Which Spanish banks lend to UK buyers in Girona

Spain has dozens of banks, savings banks and regional lenders, but their enthusiasm for non-resident mortgages is not uniform. A bank with a strong branch network and years of experience financing holiday homes in Girona may have almost no appetite in a province where it has never lent to a foreign buyer before. For a reader asking about Girona specifically, the honest answer is: it depends on which banks are active there right now, and that changes.

This is the gap an intermediary is meant to close. We do not apply to one bank and hope; we compare current criteria across more than 20 Spanish banks, check which of them have recent non-resident approvals near Girona, and only then prepare a file aimed at the two or three most likely to say yes.

Girona province covers the Costa Brava coastline as well as inland countryside toward the Pyrenees, offering both beach towns and rural stone villages. Its proximity to France draws French, Belgian and Dutch buyers, alongside others wanting a quieter alternative to busier Spanish coasts.

Girona-Costa Brava airport serves the coast directly, with Barcelona airport also within reach for wider connections. Coastal areas see strong summer activity, while inland towns remain calmer, and property types range from apartments and townhouses near the sea to farmhouses further inland.

Before you commit to the numbers of a mortgage, it helps to know the place: dated figures on population, asking prices, transport links and climate in Girona (province), each with its source. Together they give a grounded sense of Girona (province) to weigh against your budget.

On 1 January 2025 the INE recorded 830,429 residents across the entire province of Girona, a figure that includes every municipality, not just the capital that shares its name. These official population data set the context for the local market figures below. Foreign nationals make up 181,899 residents of the province of Girona, roughly 22 per 100 inhabitants. The figure is meaningful without being overwhelming, and it shifts noticeably depending on which town in the province you look at.

According to INE, only 3,372 British nationals were registered across the province of Girona as of 1 January 2025. That low figure reflects the padrón's focus on year-round residents, excluding owners who use a property there only part-time. The following table shows the leading foreign nationalities registered in Girona (province) on 1 January 2025, according to the municipal-level data INE makes available.

For nationalities the census groups together rather than listing them individually, such as Germans, Italians, Dutch, Belgians or Scandinavians, we turn to the detailed INE register for Girona province. Unlike the table above, this count dates from 1 January 2022, the most recent detailed edition.

Of the 5,315 homes for sale across the province of Girona, the median asking price is €2,840/m² and the median ticket €290,000 in our data. That puts the province near the middle of the table, close to the €3,135/m² median across the 130 towns we track. Half of the properties currently listed are priced between €1,930 and €3,820 per square metre, with cheaper and more expensive homes on either side of that middle band.

Taking €290,000 as the median asking price in Girona (province), the resale transfer tax of 10 % amounts to about €29,000, with a further €3,500 for notary, registry and gestoría fees. That puts the total near €32,500, which a lender does not finance and must come from savings. All prices shown are asking prices from adverts active on 2026-11-01, not completed sales. The price eventually paid is always a matter of negotiation, shaped by condition, precise location and orientation.

This table sets out population, foreign residents per 100 people and median price per square metre for the towns we track in Girona (province), highlighting how much local markets can vary.

INE's experimental statistic, based on listings from the main holiday-rental platforms, counted 20,821 holiday-let homes in Girona (province) in 05/2026 (116,320 bed places), about 25 per 1,000 residents. That is a moderate presence, and tourist letting still requires a regional licence.

Before booking, confirm that Aeropuerto de Girona-Costa Brava (GRO), the one commercial airport serving Girona (province), has a connection from your home airport at the time of year you intend to fly, as this changes seasonally. The figures that follow reflect conditions in or around Girona, the provincial capital; elsewhere in the province, particularly inland, at altitude or on other islands, the climate can vary considerably. January brings a mean of just 7.1 °C and lows around 1.1 °C, against an August mean of 23.4 °C and highs near 29.8 °C, making this one of the colder corners of Spain in winter. Insulation and heating costs deserve close attention before buying. With around 728 mm of rain annually over about 66 days, this area is wetter than much of coastal or central Spain, so it is worth looking for signs of damp when viewing a property. Source: the 1981-2010 climate normals published by AEMET, the state weather agency, for its Girona Aeropuerto station, some 9 km from here; local conditions can differ, especially inland or at altitude.

INE recorded 15,239 home sales in Girona (province) in the year to 07/2026. That level of activity typically gives buyers more comparables to judge a fair price and a broader pool of properties to choose from. These are province-wide figures for Girona, and they can differ substantially depending on the town and the property in question. Tell us about your plans and we will go through the numbers for your case.

The transfer tax on a resale home is set by each Spanish region. In Girona the general rate is 10 %, and on top of it come notary, land registry and gestoría (roughly one more percent). On a new build you pay 10 % VAT plus stamp duty instead of the transfer tax. This money is not lent by the bank.

Before we tell a UK client which banks are worth approaching for a property in Girona, we look at three things: whether the bank has a branch or a dedicated non-resident desk covering Girona, whether it has recently valued or financed similar properties in the area, and whether its current internal policy still welcomes applicants who are tax resident in the United Kingdom. Policies shift; a bank that was active a year ago can tighten its criteria, and one that ignored an area can suddenly open it up.

We also factor in the type of property. A resale flat in a town centre, a new-build on the coast and a rural finca near Girona are not treated the same way by every lender, because valuation rules and risk appetite differ by asset type as much as by region.

Once we know which banks are realistic candidates for a property in Girona, we help the client assemble a file built around documents most Spanish banks recognise, even though the exact list varies by lender. For a buyer based in the United Kingdom, this typically includes a recent P60 and payslips, the last filed Self Assessment tax return, bank statements from the last few months, evidence of any existing loans or mortgage commitments, and a valid passport. Some banks ask for a sworn translation of these documents, and occasionally an apostille, so we flag this early rather than at the last minute.

Because the United Kingdom uses the pound rather than the euro, we also remind clients to budget for currency conversion and exchange-rate movements when transferring funds to Spain, since this can affect both the deposit and the ongoing mortgage payments.

Choosing a bank is only part of the picture. On top of the price, a buyer in Girona should budget for transfer tax (ITP) set by the region for a resale home, or 10% VAT plus stamp duty on a new build, as well as notary, land registry, gestoría and the bank's own valuation fee. These costs do not change by lender, but the mortgage term offered, running to around age 70-75 and available as fixed, variable or mixed rate, does vary, and that affects which bank suits a particular buyer best.

Once the property is owned, non-residents must file an annual Modelo 210 tax return, and Spain's double taxation agreement with the United Kingdom means a local tax adviser should confirm exactly how rental income or any future gain is to be declared both in Spain and to HMRC. If the property is later sold, the buyer withholds 3% of the price on account of the seller's Spanish tax.

Spain is a relatively short flight away from most UK airports, making regular visits to a Spanish property straightforward for owners based in Britain. Many British buyers are drawn to Spain for its climate, coastal lifestyle and established expatriate communities. One practical point to bear in mind is that Spanish inheritance law differs from UK rules, so it is worth taking specific advice on how it may affect the property and one's estate. Currency movements between sterling and the euro can also affect the overall cost of purchase and ongoing expenses.

Spain and the United Kingdom have a double taxation agreement in place, and a local tax adviser should confirm how rental income or gains from Spanish property must be declared and reported to HMRC.

As the United Kingdom is no longer an EU member state, British citizens may stay in Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, and must apply for a visa or residence permit for longer stays.

Since the United Kingdom uses the pound sterling (GBP) rather than the euro, buyers should factor in exchange-rate movements and currency conversion costs when paying for a property or transferring funds to Spain.