01Who settles in Tenerife, and what they need
Tenerife attracts very different profiles. The south of the island is home to many British, German, Nordic and other retirees living on their own income. The Santa Cruz and La Laguna area has more professionals, teachers and researchers. Across the island, the number of people working remotely for employers or clients outside Spain keeps growing.
For these profiles the usual routes are non-lucrative residence, the international remote work permit, the researcher permit, the EU family member card and, after five years, long-term residence. British nationals who were already living on the island before 2021 also hold their own Withdrawal Agreement TIE.
02How we handle a Tenerife case online
Our service is online across Spain, the Canary Islands included. As registered Spanish lawyers we file your application through the electronic portal, so you do not need an appointment at the Santa Cruz Immigration Office to submit it, and notifications are also delivered electronically.
We organise the work so that you only travel when it is unavoidable, which in practice means the TIE fingerprint appointment. For any other one-off in-person step on the island we work with a network of local partners.
- First meeting by video call, in English or Spanish.
- Review of your income, health insurance and housing in Tenerife.
- Document checklist, sworn translations and apostilles.
- Electronic filing with the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Immigration Office or the UGE.
- Guidance for the fingerprint appointment and collecting your TIE.
03Living on the island without working in Spain, or working remotely
If you want to live in Tenerife on your own income without working in Spain, the route is non-lucrative residence. The first permit is applied for as a visa at the Spanish consulate where you live, and renewals are later filed with the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Immigration Office. We go through the financial means, health insurance with no co-payments and your housing documents with you.
If you work for an employer or clients outside Spain, the international remote work permit usually fits better, because it allows you to work from the island. It is handled by the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, also electronically, and can be applied for from within Spain if your stay is lawful.
04British nationals in Tenerife
British nationals who were resident in Tenerife before 1 January 2021 hold a specific Withdrawal Agreement TIE. Renewals, replacements and changes of address are dealt with by the National Police, by appointment. If you were living on the island then but never registered, it is worth reviewing what evidence of residence you have kept before taking any step.
If you arrived later, you need an ordinary permit. We help you choose between non-lucrative residence, the remote work permit or, if your partner is Spanish or an EU citizen, the family member card. The British Consulate in Plaza Weyler sees British nationals from Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro by appointment.
05Researchers and scientific staff
The University of La Laguna and the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics attract researchers and technical staff from many countries. There is a specific residence permit for research, handled by the Large Companies Unit, which allows your family to be included in the same procedure.
We review your agreement or contract with the institution, the evidence of your research activity and the documents for your spouse and children, so that the whole family can settle on the island at the same time.
06Living in the Canary Islands: healthcare, couples and tax regime
Public healthcare on the islands is provided by the Canary Islands Health Service (Servicio Canario de la Salud). Access depends on your situation: paying Spanish social security, being a pensioner with a recognised entitlement or, for non-lucrative residence, holding private insurance. We explain what cover you need at each stage.
If you are not married, registering with the Canary Islands Register of Unmarried Couples helps evidence the relationship. Both partners must live in the Canary Islands and show twelve months of cohabitation, proven with a joint historical census certificate.
The Canary Islands also have their own Economic and Tax Regime, with an indirect tax that replaces VAT. It is not an immigration matter, but it is worth reviewing with your tax adviser before you settle on the island.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to go to the Calle La Marina Immigration Office to submit my application?
No. As your representatives we file through the electronic portal. An in-person appointment is only needed if you go yourself. You will still need to attend the police for your TIE fingerprints.
I live in the south of Tenerife. Where will my fingerprints be taken?
At the National Police office shown on your appointment. Before you book it, we tell you which documents to bring and how to pay the fee, so you do not have to make the trip twice.
I live in La Palma, La Gomera or El Hierro. Can you handle my case too?
Yes. Each of those islands has its own immigration unit within the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and electronic filing works the same way. We work by video call from day one.
I am British and want to retire to Tenerife. What do I need?
If you were not living in Spain before 2021, usually non-lucrative residence, which starts with a visa at the Spanish consulate in the United Kingdom. We review your income, health insurance and housing before filing.
I have been offered a post at a research centre in La Laguna. Which permit applies?
Usually the residence permit for research, handled by the Large Companies Unit. We review your contract or agreement and prepare your family's applications at the same time.
Do I need a lawyer based in Tenerife?
No. A registered Spanish lawyer can act anywhere in Spain and the process is electronic. We work online, by video call; for one-off in-person steps on the island we work with local partners.