Spain remains a popular destination for UK households, and the practical tasks after arrival are specific: registering with the town hall, obtaining a residence card, exchanging a driving licence within a short window and declaring overseas assets. The UK Government’s “Living in Spain” guidance, last updated on 3 July 2026, sets out the main points. This article summarises the parts that matter to someone planning a move. It reflects UK Government guidance on Spanish requirements, so the Spanish authorities remain the final source.
Who can help, and who cannot
The guidance says questions about moving to or living in Spain can go to the Spanish consulates in Edinburgh, London or Manchester, the Embassy of Spain in the United Kingdom, or the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. It states that the UK government, including the British Embassy and Consulates in Spain, cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Spain, and cannot help with Spanish visa, residency or citizenship applications. It also describes the ‘gestor’, a private professional agent who can help with administrative tasks, tax and accountancy, and points to a National Register of Accredited Gestores. English-speaking lawyers, translators and notaries are also listed as sources of professional help.
Visas and registering on arrival
A visa is available for purposes that include studying, retiring, working (including as a digital nomad), an internship, medical treatment, living with family, religious activities, volunteering and research. After arrival, the guidance says a new resident needs to register as a resident and on the municipal register, the ‘padrón municipal’, at the local town hall, and that children must be registered with their own residency documents. The residence card is the ‘TIE’, the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero.
For anyone who moved before 1 January 2021, the guidance says the TIE is the only valid residency document listed in the Withdrawal Agreement and that holders of an older ‘green’ certificate are strongly recommended to exchange it. A mover arriving now should treat the town hall registration and TIE as early items on the arrival checklist, alongside the address changes covered in the site’s change-of-address checklist.
Citizenship: an important difference
The guidance states that Spain does not recognise dual citizenship with the UK. Someone considering Spanish citizenship in the long term should confirm what that means for British citizenship with the Spanish authorities. By comparison, the same UK guidance for France says that country recognises dual citizenship with the UK, as described in the site’s guide to moving to France.
Driving licences: a six-month window
The guidance says a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence can be used to drive in Spain for up to six months, and that these licences cannot be replaced or renewed by someone living in Spain. To continue driving after six months, a UK or Gibraltar licence must be exchanged. The applicant needs a check code from the DVLA for English, Welsh and Scottish licences, or from the Driver and Vehicle Agency for Northern Irish licences, and should apply before the six months end because processing takes time and a Spanish licence is needed to drive legally.
The guidance adds that licences issued in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man cannot be exchanged. Holders must apply for a Spanish licence as a non-EU national, which involves a theory test and a practical driving test. The six-month window is shorter than the 12-month exchange window the same series of guidance gives for France, so the two countries should not be treated alike. The vehicle side of an overseas move is covered in the site’s guide to exporting a vehicle when you move abroad permanently.
Tax, assets and pensions
The guidance says the UK has a double taxation agreement with Spain so that tax is not paid twice on the same income, and suggests contacting the Spanish Tax Agency about relief and considering professional advice. It states that a person resident in Spain must declare all assets held outside Spain, may need to file an annual tax return, and faces penalties for failing to file or giving incorrect or incomplete information. For pensions it covers claiming the UK State Pension and applying to the Spanish social security office, INSS, for a Spanish pension. The UK-side residence position is explained in the site’s guide to tax residence and split-year treatment.
Buying property and voting
Anyone considering buying property or land is told to contact an English-speaking lawyer in Spain. On voting, the guidance says a resident cannot vote in general or regional elections without Spanish citizenship, but can vote in local elections after three years of residence if on the electoral register.
Common questions
Can I keep driving on my UK licence indefinitely? No. The guidance says a UK licence can be used for up to six months and must then be exchanged.
Does Spain allow dual citizenship with the UK? The guidance says it does not.
The bottom line
For a move from the UK to Spain, the UK Government’s guidance highlights registering as a resident and on the municipal register, obtaining a TIE, exchanging a UK licence within six months, declaring foreign assets and understanding that Spain does not recognise dual citizenship with the UK. Professional help from a lawyer or gestor is the route the guidance points to for personalised questions. Rules and processing times change, so mover checklists should be verified against Spanish government sources before dates are fixed. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.