Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I lived in Spain from 1991 to 2008 and would like to move back and I read that I may be able to recover my long-term Residency in Spain. My question is as a UK citizen is this applicable to me?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“No it isn’t applicable. You had Permanent Residence (not Long Term Residence). You lost your residence rights after an absence of 2 years. If you have a green EU registration certificate you can always play dumb and try to request a TIE.”
“Long term residency is a residency type given to only non-EU citizens. As such, a UK citizen living in Spain during those years never would’ve been eligible for this residency type. Thus there is nothing to recover.”
“You could have used your previous residency if you had applied by 31st December 2020 as the earlier residency would have qualified under freedom of movement regulations for (still being) an EEA citizen. Sadly, ‘Brexit’ has ruined your second bite.”
“I was in the same situation and I have achieved it.”
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Explore Cities →Conclusion
The discussion among Spainguru’s Facebook group members highlights the complexities faced by UK citizens attempting to reclaim residency in Spain post-Brexit.
The consensus suggests that the type of residency previously held (Permanent Residence vs. Long Term Residence) and the impact of Brexit significantly affect the ability to recover residency rights.
While some members offer a glimmer of hope based on personal success stories, the legal and procedural nuances post-Brexit present a challenging landscape for those seeking to return to Spain
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