The questions, one by one
British owners: what changed, and what did not
How long you may stay changed. What you must declare did not.
Of all the nationalities buying in the Vega Baja, the British are the ones whose rules changed most, and the ones who most often confuse the two things that have nothing to do with each other.
Contact
We work in English, Spanish, Dutch, German and French.
What changed: the time
A British citizen is now a third-country national, and the 90-in-180 rule applies across the whole Schengen area. Since 10 April 2026 those entries and exits are recorded electronically.
Owning a house here does not extend that allowance and confers no right of stay. It is the most widespread confusion among recent buyers.
What did not change: the return
The obligation to file as a non-resident owner existed before Brexit and exists after. It does not depend on nationality but on where you are tax resident: a Briton resident in Spain is not in this situation, and a Spaniard resident in London is.
If you want to stay longer than 90 days
The usual route is the non-lucrative residence visa, applied for at the consulate in your country of residence. The first thing the lawyer who signs it will ask for is the exact count of your days.
The guides
Services
Official sources
This page was last checked on 4 September 2026
Contact
We work in English, Spanish, Dutch, German and French.
Tell us your case in five lines
We answer the same working day, in your language. And if your case is not for us, we say so and tell you who to go to.