On the 31st of January 2020, the UK ceased to be a part of the EU. The Withdrawal Agreement came into force on the 1st of February 2020 which regulated the transition period until the 31st of December 2020.
British Citizens who were residents in Spain prior 31st December 2020 retain the same rights of residency, freedom of movement and Social Security as provided under the Withdrawal Agreement, provided they apply for a new document called “Withdrawal Agreement Residency”.
As of the 6th of July 2020, British Citizens with Spanish residency have the right to receive this document of Withdrawal Agreement which allows them to continue enjoying the same rights of residency in Spain and work as other members of the EU just as they did prior to Brexit.
Those citizens who were not resident but can prove to have been located in Spain prior to December 2020 can still apply for residency through the Withdrawal Agreement since a period of grace was granted, (however our guess is this will not be for long). they will also be able to enjoy all the EU benefits as above.
Finally, for those who still wish to apply for residency after the 31st December 2020, but were not living in Spain prior to that date, they can still do so but with different rights and benefits to members of the EU.
There are still other ways and levels of residency in Spain which are open to non EU citizens, such as Non Lucrative Visas, Student Visas or special Visas open to especially talented people/ special skills etc, but I shall address those in my next blog, so please keep your eye open for this spot!
Esther Pujol Wilkie 