Legal advice in Spain

A recent court ruling in Galicia has confirmed that a homeowners’ association can enforce a ban on pets when that restriction has been properly approved and formally included in the community bylaws.

Working legally in Spain as a foreigner means having the right combination of immigration status, identification numbers and local registrations. The exact steps depend on whether you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen or a non-EU national, but many requirements overlap.1.

Spain and the United Kingdom have announced plans to ease short‑term business travel for British professionals, with both governments talking up a new 90‑day work “visa waiver” as part of a broader push to deepen post‑Brexit economic ties.Spain’s short‑stay work visa waiver for UK professionalsWhat

In recent years, as occupied properties have increased in Spain, a curious trend has emerged – more people are buying homes with squatters, drawn by their below-market prices. But is it really a good idea?

Since April 2025, Spain requires extrajudicial attempts before eviction – but two summary procedures let owners act quickly against squatters with few defences.

After years of post‑Brexit uncertainty, a long‑anticipated EU‑UK agreement on Gibraltar is finally moving towards publication.

A new squatting case in Calvià, Mallorca, has once again highlighted the insecurity faced by homeowners. The story begins in August 2024, when a wealthy family rented a luxury property with a private swimming pool for €3,000 a month. In October 2025, however, the Danish tenant terminated the lease and returned to his home country, leaving his ex, a Cuban woman, and her two young children in the property.

Spain’s plan to regularise up to 500,000 undocumented migrants has generated intense interest — and a lot of misunderstanding.

Learn how to stay compliant with Spanish tax law when living rent-free in your parents’ property, avoiding penalties by understanding imputed income, declarations, and legal options for family housing arrangements.

Spain has taken a major step in reshaping its migration policy after the government approved a decree that will allow around 500,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers to legalise their status.The measure, expected to come into force in April, targets people who have been living in Spain witho

Spain is famous for flamenco, tapas, and sunny beaches—but did you know it’s also home to some of the strangest laws in the world? From fines for sleeping in your car to banning certain baby names, these rules are as bizarre as they are real.

The Valencian Housing and Land Authority (EVHA), part of the regional government, has awarded a €4.7 million contract to install, maintain and replace 300 individual alarm and security systems in its public housing stock to deter illegal occupation. EVHA Director General, Estefanía Martínez, said break-ins and squatting are among the most serious problems affecting these homes.

If you’re planning to move to Spain, there’s a key step that should be at the top of your checklist: registering for your empadronamiento, often referred to simply as the padrón.

Spain has overhauled leave for new parents over the past few years, moving to a unified, gender‑neutral system officially called birth and childcare leave (permiso por nacimiento y cuidado del menor).

Buying a house in Spain as a foreigner in 2026 is perfectly possible, but it comes with its own admin trail: legal checks, a NIE number, a Spanish bank account and a notary appointment, usually in that order.

When buying property in Spain, especially if you’re an international buyer, you may come across the term “notary”. But what exactly does a notary do, and why are they so important in Spanish real estate transactions?

Today, video surveillance cameras that allow recording or live viewing are available at relatively low cost. However, in a homeowners’ association, installing CCTV in common areas – such as hallways, courtyards or car parks – requires the formal approval from the association. Anyone wishing to place cameras on their façade that might capture images of communal spaces must therefore first obtain the consent from their neighbours.

When moving to Spain, obtaining your NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is one of the first and most important steps.

In today’s post, we review two different annual reports which study and elaborate rankings on the best countries and cities for digital nomads.

As of 1 January 2026, the V-16 beacon is mandatory on Spanish roads to signal breakdowns and accidents.

In 2026, Spain will tighten Bizum payment reporting, raise diesel taxes, and extend electric vehicle and energy-efficient home incentives. The Verifactu invoicing system is postponed to 2027, unemployment benefit recipients are exempt from income tax returns, and aid continues for wildfire and flood victims.

The new driving licence regulations have been in effect across the European Union since 3 December. They aim to modernise the system, improve road safety and simplify life for drivers. Spain must implement the changes by the end of 2028. The directive also requires the gradual introduction of a digital driving licence in all member states.

Spain’s holidays in 2026 give you plenty of chances to organise your calendar, plan trips and enjoy long weekends.

Illegal occupation, also known as squatting, is one of the biggest fears for any property owner. That's why it's crucial to know the legal status of any property before buying it.

If you’ve found a property on idealista or you’re preparing to buy, reserve, or rent in Spain, the very first document you should secure is your Número de Identificación de Extranjero (NIE).