UK Residents: How to Apply for a Spain Visa from UK Post-Brexit
Disclaimer: Our offer does not apply to UK residents. This guide covers the Spain visa from UK process and Schengen rules for informational purposes only.
Updated on: 11/09/2026
Since Brexit, UK residents planning a trip to Spain face a new set of rules. Whether you need a spain visa from UK depends on your nationality, the purpose of your visit, and the length of your stay. For short trips of fewer than 90 days, most UK passport holders benefit from visa-free access to the Schengen area, which includes Spain. However, UK residents who are nationals of countries without a visa-free agreement with the EU must apply for a Schengen visa before travelling. For longer stays, whether for work, study, or residence, a different type of visa is required regardless of nationality. Find out more down below!
🇪🇸 Spain visa from UK: what to remember
Here are the key rules UK residents need to know before travelling to Spain.
- Most UK passport holders do not need a Spain visa from UK for stays under 90 days in the Schengen area.
- UK residents without a visa-free arrangement with the EU must apply for a Schengen visa to enter Spain.
- Schengen short-stay visas allow up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
- Applications must be submitted no more than six months and no fewer than 15 days before travel.
- Long-stay visas and residency permits are required for UK nationals planning to work, study, or live in Spain.
Contents
- Will I need a visa to travel to Spain from the U.K.?
- How will I apply for ETIAS ?
- Longer stay visas
- If I need a Spanish visa, how do I apply from the U.K?
- What documents do I need to apply for a short-stay Spain visa from the U.K.?
- Long-stay visas
- Where do I apply for a Spain visa in the U.K?
- Frequently asked questions about the Spain visa from UK
- Related topics on the Schengen visa for U.K nationals
Will I need a visa to travel to Spain from the U.K.?
A spain visa from UK is not required for stays of fewer than 90 days in Spain, as a visa-free travel arrangement between the EU and the UK covers short visits across the Schengen area.
This visa-free arrangement covers short-stay visits across the Schengen area, including Spain, meaning no Spain visa from UK is required for stays under 90 days. The EU plans to introduce the ETIAS system, which will apply to travellers visiting the Schengen area without a visa, including those travelling from the UK to Spain. Before then you will just need your passport.
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How will I apply for ETIAS ?
UK residents who are not exempt from a Schengen visa must fill out an ETIAS application form online; those who do need a Spain visa from UK follow a separate application process through BLS International.
The only document you will need is your valid biometric passport. Once approved, it will be valid for trips for three years or until the end of the validity of the passport registered during the application, whichever comes first.
UK residents who are nationals of a country without a visa-free arrangement with the EU will need to apply for a Spain visa from UK - a Schengen visa - in order to travel to Spain.
Longer stay visas
For longer stays to work, study, or live in Spain, British citizens must apply for a Spain visa from UK suited to their situation, along with the relevant residency permits. Brexit ended freedom of movement between the UK and the EU, making these steps mandatory for all British nationals wishing to settle or work in Spain.
If I need a Spanish visa, how do I apply from the U.K?
To apply for a Spain visa from UK, you must first determine which Schengen visa type suits your purpose, the length of your stay, and your planned frequency of travel.
The Spain visa from UK for short Schengen stays allows trips of up to 90 days for tourism, work, study, or family purposes. Multiple-entry visas are also available if you plan on traveling regularly in and out of the Schengen Area.
You must submit your Spain visa from UK application no more than six months, and no fewer than 15 days, before you travel to Spain, paying a fee of €90 for adults or €45 for those aged 6 to 12 years old. The fee is waived for those under that age. Then you must obtain all the documents you need for your application, and attend an interview at a visa application center.
What documents do I need to apply for a short-stay Spain visa from the U.K.?
To apply for a Spain visa from UK on a short-stay Schengen basis, you will need a valid passport, two recent passport-style photos, travel and medical insurance covering at least €30,000, a cover letter, a flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, and financial proof of subsistence.
You will need two recently taken passport-style photos, your passport, or other travel documents that are less than 10 years old and valid for at least three months after your departure date from the Schengen Area. - or the Schengen Area if visiting Spain is just the start of your trip. Travel and medical insurance covering a minimum of €30,000 is mandatory for a Spain visa from UK, along with a cover letter detailing your itinerary and the purpose of your visit. You must also provide a flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, a civil status document such as a marriage certificate, and proof of financial means such as your last three bank statements.
To obtain a Spain visa from UK, Spanish authorities require you to show funds of at least €1,099 in total for short stays, or €122 per day for longer visits.
Long-stay visas
Long-stay Spain visa from UK applications for work, study, or residence in Spain require additional supporting documents beyond the standard Schengen short-stay requirements.
These include an employment contract, a current bank statement, and an income tax return. The self-employed need an income tax return, a company bank statement, as well as any licensing documentation. As a student, you will need proof of enrolment at an educational institution in Spain, and preferably a no objection letter from your current institution authorizing your study. You will need to prove you have an offer to work or study and means to support yourself during your stay. You may only be granted an employment visa or work permit if your skills meet Spain’s list of shortage occupations - so may need to prove your qualifications and expertise. You will also need to obtain a TIE – (tarjeta de entidad del extranjero) foreign identity card, allowing you to reside in Spain.
To obtain your TIE you must first submit your residency application, which can be done in person at your local immigration office after arriving in Spain, via an appointment, or online with a digital signature certificate for the government’s online portal. You can find out more and apply online via the website, here: Spanish public administration website residency portal.
Where do I apply for a Spain visa in the U.K?
To apply for a Spain visa from UK, you must go through BLS International, the company authorised to process applications on behalf of the Spanish embassy in the UK.
You can apply online via the BLS International website, and you will need to attend an interview at one of the BLS International centers.
You can visit their website and find out where you will need to apply at your local center, here: BLS UK website.
Frequently asked questions about the Spain visa from the UK
Here are the most common questions UK residents have about getting a Spain visa from the UK, and the Schengen rules that apply to their trip.
Can I travel to Spain from the UK without a Spain visa?
UK passport holders can visit Spain for up to 90 days without a Spain visa from UK, thanks to the EU-UK visa-free travel arrangement.
How long does it take to process a Spain visa application?
Processing times vary, but you must apply no more than six months and no fewer than 15 days before your departure date.
What is the Schengen 90/180-day rule and how does it affect UK travellers?
The Schengen rule limits stays to 90 days within any 180-day period across all Schengen area countries, including Spain.
Can EU citizens living in the UK apply for a Spain visa?
EU citizens do not need a Spain visa from UK, as they retain freedom of movement rights to travel and live in Spain.
Is travel insurance required as part of a Spain visa application?
Yes, travel and medical insurance covering at least €30,000 is a mandatory document for any Spain visa from UK application.
Related topics on the Schengen visa for U.K nationals
Spain visa from uk applicants and UK nationals travelling to the Schengen area will find these related guides on France, Italy, and post-Brexit rules for couples equally useful.
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