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UK Chancellor Signs Short-Stay Work Visa Waiver with Spain to Strengthen Post-Brexit Trade

 

Madrid, Spain – The United Kingdom and Spain have taken a major step to deepen post-Brexit economic ties, with the signing of a new short-stay work visa waiver and closer recognition of professional qualifications. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves formalised the agreement during her first official visit to Madrid on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.

 

The agreement will allow UK and Spanish professionals to work across borders for periods of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, without the need for a full work visa. It covers key sectors including legal and financial services, consulting, IT, and specialist corporate roles, and operates on a reciprocal basis, allowing Spanish professionals similar access to the UK.

 

Chancellor Reeves met with Spain’s Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo to sign a joint declaration under a new “Trade and Investment Dialogue” framework, designed to facilitate professional mobility, recognise qualifications, and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.

 

The UK Treasury has highlighted that the visa waiver alone could generate around £250 million in additional exports for British businesses over five years, underlining the importance of services—a sector in which the UK remains one of the world’s leading exporters.

 

The visit also coincided with a £240 million investment linked to Spanish liquid storage company Exolum, as Reeves met representatives from over 120 Spanish businesses and investors.

 

Chancellor Reeves said:
"In an uncertain world, we must build growth that is secure and resilient. We do this best through partnerships with those who share our interests, our values, and our ambitions. We count Spain amongst those partners – and the prize for doing more together is considerable."

 

Minister Cuerpo echoed the sentiment:
"No country can face the challenges of this era alone — economic security, technological transformation, climate change. The answer is more cooperation with trusted partners, not less. And the United Kingdom is, and will remain, one of Spain’s most important partners."

 

The visa waiver follows a proposal initially put forward by Spain to bypass post-Brexit bureaucracy and facilitate business travel between the two countries. It forms part of a wider UK strategy under Prime Minister Keir Starmer to rebuild economic links with European partners, reduce administrative barriers, and strengthen trade and investment post-Brexit.

 

Trade between the UK and Spain continues to grow strongly:

Spanish exports of goods to the UK reached €24.9 billion in 2025, up 4.5% year-on-year and more than 25% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

 

UK exports to Spain reached £22.1 billion between October 2024 and September 2025, an annual increase of 11%, making Spain one of the UK’s fastest-growing markets.

 

 

This visit builds on the Strategic Framework agreement signed in London last September by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, aimed at strengthening cooperation in technology, defence, and life sciences.