Dreaming of a sunnier, slower-paced life where your pension stretches further than at home? Spain continues to rank among the world’s favourite retirement destinations, and for good reason. From Granada’s snow-capped Sierra Nevada to the Balearic Islands’ turquoise coves, the country offers more than postcard scenery: it combines one of Europe’s lowest living-cost indices with universal healthcare that rivals the best global systems. Add 46 well-connected airports, high-speed rail, reliable fibre broadband and a culture built around family, food and fiesta, and you have a lifestyle cocktail that is hard to beat.
Yet 2025 brings new rules—stricter visa income thresholds, the end of the property-based Golden Visa, and updated wealth and solidarity taxes—that every would-be expat must weigh carefully. This guide unpacks the pros, cons and key numbers in detail.
Spain’s 5,000-plus kilometres of coastline, Mediterranean diet and world-class public healthcare remain unbeatable draws. Inflation is currently about 2.2 % (April 2025)—one of the euro-zone’s lowest—and many everyday costs are still below northern-European averages.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Low inflation, moderate living costs, superb climate & culture | Heavy, multi-layered taxation; bureaucracy can be slow |
| Public healthcare ranked top-10 globally; inexpensive private cover | Rising property prices in hotspots; Golden-Visa-by-property route scrapped (April 2025) |
| Extensive fibre & 5 G, fast trains and 46 commercial airports | Visa/income requirements for non-EU nationals rise with IPREM |
| EU-level consumer protections; stable political climate | Complex inheritance rules; wealth/“solidarity” taxes on larger estates |
Key questions to ask before you pack
| If you are… | You need… | 2025 income rule* |
| EU/EEA/Swiss | No visa, but must register (NIE/TIE) & show healthcare plus “sufficient means” | Local police offices often accept about €800–€1, 000 per person per month |
| Non-EU retiree (UK, US, etc.) | Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) | ≥ 400 % of IPREM = €2 400 p.m. / €28,800 p.a. + €600 p.m. per dependent |
| Semi-retired remote worker | Digital-Nomad Visa | Proof of remote income ≥ €2,400–€2 760 p.m. and private health insurance |
| High-net-worth investor | Property route closed 3 April 2025; other investment routes (e.g., business or funds ≥ €1 million) remain |
*Thresholds adjust every January with the IPREM index—check your Spanish consulate for the latest figures.
Paperwork snapshot: valid passport, medical certificate, police background check (translated/apostilled), proof of funds, and zero-deductible private health insurance covering at least €30,000 of care.
Check out Is the Spanish non-lucrative residence visa a good option for retirees moving to Spain in 2025?
For more inspiration, check out 11 best destinations in Spain to spend your retirement 2025 and have a browse of our favourite retirement properties for sale in Spain this month.
| Route | Cover in Spain | What it costs |
| EU EHIC | Emergencies & short stays (≤ 90 days) | Free |
| UK GHIC | Same as EHIC—invalid once resident | Free |
| UK pensioner with S1 | Full public healthcare; register S1 at the INSS | Free (UK reimburses Spain) |
| Convenio Especial | Buy-in to public system (excludes prescriptions) | €60 (< 65 yrs) / €157 (65 +) per month |
| Private insurance | Required for NLV/Digital-Nomad visas; faster appointments | From €70–€200 p.m. (age- and cover-dependent) |
Spain’s public hospitals rank among the world’s best for outcomes, and English is widely spoken in larger centres—but always carry your SIP health card and passport when visiting A&E.
Check out our total guide to the Spanish healthcare system for everything you need to know.
1. Admin can be slow—book NIE/TIE or driving-licence appointments weeks ahead.
2. Language—local clinics now expect at least basic Spanish; night classes or a tutor help enormously.
3. Climate extremes—2024 set new heat records in Andalucía and Valencia; budget for air-conditioning.
4. Golden-Visa property deadline—buyers who exchanged contracts before 3 April 2025 can still complete and apply; new purchases no longer qualify.
Check consulate pages for the latest IPREM figures and visa forms—they change each January.
Talk to a dual-qualified tax adviser before transferring pensions or investments.
Visit in both winter and summer to experience climate extremes, and consider renting for six months before buying.
Next up:
Ready to retire in Spain? This guide reveals 11 of the best towns, villages and cities for retirement in 2025. Find your ideal blend of sunshine, lifestyle, healthcare and affordability—plus where to buy property and what to expect from each destination.
10 comments
Add your voice22 Jul. 2022
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13 Jun. 2023
Hello, I am in Canada and wish to purchase a home in Spain to live for 4-5 months at a time or split it up twice a year to start. Is it easy to Airbnb or vrbo a home whilst I am in Canada or is it too much of a hassle? Thank you, enjoy the articles.
15 Jun. 2023
Hi Scott, your plan sounds fantastic! Many foreign owners in Spain utilise services such as VRBO and Airbnb, so it is definitely doable! To make it easier, there are Airbnb/WRBO property managers that can assist you, that live locally in Spain. Hope this helps – good luck finding your dream property in Spain!
03 Jul. 2023
Hi , my husband and I would like to retire to Fuerteventura next year. We are both 65 next January. My husband has had cancer in 2020 and has been clear for 2 1/2 years. We have not been able to get health insurance to cover . What is the S1 form and would it cover us in 2025 when we get state pension from UK. As an alternative to private health insurance. Thank you
07 Jul. 2023
Hi Ros, thanks for your question. We're glad to hear your husband is doing well. In regards to the S1 form – gov.uk and the NHS have official information on obtaining this kind of health cover. If you search the NHS website for: 'Planning your healthcare abroad'. This may be dependent on you receiving a state pension. Hope this helps!