How long can I stay in Spain if I own a property?

09/11/2021

Given its status as a highly exclusive and sought-after residential development – lived in and frequented by many members of the global elite – it almost goes without saying that people talking to estate agents in Sotogrande are often especially interested in the answer to one question.

That question is: if I buy a property here, will I automatically have the right to live in Spain right through the year?

The unfortunate answer is that if you are a national of another country, you will not necessarily have the automatic right to live and/or work in Spain all year round, even if you do own property here.

However, there are a few things to bear in mind to ensure your desires and requirements are met if you do have designs on living in Spain as the owner of Sotogrande property.

First of all… are you a national of a European Union (EU) member state?

The great news is that if you are an EU citizen, you are entitled to live, work, study and even retire in another member state of the EU, such as Spain. You will be permitted to stay in the other EU country for as long as three months without the need to register there, although you will need to hold a valid national identity card or passport.

If you are an EU citizen who wishes to reside in Spain for more than three months, this is also a possibility, subject to certain requirements – such as having sufficient resources for yourself and any accompanying family members to not become a burden on the country’s social assistance system.

But what if you are a national of a state that is not a member of the EU? Well, a good case study here would be the UK, which officially left the EU in 2020. According to rules that have been in place since 1 January 2021, Britons are allowed to spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area – which includes Spain – without the need for a visa.

If the above describes your status, but just 90 days in any 180-day period doesn’t sound like enough time to enjoy your property in Sotogrande, you will need to consider the options the Spanish government presents for staying for longer – and perhaps even all year round.

Possibilities for you here could include the longstanding Golden Visa if you invest €500,000 in Spanish property, as well as the Business visa and the Pensioner visa. Naturally, these visa routes have their respective requirements, so you will need to carefully consider which route may represent the best match to your circumstances and needs.

We make it easy to embark on your Sotogrande property search

Is there any website out there that brings together the listings of multiple leading estate agents in Sotogrande? The short answer to that question is: yes, this one!

Here at Property Sotogrande, we are very much Sotogrande’s property portal, and the go-to part of the web for those interested in discovering the latest houses, villas, apartments and plots for sale in this ever-in-demand area of Andalucia. So, you really don’t need to begin your search for your dream Sotogrande home anywhere else!