Thinking about moving abroad but wondering: “Exactly how many days can I stay in Spain before I’m in trouble?” Fair question, especially since the UK left the European Union and British citizens lost automatic free movement and now share the same entry limits as other third-country nationals.
We see this headline – 90 days in any 180-day period – floating around a lot. It makes it sound simple, but there’s a lot of fine print here that decides whether you glide through passport control or queue at the immigration office explaining your maths.
So throughout this article, we’re going to go into detail and point you toward the right door if you fancy a longer trip in the sun.
This rule is a part of the Schengen Borders Code and applies across all 27 Schengen member states (which includes Spain).
Basically, the rule is that UK nationals can visit Spain visa-free for tourism or family visits, but only for a total of 90 days within any rolling 180-day window. And you’re risking fines or difficult chats with Spanish immigration authorities at the airport if you overstay that period.
If you’re struggling to understand how this rule works, check out the UK Government’s travel advice page for Spain – everything you need to know about this rule is there.
Miss those two numbers, and the day rule in Spain might bite when you try to leave Spain or hop back after a weekend in France.
Digital border stamps definitely help a bit, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for human error. For proper accuracy, the European Commission runs a free short-stay calculator – plug in past trips, and it spits out the exact last day you can legally stay in Spain.
And if you plan to loop through other Schengen countries, remember every night you spend in one Schengen country eats into that same 90-day pot.
You can do this, but you’re going to need an appropriate visa or a full residence permit that’s approved by Spanish authorities before the 90th day ticks over. You can’t just do it retroactively.
Fortunately, Spain gives you a few different pathways here:
The Spanish consulate in London handles the paperwork, and processing often drags beyond eight weeks, so apply early. But then you’ll get a permit that lets you live in Spain and travel freely across other Schengen states without fresh stamps once it’s been granted.
As you’re probably aware, British nationals already rank pretty high among long-term residents in Spain – Eurostat even shows that 96.9% of British citizens in Spain hold a valid residence permit. So this just shows you how common formal status has become, and how doable it is.
Absolutely. The Schengen Area is basically just one big borderless zone, so every night you spend in Portugal or Italy counts toward the same 90-day ledger. If you burn 60 days exploring other Schengen countries, you have just 30 left for Spain.
Similarly, time in Croatia, which joined Schengen a couple of years ago, also counts. The only reset comes when you exit the entire zone and stay outside for enough days to restore your balance.
Border officers need two things from you:
We’d suggest carrying a valid travel document that proves you’ve got health insurance. And, if you plan extended work or study, you want the paperwork that confirms your visa status.
Spanish immigration authorities might even want to see if you’ve got sufficient funds, so a recent bank statement on your phone can save a long conversation at the desk.
The Spanish government sets fines that vary by region but can exceed €500. In serious cases, officials issue expulsion orders, which carry an automatic entry ban that may reach five years.
Overstaying can also complicate future applications for a tourist visa or long-stay permit because the records stay in the central EU database. So contact the local immigration office and explain before your day count tips over if you somehow miscalculate.
For visa rules, bookmark the pages below and refresh them each time you plan a trip:
Submit your packet to the Spanish consulate serving your region. The checklist usually asks for:
After arrival, you’ll want to register at the local town hall, then collect your residence card from the provincial police. Non-EU nationals have to complete this within 30 days. And failure to attend the appointment may void the visa, which forces you to leave Spain and restart.
Yes. Since 1 January 2021, British tourists and other UK nationals have fallen under the same umbrella as non-EU citizens from the United States or Australia. That status explains why the 90-day clock now governs every entry and why travellers have to treat Spain as part of a wider ring of Schengen member states.
Tempting, but no. Gibraltar sits outside the Schengen Area, but crossing into Gibraltar counts as leaving one Schengen country only if you pass Spanish exit control. Re-entry still works against your tally once you step back into Spain.
Also, officials watch repeated border flips and may ask to see boarding passes proving genuine departures.
If you want a single place to store your visa papers and proof of funds, Upscore’s Finance Passport gathers your documents and shows banks and landlords a tidy profile!
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