I have seen a video, today, that gives me hope for returning permanently to live in Spain.
Since Brexit made us a Third Country, a UK citizen can apply for a Non Lucrative Visa, but you need to show that you have a minimum of €27000 available to cover your first year’s living costs. Effectively it’s 4x the minimum wage so is likely to increase with annual wage rises.
After year 1, you reapply for a 2 year visa and, until today, the belief has been that you need to show that you have €27000 for each year - €54000 in total - before you will be able to get the visa.
One autonomous region, Almeria, in consultation with the head of their Foreign Office, has agreed that €27000 is adequate for for each year, which makes it easier for people to achieve. Many people, myself included, can make the first year but couldn’t double up for years 2&3, so this could be game changer.
Still have to be cautious because each autonomous region could interpret the rules differently (my house is in Valenciana region), however with Almeria setting a precedent it opens up the route for other regions to follow and allows applicants to appeal if their follow up visa applications are denied.
I would have to pay for private medical insurance, initially, but I believe that is just for year one, before being able to access the Spanish health system. More research needed on this point.


