Stay over 90 days in Spain if you are a non-resident Briton and you could be banned from entry for three years. Spain and the European Union are certainly taking the 180 day law for non-resident, non-European Union residents seriously and there are a series of stiff penalities.
At the moment British citizens (and others from outside the European Union) who are non-resident can only spend a maximum of 180 days in Spain (in two blocks of two). This ruling, introduced following Brexit, is a nightmare for non-resident holiday home owners who can only enjoy their place in the sun for 180 days a year.
These are some of the penalties which could be enforced.
Fines – a fine between 500€-10,000€ depending on how long you’ve overstayed. A fine could also be issued in conjunction with an entry ban.
Entry bans – If you’re caught travelling in Spain – or any other Schengen country – past the 90-day period, you could be banned from re-entering for up to 3 years.
Spain is fighting to end the 180 day rule but it would need the support of all European Union member staties.
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Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyThat I believe is a wise decision, too many times have you written about your unfortunate friends, despite it does not affect you personally. One day who knows, until then i wish MDB also would call it a day for the time being.
So Spain will have to get the other 30 Schengen/EU members to agree to allow unlimited stays for the other 160-odd non-EU countries, or is there some legal basis to treat 67 million brits differently to the other 7.5 billion 3rd country citizens? Thought not.
I give up on this subject! Doesn't affect me but I feel for my friends who are restricted in their visits. But as you all say, who cares?
Parts of England are lovely. But Wales ? Not so much.
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyYes, we know. Brits who own houses or flats here naturally want to be here most (or all) of the time (who wants to be in England anyway?). ...without having to apply for residency or pay taxes, or get a foreign driving licence or all the other inconveniences of moving abroad. That part is clear. But you've just come up with a great solution; Just sell up and move to Barbados. Everybody happy. So, can we consider this dilemma finally solved now?
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyI don't think it would be a major problem "the other way around"! Most people, I believe accept the rules how long you can stay in any country, apart from you and some of your compatriots. They can all buy in Barbados then as their rules are more favourable than the EU ones. I think it's time to tell your compatriots to accept the UK is out of EU - on your own accord and stop writing time and time again that UK citizens are suddenly special, because they bought their properties before Brexit, that is no valid reason. They have accept - or sell up!
SaraI have many friends who own second homes in Mallorca/mainland Spain and who are affected by the Brexit situation. 90 days may seem like a long time but the majority of the people I know have stayed at their Spanish homes October-March or April-October and that became their lifestyle. Okay I realise that no Spanish person is bringing out their violin in sympathy but if the tables were turned wouldn't you feel aggrieved? Warm wishes from a blue-skied 28C degrees beautiful Barbados! (Brits can stay visa-free for 180 days).
A non-story? Spain lobbying for a change to a long-standing Schengen ruling, which affects all EU countries? This ruling can’t be changed by Spain alone, all EU countries would have to agree. Nor would it be likely to be changed just for Brits! So yes it would be a story here and of course it would be in the Spanish press, somewhere. If your only source is/are the British tabloids then I think you can take such ‘lobbying’ with a pinch of salt. It was ‘reportedly’ an off the cuff remark by a junior Ministry employee, probably to get the reporter off his/her back, and has never been backed up by any Ministerial official. This story is nothing but clickbait (and wishful thinking by a very small number of Brits). You seem overly concerned about this issue considering that you said it didn’t affect you personally and spend most of the winter at your home in Barbados. 🤨
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyInsular as always. Of course it would be reported in Spanish press as that would be a big news story, in all EU countries. There is a world on the mainland Europe outside of both Spain and the UK.
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyCharles, they do not penalise Brits ONLY. This rules is applicable to ALL Non EU countries. I really hope IF they change the rule - (which I believe they won't), it should apply to ALL Non EU countries, not just to UK citizens. And who is reporting they are lobbying? MDB only, or who else?