Spain and UK Agree on New Work Visa Waiver and Stronger Business Ties

A New Chapter for Spain-UK Relations

In one of the most significant post-Brexit diplomatic moves between Spain and the United Kingdom, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves travelled to Madrid in March 2026 to strengthen economic ties between the two nations — and to advance a mutual work visa waiver deal that could benefit thousands of professionals on both sides.

The visit marks a turning point in a relationship that has been carefully rebuilt since Brexit strained freedom of movement and cross-border business arrangements. With trade already hitting record highs, the two governments are now pushing for a formal framework that makes it easier for skilled workers to operate across both countries on a short-term basis.

What the Visa Waiver Would Mean

The proposed agreement centres on a 90-day short-stay work visa exemption for professionals travelling between Spain and the UK for business purposes. Crucially, this is a reciprocal arrangement — it applies equally to UK professionals working in Spain and to Spanish professionals working in the UK.

Who Is Covered?

The waiver is targeted at services professionals working in sectors where cross-border collaboration is most common:

• Legal services — lawyers, solicitors, and legal consultants
• Financial services — bankers, accountants, and financial advisers
• Consulting — management and strategy consultants
• Information technology — software developers, IT project managers, and technical specialists
• Specialised corporate support — HR, compliance, and senior business support roles

Under the arrangement, qualifying professionals would be able to travel and work in the other country for up to 90 days without needing to apply for a formal work visa — removing a significant bureaucratic barrier that has complicated short-term assignments since Brexit.

The Economic Case

The timing of the agreement reflects the strength of the current trading relationship between Spain and the UK, which has grown considerably despite the post-Brexit friction.

Trade Metric	Value	Change
Spanish goods exports to UK (2025)	€24.9 billion	+4.5% from 2024
Spanish services exports to UK (2025)	€29.2 billion	—
British exports to Spain (Oct 2024–Sep 2025)	£22.1 billion	+11% year-on-year

The UK government projects that the visa waiver alone could generate an additional £250 million in UK service exports over five years, by removing the friction that currently discourages short-term professional assignments.

Spain now ranks as the UK's second-fastest growing export destination among its top ten trading partners — a statistic that has made strengthening this bilateral relationship a clear priority for both governments.

Part of a Wider Strategic Framework

Chancellor Reeves' Madrid visit did not come out of nowhere. It builds on a Strategic Framework signed between Spain and the UK in September 2025, which laid out a roadmap for deeper cooperation across three main areas:

• Technology — joint investment in digital infrastructure and emerging tech sectors
• Defence — increased military cooperation and shared procurement
• Life sciences — research collaboration and regulatory alignment on pharmaceuticals and medical devices

The work visa waiver is the most tangible outcome of that framework to date, and signals that both governments intend to deepen ties further in the years ahead.

What This Means for Expats and Professionals

For the large communities of British expats living and working in Spain — and for Spanish professionals based in the UK — this agreement has practical implications.

Since Brexit, UK nationals no longer have automatic rights to work in Spain without a visa, and vice versa. Short-term assignments that were once routine have required additional paperwork, sponsorship arrangements, or expensive legal support. The 90-day waiver would remove that obstacle for the categories of professional work listed above.

It is worth noting what the waiver does not cover:

• It is not a long-term work permit or residency arrangement
• It does not apply to all job types — only the designated professional services sectors
• It does not restore freedom of movement in the broader Brexit sense
• Professionals staying beyond 90 days would still need to apply for the relevant visa or permit

For British nationals already living in Spain on a long-term basis, existing residency rules remain unchanged. The waiver primarily benefits those making regular short-term business trips between the two countries.

Reaction and Next Steps

The announcement has been broadly welcomed by business groups on both sides. The ability to send consultants, lawyers, and technical specialists across borders without visa bureaucracy has been a consistent ask from professional services firms since Brexit took effect.

The formal agreement is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, with implementation to follow once both governments complete the necessary domestic approvals. Given that both sides have expressed strong support, the timeline is expected to be relatively swift.

The Bigger Picture

Spain and the UK have always had strong ties — economically, culturally, and through the hundreds of thousands of citizens who live in each other's countries. The years since Brexit introduced genuine complications, particularly around work, residency, and professional mobility.

This visa waiver deal will not undo Brexit, but it represents a pragmatic step forward: one that acknowledges the deep interdependence between the two economies and moves to reduce unnecessary barriers for the professionals who drive that relationship.

For businesses operating across Spain and the UK, and for the many expats whose livelihoods depend on cross-border work, it is a welcome development — and a sign that the relationship is moving in a positive direction.

This article is based on reporting from March 2026. The formal agreement had not yet been signed at the time of publication. Details may be subject to change.