Six Months a Year in Murcia: EES, ETIAS and the 90/180 Rule

UK owners can spend up to 90 days in any rolling 180 in Spain and the Schengen area, which works out at up to around six months a year at a Murcia home. Since April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System records your trips automatically. ETIAS is not yet in operation at the time of writing, and its fee will be €20.

One of the questions I'm asked most by buyers is how much time they'll actually get to spend at their new home. The answer is a lot, and with a bit of planning, it can line up nicely with the best months of the year on the Costa Cálida.

This is how the rules work in 2026, in plain English.

How long can a UK citizen stay at their Spanish home?

British citizens, like other non-EU nationals, can spend 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area. It's a rolling window rather than a calendar allowance: on any given day, you look back over the previous 180 days and add up the days you were in the Schengen area.

The 90/180 rule itself hasn't changed. France did try to create an automatic long-stay visa for British second-home owners in 2023, but its Constitutional Council struck that measure down in January 2024 on procedural grounds, and Spain hasn't legislated anything similar. So the rule you plan around is the familiar one.

Can I really spend six months a year in Murcia?

Yes, if you split your time into two stays. Because the window rolls, 90 days in, followed by roughly 90 days out, lets you come straight back for another 90.

As an illustration, a stay of about three months in autumn followed by about three months in spring fits the rule, and it happens to match golf high season in Murcia. October to May is when the courses are busiest, with cooler conditions and sunny days. GNK Golf's 2026 rate card puts La Torre's high season in February to May and September to November, and El Valle's in March to May and September to October. July and August are hot, which is why owners who are here then tend to play early in the morning and spend afternoons at the beach.

Two practical points keep the counting easy:

• Use a calculator. The EU publishes a short-stay calculator; enter your planned dates rather than working it out in your head.
• It's Schengen-wide. A week in France or Portugal counts towards the same 90 days.

What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?

EES is the EU's digital border system. It began rolling out on 12 October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026. It replaces the old passport stamp with a digital record: a facial image for all travellers and fingerprints for anyone aged 12 and over.

For owners, the practical upside is simplicity. Your entries and exits are logged automatically, so there's no squinting at faded stamps to work out your days. Your first trip under EES takes a little longer while you register at the border, so allow some extra time. After that, it's routine.

Who doesn't need to register with EES?

EU and Schengen nationals, and non-EU nationals who hold a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by a country operating EES. According to the European Commission, those permit holders aren't registered in the system at all.

That's worth knowing if you'd like longer in the sun. With a Spanish residence permit, for example through the non-lucrative visa, you're outside EES and the 90/180 limit altogether, so you could spend as much of the year in Murcia as you like. Residency comes with its own tax considerations, so it's one to talk through with a Spanish adviser.

What is ETIAS, and when does it start?

ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an online travel authorisation that visa-exempt visitors, including British citizens, will need before travelling to the Schengen area. It is not yet in operation at the time of writing, and the EU has not confirmed a start date, so there's nothing to apply for yet. Only use the official EU website when it does open.

The fee is set at €20, confirmed by the European Commission in July 2025. You'll still see the original €7 figure online, but it's out of date. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the fee.

How does time in Spain affect tax residency?

Immigration and tax are two separate things. Spending more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year makes you Spanish tax-resident, taxed on your worldwide income. Spain can also treat you as resident if your main economic interests are here, or if your spouse and dependent children live here.

If you split your time between the UK and Murcia, plan your dates with that line in mind; two 90-day stays sit just under it, with little room to spare. If you're planning to spend close to six months a year here, a short conversation with a Spanish tax adviser before you set your dates is well worth it.

What should I plan before my first stay?

• Plan your stays on a rolling 180-day basis, using the EU short-stay calculator.
• Include any other Schengen trips in your count.
• Allow extra time at the border for your first EES registration.
• Budget €20 per person for ETIAS once it opens, with under-18s and over-70s exempt from the fee.
• If you'd like more than 90 days at a time, look into Spanish residency.
• If you're planning close to six months a year, check your tax position first.

If you're still choosing a home, we arrange and accompany viewing trips across the resorts, so one short visit can cover Corvera, Alhama and Santa Rosalia without eating into your 90 days. We can also introduce you to independent, English-speaking lawyers and tax advisers for the residency and tax questions (you're always free to choose your own).

FAQ

Is the EU Entry/Exit System live?

Yes. EES began rolling out on 12 October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026. It records a facial image for all travellers and fingerprints for those aged 12 and over.

Has the 90/180 rule changed for British second-home owners?

No. British citizens can still spend 90 days in any rolling 180 across the Schengen area. Spain has not introduced any special visa for second-home owners.

Am I exempt from EES if I have a Spanish residence permit?

Yes. According to the European Commission, holders of long-stay visas and residence permits from countries operating EES are not registered in it, and the 90-day limit doesn't apply to them.

When does ETIAS start and how much will it cost?

ETIAS is not yet in operation at the time of writing and the EU hasn't confirmed a start date. The fee is €20, and under-18s and over-70s are exempt from paying it.

Does time in Spain affect my tax residency?

Yes. More than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year makes you Spanish tax-resident on your worldwide income, and Spain also looks at where your economic interests and close family are.

If you'd like to see the resorts for yourself on your next trip, I'd love to show you round. Message me on WhatsApp on +44 7424 864 684 or send an enquiry and I'll get straight back to you.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Confirm your own position with a qualified Spanish lawyer or tax adviser before you act.

About the author — Lee Doherty is the founder of MedSol Real Estate. He spent two years researching the region before buying here himself, and now helps UK and international buyers find golf-resort homes across the Region of Murcia.