Spain waives visa requirement for British service providers on stays under 90 days

British Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo signed a joint declaration in Madrid strengthening post-Brexit economic cooperation between the two countries. Under the agreement, Spain will exempt British nationals from visa requirements for cross-border service provision during stays of less than 90 days, while the UK will streamline sponsorship licence procedures for Spanish companies seeking to employ workers.

The exemption targets highly qualified professional service providers in sectors including IT, telecoms, and consultancy. Specific roles mentioned include lawyers, architects, analysts, bookkeepers, compliance officers, and recruitment managers. Both governments have also committed to strengthening mutual recognition of professional qualifications, initially focusing on accounting and legal sectors, and to reducing the cost and processing time of related procedures.

For British remote workers and freelancers providing services to Spanish clients, this could significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden of short-term engagements. The arrangement also reportedly extends benefits to workers from other non-EU nations including the US, Canada, and Australia. An implementation timeline has not yet been confirmed, and the exemption must comply with existing Schengen regulations governing 90-day stays.