Moving to the Costa del Sol from the UK or US after Brexit (2026)
Since Brexit, Brits need a visa to live in Spain — exactly like Americans. The two routes most families choose, how healthcare works, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.
Short answer: since Brexit, Brits are non-EU nationals and need a visa to live in Spain — exactly like Americans. Most families pick the Non-Lucrative Visa (if they don't need to work) or the Digital Nomad Visa (if they work remotely). Healthcare starts with private insurance, with access to Spain's public system once you contribute or pay in.
British and American families are among the largest groups relocating to Marbella, Estepona and Alhaurín el Grande. The weather and the schools sell themselves; the paperwork is where people get stuck. Here's the honest version of how it works in 2026.
After Brexit, Brits apply like everyone else
Before 2021, a Brit could move to Spain with little more than a passport. That's over. UK nationals lost free movement and now apply on exactly the same footing as US citizens. You can still visit visa-free under the 90/180-day rule — but to live here you need a residence visa chosen before you come.
The two routes most families choose
- Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) — for retirees, pensioners and the self-funded who won't work in Spain. In 2026 you show €28,800/year of passive income or savings, plus €7,200 per dependent, and full private health cover. It's the classic route for British and American retirees in Mijas, Benalmádena and Vélez-Málaga.
- Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) — for those who keep working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain (around €2,850/month in 2026). It also opens the door to the Beckham Law's flat 24% tax rate, which matters a lot for higher earners.
The rule of thumb: if you'll keep earning, the NLV is not for you — its holders cannot work, even remotely. That's the single most common mistake we untangle.
Bringing the family
Both routes let you bring your spouse and children through family provisions, applying together so everyone's status moves in step. Get the documents right at the start — apostilled and sworn-translated marriage and birth certificates — and the family file runs smoothly. Get them wrong and you collect requirements and lose months.
Healthcare: private first, public later
Every visa applicant needs comprehensive private health insurance with no co-payments and full Spanish cover — consulates reject thin policies. Once you're a legal resident working and paying social security, or paying into the convenio especial scheme, you gain access to Spain's (genuinely excellent) public health system. Plenty of expats in Torremolinos and Sotogrande keep a private policy anyway, for speed and English-speaking clinics.
The long game: residence and citizenship
- After five years of legal residence, you can apply for permanent residence.
- Spanish citizenship by residence comes, as a rule, after ten years. (The famous two-year fast track is for nationals of Ibero-American countries and a few others — it doesn't cover the UK or US, but it's worth knowing if your family has mixed nationalities.)
What you'll need
- A valid visa route (Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad, or work/family)
- Private health insurance approved for residency
- Proof of income or savings appropriate to the chosen visa
- NIE, TIE and town-hall registration (padrón)
- Apostilled and sworn-translated UK/US documents
The bottom line
Brexit made the move more bureaucratic, not impossible — and the path is well-trodden. The two decisions that matter most are which visa fits your life (working or not) and getting the documents legalised correctly the first time. Both are easy to get right with a plan and expensive to get wrong without one.
If you're mapping a move from the UK or US, our relocation service joins up the visa, the insurance, the translations and the tax registration into one plan; our FAQ answers the questions we hear most; and our complete 2026 guide to moving to the Costa del Sol covers the whole journey end to end. When you're ready, tell us your plan.
P.S. — yes, you can still pop back to the UK as often as you like once you're resident. Residency is about where you live, not a ban on Gatwick.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa to live in Spain after Brexit?
Yes. Since Brexit, UK nationals are treated as non-EU citizens and need a residence visa to live in Spain — the same rules that apply to Americans. The 90/180-day rule still lets you visit visa-free, but living here long-term requires a visa, most often the Non-Lucrative or Digital Nomad Visa.
How does healthcare work for British and American expats in Spain?
Every visa applicant needs comprehensive private health insurance with no co-payments. Once you are a legal resident working and paying social security — or through the convenio especial pay-in scheme — you can access Spain's public health system. Many expats keep private cover for speed and English-speaking clinics even after gaining public access.
How long until I can get permanent residence or Spanish citizenship?
After five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence. Spanish citizenship by residence is generally available after ten years — but just two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries (and some others), which does not include the UK or US.
This article is general information updated for 2026 and is not individual legal or tax advice. Immigration rules and income thresholds change; figures should be confirmed for your specific case.
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