How Many Foreign Buyers Are Choosing Costa Blanca in 2026? The Nationality Breakdown
A data-driven look at who's really buying on the Costa Blanca — and why it matters for your purchase
Short answer: In 2025, foreigners bought 43.29% of all homes sold in Alicante province — more than three times the Spanish national average of 13.8%. British buyers still lead the Costa Blanca (around 7.9% of all foreign purchases nationally), followed closely by the Dutch (6.77%) and Germans (6.65%). Polish buyers now account for roughly 4.6% of all foreign purchases in Spain, up from 1.22% a decade ago.
Last updated: 15 August 2026.
Why Alicante keeps topping Spain's foreign-buyer rankings
Alicante province — which covers most of the Costa Blanca — is not just popular with international buyers, it's in a league of its own. According to Colegio de Registradores 2025 annual data, 43.29% of all property transactions in Alicante involved a foreign buyer. The nearest competitor, Málaga, sat at 32.80%, followed by Santa Cruz de Tenerife (30.04%) and the Balearic Islands (29.86%).
The Consejo General del Notariado confirmed the same pattern from the notarial side: the Valencian Community (which includes Alicante) recorded 11,025 non-resident transactions in the first half of 2025 — 39.6% of the entire national non-resident market. In a single quarterly update in 2026, the Registradores put Alicante's foreign share as high as 44.65%.
The 2026 nationality breakdown — who's actually buying
The Colegio de Registradores' Q4 2025 report — the latest complete national figures analysed and published in early 2026 — gives the clearest snapshot of the foreign-buyer mix on the Costa Blanca and across Spain:
| Nationality | Share of all foreign purchases (Q4 2025) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| British | 7.93% | Long-term decline (was ~22% in 2016) |
| Dutch | 6.77% | Rising (+10.5% year-on-year) |
| German | 6.65% | Stable |
| Moroccan | 5.78% | Growing (mostly urban and resident) |
| Romanian | 5.45% | Stable |
| Italian | 5.32% | Stable |
| French | 4.93% | Slight decline |
| Polish | ~4.61% (2026 annualised) | Up from 1.22% in 2016; short-term Q4 dip |
| Belgian | 4.38% | Stable |
Source: Colegio de Registradores, Q4 2025 quarterly report, published February 2026. EU nationals together made up 57.32% of all foreign purchases in the quarter.
The British are still #1 — but no longer dominant
British buyers held nearly 22% of all foreign purchases in Spain in 2016, according to Registradores historical data. By 2026 that share is below 8%. Post-Brexit paperwork, the 90/180-day Schengen rule for non-residents, and a weaker pound against the euro have all played a part. On the Costa Blanca — especially the North (Jávea, Moraira, Altea) — British interest has stayed noticeably more resilient than the national trend suggests, thanks to well-established expat communities and English-speaking infrastructure.
The Dutch surge — the real 2026 story
The Netherlands is the standout mover of 2026. Per Registradores data analysed by Sonneil, Dutch buyers overtook Germans in Q4 2025 with 1,632 transactions in a single quarter — up 15.22% quarter-on-quarter and 10.5% year-on-year. They were the only major foreign nationality to record growth on both measures. On the Costa Blanca they cluster around Jávea, Dénia and Calpe.
Where Polish buyers fit in
Polish buyers are one of the fastest-growing nationalities in Spain over the last decade — from 1.22% of foreign purchases in 2016 to around 4.61% by 2026, according to Registradores. Q4 2025 did show a short-term dip (–13.07% year-on-year), but the underlying decade-long trend is strongly up. Polish buyers concentrate heavily on the Costa Blanca South — Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Guardamar and Villajoyosa — and, together with Belgians and Dutch, they buy the highest share of new-build properties (roughly 30–40% of their purchases, per the Registradores 2024 report).
What this means if you're planning to buy
Three practical takeaways from the data:
- Competition is intense but not uniform. Coastal Alicante is where 4 in 10 buyers are foreign — that pushes prices, but also means bilingual services, established communities and international-standard property management.
- You're paying a foreigner premium if you're not careful. Per Notariado data, non-resident foreigners pay roughly 75% more per m² than Spanish buyers, and about 65% more than resident foreigners. Commission-free portals like DirecSpain exist specifically to strip out one of the biggest sources of that premium — the 3–5% buyer-side agency commission stacked on top of the sale price.
- The area shapes the neighbours. Costa Blanca North skews Dutch, German and British; Costa Blanca South skews Polish, Belgian and Scandinavian; central Alicante and Torrevieja are the most cosmopolitan.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of Costa Blanca property buyers are foreign in 2026?
Around 43% of all home purchases in Alicante province in 2025 involved a foreign buyer, per Colegio de Registradores. Some 2026 quarterly updates place the share above 44%. The national average for Spain is 13.8%.
Who buys the most property on the Costa Blanca — British, Dutch or Germans?
British buyers are still #1 by share nationally (7.93% in Q4 2025), with a particularly strong presence on the Costa Blanca. Dutch buyers overtook Germans nationally in Q4 2025 (6.77% vs 6.65%) and are the fastest-growing major nationality.
Are Polish buyers active on the Costa Blanca?
Yes — Poland has been one of the fastest-growing buyer nationalities of the past decade, rising from 1.22% of foreign purchases in Spain in 2016 to around 4.61% by 2026. Polish buyers concentrate on the Costa Blanca South, particularly Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Villajoyosa.
Do foreigners really pay more than Spaniards for the same property?
Yes, on average. According to Consejo General del Notariado figures for 2025, non-resident foreign buyers pay roughly 75% more per square metre than Spanish buyers nationally. Part of that reflects preference for higher-end coastal properties, but layered agency commissions and lack of local price knowledge also drive the gap.
Has Brexit reduced British interest in the Costa Blanca?
British share nationally fell from ~22% of foreign purchases in 2016 to under 8% in 2026, per Registradores. However, Costa Blanca North remains a stronghold — the fall has been sharper in Spain overall than in the traditional British hotspots.
How many foreign property purchases were made in Spain in 2025?
Approximately 97,500 — close to a record 100,000 in a single year — according to Colegio de Registradores. Roughly one in four of those purchases happened in Alicante province.
Browsing listings on the Costa Blanca? See Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Villajoyosa on DirecSpain — a commission-free portal connecting buyers directly with owners and local agencies.
