New visa joy for Brits

Britons who own a second home in Spain will hopefully soon be able to stay longer than the post-Brexit limit of 90 days, with the Spanish government joining calls to scrap the unpopular rule.

By law, Brits are only allowed to stay in their holiday home for 90 days out of 180. To stay longer, they must apply for a long-term visa of up to six months.

The Spanish government has now admitted that the rule, which limits the time British travellers can spend in EU countries without a visa, is having a negative impact.

Unfortunately, this rule is not something that Spain itself introduced or can get rid of,” said the country’s acting Tourism Minister, Héctor Gómez. “It is in our interest to put pressure and convince the EU that we can try to make this an exception. But the solution must come from them. »

It comes after the French Senate voted for an amendment to the immigration law that would automatically give British second home owners the right to a long-stay visa, after politicians said British tourists had been " punished by Brexit .

Andrew Hesselden, campaign director and founder of 180 Days in Spain, which fights for the free movement of Britons in the country, told the Mallorca Daily Bulletin that he was "happy to see French senators recognising the injustice of the situation in which the British parties live “live”. years that residents have lived since Brexit.

He added that members of his campaign "remain hopeful of similar recognition in Spain for all those affected."

Now, developments appear to be taking place in Spain: Gómez confirmed earlier this week that he had an "important meeting" with Britain's director of consular and crisis affairs, Jennifer Anderson, at the Foreign Office.

Both "discussed interesting topics related to the stay of British tourists in Spain and discussed collaboration projects for future seasons", he said. This also includes the 90 day limit.

Britain is Spain's largest and most profitable tourism market, with almost twice as many Britons as German tourists visiting the country last year.

Data from Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that two million people traveled from Britain to Spain last year, representing 23.8% of total visitors.

Under Schengen rules, non-EU citizens, including those from the United Kingdom, who enter the country under the visa-free regime can only stay there for a maximum of 90 days out of 180 days.

Tel: 0034 693922976
WhatsApp: 0044 7912036101
Email: sales@luxurynewhomespain.com
www.luxurynewhomespain.com