Spanish officials are urging the European Union to abolish the 90-day travel restriction for British nationals, a move that could revive the dream of owning a holiday home in Spain. Former Spanish tourism ministers Fernando Valdés and Hector Gomez argue that the post-Brexit rule severely damages the Spanish economy and are lobbying for its revision.
Current Restrictions and Proposed Changes
Under current regulations, non-resident Britons in Spain can only spend up to 180 days per year in the country, split into two 90-day periods. To stay longer, they must obtain traditional long-stay visas or residency permits. However, officials are now pushing for EU-wide exceptions that would allow tourists to remain for up to 180 consecutive days.
Sean Woolley, co-author of 'Home Truths: A candid analysis of the Costa del Sol Property Market', believes the change would be beneficial. 'I think that it would be great for everyone,' he said, noting that Spain has historically profited immensely from British tourism. He added, 'Spain has realised that second home tourists actually contribute disproportionately more money than someone staying in a hotel for the weekend. They treat it as a home. They go shopping, they use services, restaurants, tradespeople, cleaners, gardeners, interior companies, and legal firms. Second home owners tend to be more wealthy - they have higher disposable income, and they contribute more to the local economy than just passing visitors would.'
Woolley explained that this has piqued the interest of Spanish politicians, who are now thinking, 'OK, how can we retain these high-quality visitors?'
Affordable Properties in Spain
The news comes as a number of affordable properties are available on the Spanish market, ranging from elegant townhouses in Valencia with swimming pools to ultra-modern seaside villas. A four-bedroom villa with classic Spanish architecture is currently on sale for £347,280 in the charming town of Aspe, in the southeastern province of Alicante. The property includes a pool and garden and is a short drive from Costa Blanca’s golden beaches.
A stunning three-person townhouse is listed for £199,686 in Valencia, overlooking the Villamartin Golf Course. It is less than 800 meters from the La Fuente commercial centre, with a vibrant selection of bars and restaurants, and less than a 10-minute drive from Playa de la Zenia. A nine-bedroom chalet combining rustic charm with modern comfort is available in Novelda for £347,279, while a spacious four-bed chalet is on offer for £249,173 in Puerto de Mazarrón. For £349,016, buyers can acquire a three-bedroom villa with a private pool in Santiago de la Ribera, and for £246,844, there is a beautiful property in the La Perla area of Arboleas.
Political Pressure in the UK
British MPs have also been pressing the UK government to address the 90-day cap, arguing that visa restrictions continue to cause problems for Britons who live, work, or regularly travel to Spain. Some UK politicians contend that millions of Britons working or living abroad were largely overlooked when Brexit regulations were first implemented.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, has called for a more proactive approach to repairing relations with Europe and addressing problems caused by Brexit. Before 2021, when the UK officially left the EU's free movement of people, British citizens could travel easily across Europe, staying as long as they wished in EU member countries. Now, UK nationals visiting the Schengen zone—which includes Spain, France, and Italy—can only stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. This has significantly impacted retirees, second-home owners, and remote workers.
Woolley believes scrapping the 90-day cap could be a game changer because 'mentally, it would just relax people.' He noted that pre-Brexit, potential British buyers would ask, 'Let's have a look at houses, and which house is going to be the one for me?' Now, the first question is, 'Can I do this? Legally, am I allowed to buy? Am I allowed to stay there? And of course, it depends.' He added, 'The Spanish, up until now, haven't really done much about changing the rules because they've had so many people coming in and spending, but I think now they do realise that actually, the British do matter.'
Challenges to Change
Nevertheless, scrapping the cap will not be easy. Madrid must appeal to Brussels to alter the rules and may have to apply the relaxation to all non-EU countries to avoid allegations of favouritism. Britain's EU membership has long been a contentious issue, and since the 2016 referendum, few prominent figures have dared to revive the question. However, the issue resurfaced following Labour's poor election performance this month.
Former health minister Wes Streeting, hoping to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer, called for the country to rejoin the EU, breaking years of guarded silence on Brexit. Dozens of Labour MPs urged Starmer to quit after dire local election results, raising the prospect of a leadership change. With Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham poised to launch challenges, Streeting raised the politically toxic issue of Brexit, calling for Britain to eventually rejoin the EU. 'We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain's future lies with Europe, and one day back in the European Union,' he said at a conference.
Starmer, who has resisted calls to quit, said he would 'not get lost in a debate about what may happen years down the line.' Burnham, preparing to stand for a parliamentary seat, distanced himself from Streeting's stance, saying that while Brexit has been damaging, 'the last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments.' Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy insisted that rejoining the EU was a 'red line' for Starmer's government, stating, 'Wes Streeting has left the government. He can have a debate, he can comment, that is not my position.'
