Planning Your Move to Spain

If you spend any time in UK-to-Spain forums, you’ll have seen the same point come up again and again: when planning your move to Spain the timeline matters, especially if you’re selling your UK main home.

Many people aim to complete the sale before they become Spanish tax resident*, because once you’re resident in Spain, the tax treatment of a property sale can change.

That principle is widely discussed. What’s less talked about is the practical reality: property sales don’t run to neat dates, and visa timelines aren’t perfectly predictable. If you don’t plan the sequence properly, it’s easy to end up with a timeline that feels “fine on paper” but becomes stressful (or expensive) in real life.

Spain’s recent healthcare decree concerning access to the public healthcare system has attracted considerable attention in expatriate forums, social media groups and among British and other non-EU foreigners already resident and those planning to move to Spain

The law in question — Royal Decree 3/2026, published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) — has led some to conclude that Spain has introduced a new route for Brits and other non-EU foreigners to access public healthcare.  That interpretation is mistaken.

The decree does not change the position for the vast majority of foreigners living in Spain, including those who hold legal residence or are applying to. Rather, it addresses a very specific situation: access to healthcare for people living in Spain who DO NOT have legal residence status.  Some might refer to these as illegal immigrants.

There are many great reasons to retire from the UK to Spain and statistics suggest that many know this.  In recent years there has been a noticeable increase in the number of British nationals choosing to leave the UK and start a new life abroad. Migration data suggests that close to one million British citizens moved overseas in the three years to the end of 2024, and more than 250,000 leaving in the most recent year alone.

For many retirees, the reasons are easy to understand. The appeal of a better lifestyle, rising living costs in the UK, and ongoing debate around tax, fiscal policy and politics are all prompting people to reconsider where they want to spend the next stage of life. For some, these factors simply encourage them to bring forward retirement plans they were already considering — and Spain continues to be one of the most attractive destinations.

If you’re retired (or close to it), you’ve earned the right to design your next chapter intentionally. For many people, Spain isn’t just a “nice idea” — it’s a practical, lifestyle-upgrading move that can make day-to-day life simpler, healthier, and more enjoyable.

Given that Spain is both the most popular holiday destination for Brits and the number one place in Europe for UK citizens choosing to relocate, it’s hardly surprising that many of those leaving the UK ultimately end up here.  Below are 10 genuinely strong, great reasons to retire from the UK to Spain — especially the coastal stretch from Valencia down through Andalucía to Cádiz.

1. What is Modelo 720?

Modelo 720 is a mandatory tax form in Spain for tax residents to declare assets held outside Spain if they are above a certain value.

2. Who is required to file Modelo 720?

Any individual or entity that is a tax resident in Spain and holds assets abroad exceeding the reporting limits must file this declaration.  When you move to Spain, you complete it the year after you become tax resident.

3. What are the declaration thresholds?

The Modelo 720 must be filed if the total value of assest in three categories exceeds €50,000. If previously declared, updates are required only if the value has increased or decreased by more than €20,000.

After moving to Spain your first tax declarations are due the year after you become tax resident in Spain.  The tax year in Spain runs with the calendar year, 1st January to 31st December and the basic rule is that you become tax resident when you’ve spent 183 days in the year in Spain.

Your tax obligations arise for the fiscal year in which you become resident in Spain, not from the date you got your residency.

Here we provide a useful summary and information of the first tax declarations for anyone who doing their Tax in Spain for the first time.

British citizens / UK nationals now have to follow the same process as other non-EU national citizens of third countries to get Spanish residency, i.e. there is a requirement to first obtain a visa.

The financial means required for a British Citizen / UK national to obtain a residency visa, is a lot higher than it was when the UK was in the EU.  A single applicant needs to have around €30k per year in either income or savings, whereas a citizen of an EU country €7k p/a income is sufficient.

British nationals also have to obtain a police criminal report to prove they have no criminal record, get official supporting documents legalised, and obtain medical certificates to show they are free from any infectious diseases.

The way your banking and finances are set up can have a significant impact on your Non-Lucrative residency renewal.

Since Spain’s recent immigration rule updates, one change in particular is catching out more and more Non-Lucrative residency holders who moved from the UK — and it’s one that could have serious consequences if ignored.

The Problem: Foreign Financial Documents Under Scrutiny

Under the updated regulations, proof of financial means from foreign banks — which includes UK banks and financial institutions — must now meet far stricter standards.

Immigration offices across Spain are increasingly asking for:

The day the UK left the EU changing the requirements and costs for British nationals to get residency in Spain is becoming a fading memory.  For many British nationals the Non-Lucrative Visa is the route to Spanish residency.

We initially published this article early in 2021 not long after Brexit, when this was the ‘new norm’ for Brits.  Now with it very much the ‘norm’, for British nationals, we revisit the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa costs and requirements, and highlight the most recent changes.

We cover the general requirements in our article Spanish Residency Requirements for British Citizens and UK Nationals.

Here we drill down further into what th Spanish residency requirements for British nationals and the costs in real terms.

Spanish Residency Requirements for British Nationals as Citizens of Third Countries

If you’re planning on making a permanent move from the UK to Spain, one practical (and often emotional) decision is whether to bring your UK car with you. While some assume it’s easier to sell their vehicle and buy a Spanish car on arrival, the reality is that in many cases, bringing your UK car when moving from the UK to Spain can save you money, offer better value, and simplify your move.

Here we cover the pros and cons of bringing your UK car when relocating to Spain, outlining when it’s financially worthwhile, and highlighting situations where it may not be the best option.

When and Why Bringing Your UK Car to Spain Is Often Worth It

Getting your tax right when moving from the UK to Spain requires an understanding of all the things that need to be done and when to do them.  Here we provide information about all the things you may need to do or consider to make sure you get your tax right both on the UK side as a leaver and on the Spanish side becoming tax resident in Spain.

Things you may need to do to get Your Tax Right Before Moving from the UK to Spain