UK help and services in Spain

Services if you're visiting, studying, working or living in Spain. Includes information about trading with and doing business in the UK and Spain, and your rights after the UK’s exit from the EU.

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General information and guidance

  1. What to do after a British person dies in Spain

    This guide gives advice about the death of a British person in Spain, including information on burial, cremation and repatriation.

Emergency help for British nationals

Get help if you're the victim of crime, you've been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad.

  1. Get help if you're a victim of crime abroad

    Contact the nearest British embassy, high commission, consulate or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London to get help if you're the victim of crime abroad

  2. If you’re affected by a crisis abroad

    Advice to British people affected by crises abroad such as large-scale terrorist attacks, natural disasters and political unrest, and how the FCDO can help.

  3. Information pack for British nationals arrested or detained in Spain

    Information on the Spanish legal and prison systems for British prisoners, their family and friends.

  4. Spain: guidance for UK nationals affected by domestic violence

    Information for UK nationals who are affected by domestic violence in Spain and how to access support in local regions.

  5. Spain: information for victims of rape and sexual assault

    Information for British nationals who are victims of rape or sexual assault in Spain, including Andorra.

  6. Spain: mental health support abroad

    Information about support for British nationals experiencing mental health difficulties in Spain.

  7. Support for British nationals abroad

    This page lists guidance on how you can help yourself stay safe abroad, and the help the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide.

Passports and emergency travel documents

Includes how to cancel a lost passport, renew a passport and apply for an emergency travel document.

  1. Apply for or renew a British passport if you're visiting the UK

    You can apply for or renew a British passport while you're visiting the UK - as long as you expect to be in the UK for long enough

  2. Cancel a lost or stolen passport

    What you need to do if your passport has been lost or stolen and you need to travel urgently.

  3. Overseas British passport applications

    Renew, replace or apply for an adult or child British passport if you’re living abroad or working overseas - forms, prices, how long it takes

  4. Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport

    Apply for an emergency travel document if you're outside the UK and have not got a valid British passport - apply online, how to apply, fee, timings

Travelling to Spain

Includes travel advice and how to get married abroad.

  1. Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad

    Find out how to get the documents you’ll need to get married or form a civil partnership overseas and how much they’ll cost.

  2. Healthcare for UK nationals visiting Spain

    How to get state healthcare when you’re on holiday or travelling to Spain.

  3. Reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad

    How to minimise your risk, and what to do if there's a terrorist attack.

  4. Spain travel advice

    FCDO travel advice for Spain. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

Coming to the UK

Get a visa to study, work or visit the UK.

  1. Check if you need a UK visa

    You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work.

  2. Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help

    How to contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for help with your application or immigration account, from inside and outside the UK.

  3. Get your visa, immigration or citizenship documents back

    Get your documents returned if you've made a UK visa, immigration or citizenship application but need them back urgently

Living in Spain

Guidance on your rights after the UK’s exit from the EU, accessing healthcare, getting a document legalised, English-speaking lawyers, how to vote abroad.

  1. Get your document legalised

    Use the online service to get a UK document legalised.

  2. Healthcare for UK nationals living in Spain

    How to get state healthcare if you live, work or study in Spain.

  3. Living in Europe: citizens' rights if you moved before 1 January 2021

    Information for UK nationals living in the EU, EEA EFTA countries and Switzerland since before 1 January 2021, including guidance on residency and healthcare.

  4. Living in Spain

    Information for British citizens moving to or living in Spain, including guidance on residency, healthcare and passports.

  5. Living in Spain: useful information

    Information sheet with useful websites for British nationals living in Spain.

  6. Professional services if you are abroad

    Find English-speaking lawyers, doctors and medical facilities, interpreters and translators, and funeral directors overseas.

  7. Register your S1 form in Spain online

    How to register your S1 form in Spain using the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) online portal.

  8. Spain travel advice

    FCDO travel advice for Spain. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

  9. Spain: buying and renting property

    Information on legal requirements and advice for British nationals buying or renting property in Spain.

  10. Spain: legal aid

    Guidance on how British nationals can obtain legal aid while in Spain.

  11. Spain: medical facilities and practitioners

    List of English-speaking medical facilities and practitioners for British nationals in Spain.

  12. Spain: register your residency

    How UK nationals who plan to live in Spain for more than 3 months must register as a resident and on the padrón at their town hall.

  13. Spain: translators

    Online database of translators and interpreters for British nationals in Spain.

  14. UK benefits if you’re going or living abroad

    Find out what benefits you might be able to receive while you’re abroad and how to export them from the UK or claim them while abroad

  15. Voting if you move or live abroad

    Find out how to vote in UK elections if you move or live abroad, including eligibility, registering to vote and renewing your registration.

Tax, benefits, pensions and working abroad

Includes how to pay tax, claim State Pension and get tax credits abroad.

  1. Claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad

    Benefits you can claim if you go abroad and countries with social security arrangements with the UK

  2. Moving or retiring abroad

    What you need to know if you move or retire abroad - tax, pensions, voting and contacting your local council

  3. National Insurance if you work abroad

    Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or in the country you are visiting when you work abroad.

  4. Register your S1 form in Spain online

    How to register your S1 form in Spain using the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) online portal.

  5. State Pension if you retire abroad

    How to claim State Pension if you're overseas - payment, tax, change of circumstances - contact the International Pension Centre

  6. Tax credits if you leave or move to the UK

    Tax credits if you live abroad, go travelling, are a cross-border worker or subject to immigration control

  7. Tax on foreign income

    Find out whether you need to pay UK tax on foreign income - residence and ‘non-dom’ status, tax returns, claiming relief if you’re taxed twice (including certificates of residence)

  8. Tax on your UK income if you live abroad

    Find out whether you need to pay tax on your UK income while you're living abroad - non-resident landlord scheme, tax returns, claiming relief if you’re taxed twice, personal allowance of tax-free income, form R43

  9. Work in an EU country

    Where you can work, your rights, healthcare, tax and National Insurance payments.

Birth, death and marriage abroad

Includes how to get married, list of funeral directors and how to register a birth abroad.

  1. Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad

    Find out how to get the documents you’ll need to get married or form a civil partnership overseas and how much they’ll cost.

  2. Register a birth abroad

    Parents must register the birth in the country where the child was born - find out if you can also register the birth in the UK.

  3. Spain: funeral directors

    List of English-speaking funeral directors for British nationals abroad in Spain.

  4. Surrogacy overseas

    Information for British nationals who are considering entering into surrogacy arrangements in foreign countries.

  5. What to do when someone dies: step by step

    Check what to do after a death - how to register the death, notify government departments and deal with the estate.

News and events

Find out about the UK government's diplomatic, security and development work in Spain.

  1. Spain and the UK

    Updates, news and events from the UK government in Spain

Trade and invest

Includes investing and setting up a business in the UK and doing business in Spain.

  1. Department for Business and Trade Spain

    DBT provides trade and investment services and practical support. We help UK companies succeed in Spain, and Spanish companies set up and invest in the UK.

  2. Overseas business risk for Spain

    Information on security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Spain.

  3. Set up a business

    What you need to do to start a business: choose a legal structure, see if you need licences and insurance, learn about reliefs and benefits

  4. Spain: UK Science and Innovation Network Country Summary

    A summary from UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) on science and innovation in Spain including UK SIN priorities and successes.

British embassy or high commission

Includes contact details, opening hours and consular fees and local services.

  1. British Consulate Alicante

    The British Consulate in Alicante represents the UK government in Alicante and Murcia.

  2. British Consulate General Barcelona

    The British Consulate General in Barcelona represents the UK government in Catalonia, Aragon and Andorra.

  3. British Consulate General Madrid

    The British Consulate General in Madrid represents the UK government in Madrid, northern and central Spain.

  4. British Consulate Ibiza

    The British Consulate Ibiza represents the UK government in Ibiza and Formentera.

  5. British Consulate Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

    The British Consulate in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria represents the UK government in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

  6. British Consulate Malaga

    The British Consulate in Malaga represents the UK government in Andalucia, Ceuta and Melilla.

  7. British Consulate Palma de Mallorca

    The British Consulate in Palma de Mallorca represents the UK government in Mallorca and Menorca.

  8. British Consulate Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    The British Consulate in Santa Cruz de Tenerife represents the UK government in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.

  9. British Embassy Madrid

    The British Embassy in Madrid maintains and develops relations between the UK and Spain.

  10. Spain: notarial and documentary services

    How someone in Spain can get documents legalised, witnessed or certified, take an oath of British citizenship and obtain informative notes.

  11. Support for British nationals abroad

    This page lists guidance on how you can help yourself stay safe abroad, and the help the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide.