How to Spend More Than 90 Days in Spain

Understanding how to spend more than 90 days in Spain is essential to avoid fines, deportation, or legal issues. As immigration lawyers, we’ll walk you through the legal options available for UK citizens who wish to stay longer than the Schengen visa limit. From visas to residency permits, here’s everything you need to know—clearly and confidently explained. From visas to residency permits, here’s everything you need to know—clearly and confidently explained. If you're asking yourself how can I spend more than 90 days in Spain, this guide is for you.

Understanding the 90/180-Day Schengen Rule

Since Brexit, UK nationals are now considered third-country citizens within the Schengen Area. This means they can only stay in Spain (and other Schengen countries) for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without needing a visa.

The rule applies to multiple entries—every day spent in the zone counts. Overstaying this limit can result in fines, deportation, and future entry bans. That's why it's crucial to understand how the rule works and what legal options exist to stay longer in Spain safely.

What the Rule Means

The 90/180-day rule means that as a UK citizen, you can only stay within the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. It's not based on calendar months—it's a moving window: each day you spend in Spain requires checking the past 179 days to calculate your total stay.

This includes stays for tourism, visiting family, or even remote work (without a local contract). Keep in mind that days spent in other Schengen countries also count toward the limit—not just those spent in Spain.

How to Calculate Your Stay

To avoid breaking the 90/180 rule, it's essential to track your days accurately. The period is calculated backwards from today: you must look at the past 180 days and count the number of days you were in Spain or any Schengen country. If you've reached 90 days, you'll need to stay out of the zone until enough days have passed to re-enter legally.

You can use the official Schengen calculator from the European Commission to help you keep track. Many travellers make the mistake of relying on calendar months or estimating loosely. Miscalculations can lead to fines, border refusals, or even deportation.

Legal Ways to Stay Longer Than 90 Days

Although the Schengen rule sets a time limit, there are several legal ways to spend more than 90 days in Spain as a UK citizen. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for a long-stay visa, a temporary residence permit, or even begin the process toward permanent residency.

These options require planning, supporting documents, and often the help of a specialised immigration lawyer. In the following sections, we explain the most common legal alternatives to extend your stay in Spain without facing legal trouble.

1. Applying for a Long-Stay Visa (Visado de Larga Duración)

One of the safest and most legal ways to stay in Spain for more than 90 days is by applying for a long-stay visa. This type of visa allows you to reside in the country for more than three months and can be the first step toward temporary or even permanent residency.

There are several types of long-stay visas, depending on your purpose: for example, the Non-Lucrative Visa, work visa, student visa, or family reunification. These visas must be applied for from your home country (in this case, the UK) and involve meeting specific legal requirements.

2. The Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)

The Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is one of the most popular options for UK nationals who want to stay in Spain for more than 90 days without working. This visa allows you to reside legally as long as you prove sufficient financial means and hold private health insurance with no co-payments.

It does not allow any kind of employment in Spain—either salaried or self-employed. To qualify, you must demonstrate a minimum income of around €30,000 per applicant per year, plus an additional amount for dependents. This visa is ideal for retirees, individuals with passive income, or anyone looking for a long, peaceful stay with full legal security.

3. Work or Self-Employment Visas

Another legal way to stay in Spain for more than 90 days is by applying for a work visa (as an employee) or a self-employment visa (as a freelancer). Both options allow you to live and work in Spain, although they come with more complex requirements than other visa types.

For employment, you'll need a valid job offer from a Spanish company, approved by the Immigration Office. For self-employment, you must present a viable business plan, prove financial stability, and meet tax and social security obligations.

These visas are ideal for skilled professionals, digital nomads, or UK citizens with a confirmed employment contract in Spain.

4. Student Visas

Student visas let you stay in Spain for the duration of a course, master's degree, or vocational training. You must enrol in an accredited institution, prove you have sufficient financial means, and obtain health insurance.

This visa also allows part-time work as long as it's compatible with your studies. It's a great option for young people or professionals seeking academic development in Spain.

5. Family Reunification

If you're already living legally in Spain, you may apply for family reunification to allow certain relatives to join you for more than 90 days. This legal procedure enables you to bring your spouse, registered partner, children under 18, and even dependent parents.

To be eligible, you must have lived in Spain for at least one year, have sufficient financial means, and provide proof of suitable housing. The application is processed by the Immigration Office and must be approved before your relatives can travel.

This is a useful option for UK families who have established residence in Spain and wish to live together legally and long term.

Temporary Strategies to Maximize Your Stay

If you're not yet ready to apply for a visa, there are a few legal and temporary strategies that can help you extend your time in Spain without violating the 90/180-day rule. While these options don't replace a formal residency, they can offer short-term flexibility in certain cases.

Proper planning and awareness of legal limits are key. In the next section, we'll explore one of the most common strategies: "visa runs" to countries outside the Schengen Area.

"Visa Runs" to Non-Schengen Countries

A visa run involves leaving the Schengen Area just before reaching the 90-day limit, spending time in a non-Schengen country (like the UK, Morocco, or Croatia), and then re-entering once your 180-day period resets enough to allow more days.

While this is technically legal if the timelines are respected, frequent visa runs or irregular travel patterns can raise red flags at the border. Authorities may suspect undeclared residency, which could lead to entry bans or visa refusals.

This strategy can work occasionally, but it's not recommended as a long-term solution. If you plan to spend extended periods in Spain, applying for a long-stay visa is the safest and most reliable route.

Combining Schengen and Non-Schengen Stays

A legal way to extend your time in Europe is by alternating stays between Schengen and non-Schengen countries. For example, you can spend 90 days in Spain, then travel to countries like the UK, Morocco, Turkey, or Croatia, which are outside the Schengen Area.

This approach lets you wait out your reset period and re-enter Spain after the 180-day window allows it. However, it requires careful planning to avoid overstaying, and you must check each non-Schengen country's entry rules separately.

If your long-term goal is to live in Spain, this method is only a short-term workaround until you obtain a proper residency visa.

Post-Brexit Residency Options

Since the UK left the European Union, British citizens can no longer reside freely in Spain without specific authorisation. However, there are still legal residency options available for those who were living in Spain before Brexit and for those looking to settle now.

From the TIE card under the Withdrawal Agreement to standard long-term visas, it's still possible to live in Spain legally—provided you meet the requirements. In the following sections, we explore the most common ways to regularise your stay and avoid any legal complications.

Applying for Residency (TIE Card)

The Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) is the official document proving your legal residency in Spain as a UK citizen after Brexit. If you were living in Spain before 31 December 2020, you may apply for the TIE under the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU.

This card replaces the old EU registration certificate and grants you residency, work, and mobility rights in Spain. To obtain it, you must show proof of legal residence prior to Brexit—such as your padrón certificate, health insurance, and sufficient financial means.

The TIE is essential for maintaining your legal status and for accessing services such as employment, permit renewals, or opening a Spanish bank account.

Tax Considerations

If you spend more than 183 days per year in Spain, you'll be considered a Spanish tax resident. This means you must declare your worldwide income to the Spanish tax authorities, including pensions, rental income, investments, or bank accounts held abroad.

In addition, if your assets outside Spain exceed €50,000, you must report them using the mandatory Modelo 720 form. While there are double taxation treaties between the UK and Spain, poor tax planning can lead to overpayment or penalties.

That's why it's essential to work with a specialised tax advisor or lawyer before relocating, so you can understand your obligations and avoid unnecessary financial complications.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Many UK citizens overstay in Spain unintentionally, assuming that leaving and re-entering resets the 90-day clock. Others fail to plan for tax residency, submit incomplete paperwork, or apply for visas without proper legal guidance—resulting in rejections, fines, or even deportation.

It's also common to confuse a NIE with residency status, or assume that owning property grants the right to live in Spain indefinitely. These are costly mistakes.

The safest way to avoid these issues is to get informed and work with a specialised immigration lawyer before travelling or starting any legal process in Spain.

This guide was reviewed by the legal team at Enrique Sánchez, immigration lawyers with offices in the UK and Spain.