat centres — Málaga, Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid international areas — English is widely spoken. In smaller towns and villages popular with expats (much of the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, and interior Andalusia), Spanish is essential for daily life, medical appointments, and all government interactions. Long-term expats in Spain consistently report that Spanish proficiency is the single largest determinant of quality of life and social integration.
What is the Padrón Municipal and why is it important?
The Padrón Municipal is the official register of residents in a Spanish municipality. Empadronamiento (registering at the Padrón) proves you live at your stated address and is required for accessing public healthcare, enrolling children in school, applying for residency documents, and dozens of other administrative processes. It is not the same as legal residency — you can register at the Padrón as a tourist on a short stay — but it is a prerequisite for most long-term residency procedures.
