Moving to Spain after Brexit: Income requirements explained

The UK left the European Union (EU) after the transition period finished in February 2021. This led to major changes in what Britons would have to do if they wanted to move to an EU country, Spain included.

One of the greatest challenges now faced by British citizens wanting to move to an EU country, including Spain, is the much higher income threshold needed to qualify. Gone are the days when a retired couple could move to Spain and live a modest lifestyle on just a UK State pension, or take on a low-paid, low-skilled job where the bright, colourful experience of being in a Mediterranean country was sufficient payoff for a frugal existence.

Although harder to achieve, it is still very workable for a retired couple with resources other than just a State pension – more so than for an individual, or for a would-be incoming resident of working age.

What is the difference in income requirements post-Brexit?

EU citizens wanting to live permanently in Spain are required to prove they have an annual income of €5,539.20 per year, or €461.60 per month – the equivalent of the amount paid by the State in non-contributory retirement pensions and unemployment benefits. This was also the case for British nationals until the beginning of 2021, when the Brexit transition period ended.

Now, British citizens are treated the same way as any other non-EU country national when seeking residence in Spain, and the approximate annual income they are required to prove receipt of is €28,800.

This figure is not means-tested; it is the same for UK citizens who already own a home in Spain without a mortgage as for those who need to budget for rent or want to buy a property with a home loan.

How are income requirements for immigrants calculated?

Spain's government uses a figure known as the IPREM as a base. This is a minimum income figure taken as an index for calculating State benefits and financial help towards the cost of basic services and utilities, and is currently around €600 per month, being €7,200 per year.

Non-EU citizens applying to become residents in Spain need to prove they have an annual income of at least four times the IPREM - €2,400 a month, or €28,800.

This figure applies to an individual, and for each additional household member seeking residence, a further €7,200 a year (the equivalent to the IPREM) must be added.

As a consequence, a married or registered cohabiting couple from a non-EU country moving to Spain would have to show a joint income of €36,000 a year, which is likely to be feasible for British retirees with a private or company pension on top of their State pension. But this does not mean each half of the couple 'only' needs to show an individual income of €18,000 – in the event of a divorce or one of you becoming widowed before your visa is due for renewal, the €36,000 a year you had as a couple is not simply halved. You, on your own, would need €28,800 to qualify for a fresh visa.

Couples planning on bringing dependent children or grandchildren (aged under 18, or over 18 if they have a disability that prevents them from living independently), or dependent parents, siblings or grandparents aged at least 65, to live with them in Spain, will have to prove additional income to guarantee their residence eligibility.

A three-person household needs a joint income of €43,000, and a four-person household, €50,000. Again, though, this does not mean three people who each earn €14,333.33, or four people who each earn €12,500; if the household becomes divided (a dependent child leaves home or an elderly parent goes into a care facility in the UK), you will still have to make sure you have €36,000 as a couple or €28,800 if you are living on your own.

I don't have an 'income', because I live off my savings. How does this work?

Perhaps you only have a UK State pension, but you are supplementing this through money you have inherited from a deceased parent or spouse, or from the excess sale proceeds of your UK home after buying a cheaper one in Spain. If this is the case, the amount of money you have in the bank combined with any other income you earn has to meet the IPREM x 4 figure during the length of your stay, until you have successfully acquired residence.

A Non-Lucrative Visa for retired persons moving to Spain is initially given for six months, then renewed for a further two years. After this, as long as you still hold residency, you do not need a further visa, and can apply for permanent residence status once you have been in Spain legally for five years. But at each stage of the process, you need to meet the minimum income requirements; once you have permanent residence status, you can spend all your savings if you wish, as nobody will need to check.

Even though the initial Non-Lucrative Visa is only for six months, you will still need to show proof of annual income – that means, if you're living off your savings, you must have a minimum in the bank of €28,800 (minus your State pension, if applicable) where you will be living alone, or €36,000 if you are a couple, then a further €7,200 for each subsequent member of the household.

And when your visa is renewed for the next two years, your bank balance will need to show two years' worth of the minimum income – so, €57,600 if you live on your own, or €72,000 if you are a couple.

Moving to Spain as a British national is difficult, post-Brexit, but not necessarily impossible. You will now need a visa, which you can find out more about in our article on visas for British citizens. You may also be able to meet the income requirements if you find a job in Spain, especially if you are a couple and both of you find well-paid work. More on income needs in Spain in general can be found in our article Living in Spain: Cost of living guide 2024.