Brits planning a Spanish getaway this year may encounter some restrictions. Whether you’re jetting off for a week of sun or considering a retirement in the sunshine, it’s crucial to stay informed about rule changes.
Housing shortages and soaring prices have led to protests against tourists in several cities such as Barcelona and Seville, with overseas buyers and mass tourism blamed for worsening the crisis. As Brits start to plan their summer getaways, tourists bound for Spain have been warned about nine changes they will face. Spain has detailed a 12-step plan to tackle its strained housing market, which saw some of Europe’s steepest price increases last year at 8.3%.
In 2024, the country welcomed an unprecedented number of foreign visitors, with around 94 million arrivals. Despite the protests, it’s still predicted to be a major holiday hotspot for 2025, so here are the nine changes British visitors need to be aware of before they board their plane.
1. ‘Big Brother’ rules for tourists
The Spanish government introduced the ‘Big Brother’ rules on December 2, 2024, obliging hotels to collect extensive personal information from tourists, including family details, bank card information, and addresses, to be shared with security services. Although hotels in Spain already ask guests for their passport or ID card details, the new regulations are set to be the most rigorous in the EU, with hotels collecting up to 42 pieces of personal data.
While the system is already operational, it has yet to be tested during the peak summer months, and guests may experience longer check-in times. However, the changes have been met with criticism from hoteliers and groups such as CEHAT (Confederación Española de Hoteles y Alojamientos Turísticos), which represents the Spanish tourist accommodation sector, including hotels and apartments.
They argue that the rules place an “unreasonable” burden on small businesses, which make up the majority of accommodation providers. “This Royal Decree infringes upon fundamental privacy rights and is contrary to several EU directives, which is why CEHAT asserts that compliance is impossible due to the risk it poses to establishments being subject to lawsuits from travellers,” say the hoteliers, who are prepared to take legal action.
2. Automation at the border
The EU’s Entry and Exit System (EES) is set to launch in the first half of 2025, which means visitors can expect changes when arriving and departing. The EES will be an automated IT system that registers travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, each time they cross an EU external border, covering both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travellers.
A new high-tech system is set to log information such as names, travel documents types, biometric data including fingerprints and facial images, and specifics of entry and exit dates and locations. It will also capture any instances of entry refusal, upgrading from the current, slower process of manually stamping passports, which not only takes more time but also lacks reliability in tracking border crossings and identifying overstayers.
Travellers can look forward to a smoother journey with the expansion of automated border control checks and self-service options, which could mean it’s quicker to get through passport control.
3. No more golden visas
Spain plans to terminate its “golden visa” scheme come this spring. Since 2013, the scheme has been granting residency rights to non-EU nationals who make significant Spanish property investments.
Changes are on the horizon as Spain addresses its intensifying housing crisis. Currently, foreigners can get a renewable residence permit by investing a minimum of €500,000 in Spanish real estate without a mortgage, a permit that comes with an initial three-year live-and-work entitlement.
Golden visas, which can be renewed every five years given “the right conditions are met”, will soon be a thing of the past in Spain. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has declared that the scheme will stop accepting new applicants from 3 April 2025.
In a speech, Mr Sanchez pointed out the problems associated with these visas, stating: “Today, 94 out of every 100 such visas are linked to real estate investment… in major cities that are facing a highly stressed market and where it’s almost impossible to find decent housing for those who already live, work and pay their taxes there.”
4. Tourist taxes on the rise
In other news, tourist taxes are on the rise across various beloved Spanish destinations. By 2025, holidaymakers heading to Asturias, Galicia, Tenerife, Alicante, and Seville will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets as the tourist tax increases. This fee is typically paid upon checking into accommodation.
Meanwhile, Mogan, a picturesque town in Gran Canaria, has introduced a new overnight charge for visitors starting this month, setting them back €0.15 per person per day. The fee, announced last month, is intended to be reinvested into the local area.
Mogan’s mayor, Onalia Bueno, commented in December 2024 on the new levy: “The tourists who stay in the municipality contribute to paying what proportionally corresponds to them for the services and activities they enjoy during their stay. Under no circumstances do we want the residents to assume all the tax pressure through an increase in rates.”
5. Holiday rental bans
Malaga has implemented a ban on new short-term rental properties in 43 neighbourhoods where such rentals exceed 8% of the residential stock. The policy, which began earlier this month, will be trialled for three years.
Barcelona is also set to eliminate all 10,000 licensed short-term rental apartments in the coming years to safeguard the housing supply for permanent residents. From 2028, short-term tourist apartments will be prohibited in the city, achieved by not issuing new licences or renewing existing ones that would extend beyond that year.
6. 100% tax on property sales to foreigners
The Prime Minister has announced plans for a 100% tax on the value of homes purchased by foreigners, aiming to address the country’s housing crisis. The goal is to discourage non-European Union residents from buying homes in Spain, with the Prime Minister stating: “Spain’s housing should be for Spanish people to live in, as well as for migrants who come here to work and build a life and contribute to the development and prosperity of our country.”
However, the proposed bill still requires approval from Spain’s parliament, leaving uncertainty about its implementation. In the past, Sanchez has faced challenges passing bills due to his party’s lack of a majority.
7. Hire car queues
British travellers hiring cars in Spain might need to brace themselves for lengthier check-in processes, involving additional paperwork and ID photocopies. However, some rental companies are streamlining this by enabling online form completion prior to arrival.
8. Changes to cruise ship itineraries
Spain’s tourist hotspots are eyeing restrictions on cruise ships, with Ibiza and Majorca announcing intentions in 2024 to limit their numbers and introduce heftier fees. Barcelona took action against overcrowding by relocating its cruise port further south, while other cities contemplate measures like new taxes or bans on larger vessels.
This could lead to cruise operators revising their Mediterranean itineraries. As Marie-Caroline Laurent, European Director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), told Reuters: “There will be some consideration of adapting the itineraries if for some reason we feel that all passengers will not be well-treated.”
9. Entry to top attractions may be restricted
In 2025, gaining access to Spain’s sought-after attractions might prove challenging due to attempts to alleviate congestion. For example, Tenerife has prohibited tourist buses from Anaga Rural Park starting in January, to protect the delicate mountain ecosystem.
The renowned Plaza de Espana in Seville is set to introduce a nominal entry fee for tourists, with the proceeds going towards the maintenance and conservation of the historic landmark. However, residents will still enjoy free access. Binibeca Vell, a fishing town in Menorca popular with tourists, voted to restrict visitor hours, although they stopped short of an outright ban.