Buying a home or investing in Spain from the UK

Yes. Spain does not restrict property purchases by nationality, and UK buyers follow the same process as everyone else: NIE, legal checks, private contract, then signing before a Spanish notary. A 2025 bill proposed a new tax on property bought by people living outside the EU. It never became law and lapsed when the Spanish Parliament was dissolved in October 2026.

Only with a visa, which you apply for at the Spanish consulate before you go. The non-lucrative visa is for people who will not work and can show sufficient funds, private health insurance and an ACRO police certificate. The digital nomad visa is for remote work for employers or client companies outside Spain. The golden visa, which linked residence to a property purchase, ended on 3 April 2025. Our guides explain the non-lucrative visa and the 90/180-day rule, EES and ETIAS.

The IBI, the yearly local property tax, and non-resident income tax: 24% on the gross rent, or on a notional income when the home is not rented. Spain's wealth tax applies to non-residents only on assets located in Spain, after an allowance of €700,000, and the solidarity tax on large fortunes only on taxable wealth above €3 million. We explain these obligations before you buy.

Spain taxes the gain at 19%. As you are not resident in Spain, the buyer withholds 3% of the price and pays it to the Spanish tax office on account of your tax. If the 3% is more than the tax due, you claim the difference back. As a UK resident, you also pay UK Capital Gains Tax on the gain, and you may be able to claim relief for the Spanish tax.

No. You can sign a power of attorney before a UK notary, have it apostilled by the Legalisation Office of the FCDO and translated into Spanish, or sign it at a Spanish consulate in the UK. The person you appoint then signs on your behalf. We organise the signing with you.

Count on roughly 10 to 15% of the price for taxes, notary, land registry and fees. The largest item on a resale property is the transfer tax, which each region sets, and we give you a detailed estimate for every property you consider. Spanish banks lend to non-residents, usually for a smaller share of the price than for residents. Alveo Finance, the Alveo group's mortgage broker, can look at the options with you. You pay in euros, so plan the exchange from pounds and the timing of your transfers.