Buying Property in Spain Post-Brexit: The Complete 2026 Guide

Time in Spain: the 90/180 rule

As a non-EU visitor you can spend 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen area without a visa. That is enough for a holiday home used a few weeks at a time, but not for wintering from October to April.

If you want longer, you need a residence permit. Most of our buyers use the non-lucrative visa (passive income, no work in Spain) or a remote-work permit if they still earn from a non-Spanish employer.

The paperwork you actually need

An NIE (foreigner's tax number) is required to buy — we arrange it alongside your lawyer. You will also want a Spanish bank account for the utilities, community fees and IBI.

Always instruct an independent Spanish lawyer who does not work for the seller or the agency. We never take a referral fee for recommending one.

Order of the process

Reservation deposit (typically €3,000–€10,000) takes the property off the market while your lawyer runs checks.

Private purchase contract at 10% of the price, then completion at the notary — usually four to eight weeks later for a resale.

Mortgages for non-residents

Spanish banks generally lend 60–70% of the valuation to non-residents, over terms to age 75. Expect to show two years of accounts or payslips and a debt-to-income ratio under about 35%.