Spain Residency & Expat Guide
Your complete guide to living, investing and managing wealth in Spain as a British or American expat.
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Living in Spain
Spain remains one of the most popular destinations for British and American expats, offering an exceptional quality of life, warm climate and rich culture. With a well-established expat community and excellent infrastructure, it's an attractive option for retirees and working professionals alike.
Residency Options
Since Brexit, British nationals need to apply for residency to live in Spain long-term. Spain's Golden Visa programme was abolished on 3 April 2025, driven by concerns over housing affordability in cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Existing Golden Visa holders can renew their permits provided they maintain their original investment.
Current residency options for non-EU nationals include:
For retirees and financially independent individuals. Requires €28,800/year in passive income, no work permitted.
For remote workers earning approximately €34,200/year from non-Spanish sources
For business founders establishing a company in Spain
For skilled workers with a Spanish employment contract
British nationals without a long-stay visa are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period as tourists under standard Schengen rules.
The Beckham Law
Spain's Beckham Law (officially the Special Tax Regime for Inbound Workers) is one of the most attractive tax incentives for new arrivals. Following reforms under the 2023 Startup Law, the regime is available to employees, company directors, entrepreneurs and Digital Nomad Visa holders.
- Flat 24% tax rate on Spanish-source employment income up to €600,000 (income above this threshold is taxed at 47%)
- Foreign income exemption: most foreign-source dividends, interest and capital gains are exempt from Spanish taxation
- Wealth tax exemption on foreign assets during the six-year period
- No Modelo 720 reporting required for overseas assets
- Must not have been a Spanish tax resident for the 5 years prior to arrival (reduced from 10 years before the 2023 reforms)
- Must qualify through employment contract, company directorship, entrepreneurial activity or Digital Nomad Visa
- Application deadline: 6 months after registering with Spanish Social Security
- Duration: the year of arrival plus the following 5 tax years (6 years total)
For comparison, Spain's standard progressive IRPF system reaches 19% to 54% depending on income and region, making the Beckham Law significantly advantageous for higher earners. Self-employed freelancers (autónomos) generally do not qualify unless launching certified startups.
Tax System
Spain operates a progressive income tax system with rates ranging from 19% to 47% (up to 54% in some regions). As a tax resident (spending 183+ days per year), you're taxed on worldwide income under the standard IRPF system.
- Wealth tax (Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio): applies to net assets above regional thresholds; the 60% rule can help reduce the burden
- Modelo 720: mandatory declaration of overseas assets exceeding €50,000 (not required under the Beckham Law)
- Double taxation treaties with the UK and US help prevent being taxed twice on the same income
- Savings tax: 19% to 30% on investment income and capital gains (the top 30% rate applies to savings income above €300,000, effective from 1 January 2025)
Wealth Management
Managing investments as an expat in Spain requires careful structuring. Spanish-compliant investment bonds, such as those offered by Prudential International, can provide significant tax advantages compared to holding investments directly: tax deferral on growth, simplified annual reporting (only taxed on withdrawal), multi-currency flexibility and succession planning benefits.
UK ISAs and investment bonds lose their tax-advantaged status once you become a Spanish tax resident, making it essential to restructure before or shortly after your move.
Pensions & Retirement
UK expats should consider the implications for their State Pension, private pensions and SIPPs. Transferring to an international SIPP can offer currency flexibility, consolidated management and broader investment choice. US expats need to navigate the interaction between Social Security, 401(k)s, IRAs and Spanish tax obligations.
Healthcare & Insurance
Spain has an excellent public healthcare system, consistently ranked in the top 10 worldwide. Non-EU residents typically need private health insurance for their visa application. Once registered as a resident and contributing to Social Security, access to the public system is available. Private health insurance remains popular among expats for shorter waiting times and English-speaking practitioners.
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