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Spain
Madrid
Spain’s Property Market Hits Record Highs
A 20% surge in secondary housing prices significantly increases the cost of purchasing property in major Spanish cities for foreign buyers.
Spain Freezes Rents Under New Emergency Economic Plan
Spain's emergency rent freeze and energy tax cut will help stabilize housing costs for digital nomads and long-term travelers living in the country.
Madrid Updates Rules for Short-Term Rentals
New regulations allow residential buildings to ban tourist apartments by majority vote, likely reducing the supply and increasing the cost of short-term rentals in Madrid.
Spain Limits Rent Hikes for Existing Contracts
A 2% cap on annual rent increases in 'stressed zones' like Madrid and Malaga provides significant cost protection for long-term expats on older contracts.
Spain Updates Healthcare Access for Undocumented Residents
A new royal decree guarantees free public healthcare for undocumented migrants who can prove six months of residency in Spain. This policy shift reinforces Spain's commitment to universal health coverage and may impact those currently in the process of regularizing their residency status.
Spain Rolls Out Massive Regularization Program
Spain will launch a mass regularization process in April 2026, allowing approximately 500,000 undocumented residents to apply for one-year residence and work permits. This initiative aims to integrate long-term residents into the formal economy and provides a pathway to legal status for those currently without valid papers.
Spain Updates Residency Pathways for Foreigners
The Spanish government has drafted new pathways for legal residency starting in 2026, including a transitional provision for asylum seekers and a new 'extraordinary arraigo' for those with work or family ties. These changes aim to simplify the transition to legal status and prevent overlapping immigration procedures.
Spain Penalizes Landlords for Rent Hikes on Renewal
New fiscal penalties for Spanish landlords who increase rent during contract renewals may help stabilize housing costs for long-term expats and nomads.
Spain Rolls Out Major Travel Flexibility for Temporary Residents
The Supreme Court has annulled the regulation that allowed authorities to cancel temporary residency permits if holders spent more than six months outside Spain in a single year. This ruling provides expats with significantly more travel flexibility, though they must still meet the original conditions of their residency to renew.
Spain Updates Residency Rules for Half a Million People
The Spanish government has approved a decree to grant residence and work permits to approximately 500,000 undocumented individuals currently in the country. To qualify, applicants must have been residing in Spain before December 31, 2025, and maintain a clean criminal record.