Can I still go and live in Sotogrande after Brexit?

If you are drawn to the houses, apartments and villas for sale in Sotogrande due to a wish to move to and live in this gloriously sun-drenched part of the Costa del Sol, it is important to be fully abreast of the legalities and practicalities involved in doing so.

Unsurprisingly, we receive a lot of enquiries here at Property Sotogrande about what requirements people from the UK must meet these days if they wish to go and live in Spain in the wake of Brexit.

While it is still possible for Britons to reside in Sotogrande or elsewhere in Spain following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU), the exact conditions for this have changed – so, let’s take a closer look at them.

The background of UK residents’ right to live in Spain

While the UK was a member state of the EU, and continuing until the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, Brits were entitled to live, work and move freely within the EU, without any time limits or even any need to obtain a visa.

Those rights are no longer in place now that the transition period is over, which means a British citizen wishing to move to Spain can now generally expect to be treated the same as any other non-EU overseas national.

So, while it continues to be possible for Brits to make short visits to Spain without the need for a visa – for up to 90 days in any 180-day period – they won’t be able to stay for longer than this unless they have a visa.

There are various options here for those who are serious about spending most of their time in Spain as the owner or renter of Sotogrande property, including the likes of the non-lucrative visa, golden visa, entrepreneur visa, and student or work visa.

Are you looking to become a resident of Spain this year or beyond?

With those Britons who wish to stay in Spain for longer than three months each year being required to legally register as residents, it is crucial that they familiarise themselves with the exact criteria applicable to them if they wish to make such a move.

The requirements you will need to fulfil as a would-be mover to Spain will hinge on such factors as your age and employment status. At the very least, you will be required to show that you have a clean criminal record and appropriate health cover.

In addition, you may need to demonstrate that you will be able to financially support yourself and any dependants during your time in Spain, or to provide proof of income via a Spanish job contract.

Begin your search today for the most attractive homes and villas for sale in Sotogrande

The great news is that once you have satisfied the criteria for living and working in Spain, you can expect life in this part of the world to be much the same as it would have been if Brexit had never happened. That will include saving the same rights as other residents of Spain, and paying the same tax.

Furthermore, it’s a straightforward process to begin browsing the extensive range of houses, apartments and villas for sale in Sotogrande right now, via our convenient online property portal.

Please also note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of all of the above information by the time you read this. So, for further details about the legal aspects of moving to and living in Spain, we would always urge you to consult specialised sources, such as the GOV.UK website.