UK and Spain sign bilateral work agreement easing post-Brexit barriers

The UK and Spain have signed a joint declaration aimed at reducing post-Brexit barriers to cross-border work. British Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo announced the agreement in Madrid, with Spain waiving visa requirements for British service providers on stays under 90 days, and the UK streamlining sponsorship licence procedures for Spanish companies hiring workers in Britain.

The agreement focuses on highly qualified professionals in IT, telecoms, consultancy, legal, architecture, and accounting sectors. Both governments committed to mutual recognition of professional qualifications and reducing the cost and duration of work-related procedures. For UK-based professionals who serve Spanish clients or need to travel to Spain for project work, this removes a significant friction point that has complicated cross-border service delivery since Brexit.

This is one of the first bilateral work agreements between the UK and an individual EU member state to directly address the professional mobility gap created by Brexit. While it does not restore freedom of movement, it represents a pragmatic, sector-specific approach to easing barriers for skilled workers. The arrangement reportedly extends similar benefits to professionals from the US, Canada, and Australia. No specific implementation date has been confirmed.