A New Route for Undocumented Britons in Spain

A new legal framework Royal Decree 316/2026 of 14 April (published in the BOE on 15 April and in force since 16 April 2026) introduces an extraordinary regularisation within the Immigration Regulations, through two new additional provisions. The relevant one here is...

Why Foreign Owners of Spanish Assets Should Make a Spanish Will

One of the most common mistakes made by foreign property owners in Spain is assuming that a will signed in their home country is sufficient to deal with Spanish assets. Although a foreign will may be legally valid, relying exclusively upon it frequently creates...

Personal Mobility Vehicles

Electric scooters have transformed the urban mobility in many Spanish cities. However, with their surging popularity, concerns regarding safety and regulation have also come to the forefront. In this article, we focus into the significant regulatory changes for...

Summary of Decree 31/2024 on Tourist-Use Housing in Andalusia

The Decree No. 31/2024, issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport and published in BOJA No. 24 on 2nd February 2024, introduces significant changes to the regulation of tourist-use housing in Andalusia. This decree modifies existing rules to enhance the...

Consumer rights in restaurants

In Spain, the State (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism) and the Autonomous Communities (Registry of Tourism) are responsible for the general regulations for restaurants, cafés and bars. The respective townhalls monitor the compliance with urban regulations,...

Simplifying Work and Residency Permits

Spain is set to introduce a new Foreigners Regulation, marking a major update to its current laws on international residency. This change aims to simplify the rules for people from other countries who want to live and work in Spain, reflecting the needs of...

Law 7/2023 on Animal Protection and Welfare

T The interaction and mutual dependence between humans and animals have existed since time immemorial. Throughout history, this relationship has evolved from being purely functional or utilitarian to one where animals are seen as loyal companions and cherished family...

Homeschooling

Due to the Covid pandemic, there are some families that have opted for Homeschooling (also known as home education) What is homeschooling? It consists in educating children outside educational institutions, whether public or private. Homeschooling is considered an...

Resebegränsningar påsk 2021

En av de vanligaste frågorna från många av våra kunder är om rese- och rörelsebegränsningar som införs av larmtillståndet och de olika regleringsbestämmelser som godkänns nästan varje vecka i var och en av de autonoma samhällena. Specifikt kommer vi att hänvisa till...

Travelling restrictions Easter 2021

One of the most frequent question from many of our clients is about the travel and movement restrictions imposed by the state of alarm and the different regulatory provisions that are approved almost weekly in each of the autonomous communities. Specifically, we are...

Travellers rights during Covid 19 pandemic

The regulations for crisis management derived from the COVID-19 pandemic are broad and changing, as is the epidemiological situation, which is causing governments around the world to have to readapt their legislation. In addition,  2021 brought a new challenge due to...

Draft Charter of Digital Rights

The Spanish Government has published details of a Charter of Digital Rights for public consultation. Comments can be made by email to [email protected]  until the 4th December 2020. The rights included in the draft are:  Guarantee of rights and...

Draft Charter of Digital Rights

The Spanish Government has published details of a Charter of Digital Rights for public consultation. Comments can be made by email to [email protected]  until the 4th December 2020. The rights included in the draft are: Guarantee of rights and freedoms...

Granting of a power of attorney in times of Covid19

Power of attorney will be important in in these times of restricted travel, allowing attorneys to represent their clients in legal and administrations matters, such as the acceptance and division of inheritance, purchases and sales of real estate, obtaining the NIE...

Fines for not wearing mask

Are the penalties for not wearing a mask legal? Yes, according to the Order of 14th July 2020, in Andalusia, the use of masks is mandatory for everyone over 6 years of age, even if a safety distance of 2 meters is guaranteed. Masks must be used in all...

New residency rules after Brexit

Undoubtedly one of the most recurring questions in our office over recent months have been those relating to Brexit, as we approach the end of the transitional period of the withdrawal agreement which ends on 31st December 2020. You must register in Spain as resident...

Domestic partnerships in Andalusia -part1

Almost all Spanish Communities have passed laws in order to equate domestic partnerships and marriages, however, the laws vary from one community to another. In this article we refer to the legislation of Andalusia: If you live in a domestic partnership, you should...

Travel cancellations due Covid-19 outbreak.

The Covid-19 crisis has undoubtedly transformed our routines, especially travelling. Due to the global scope of the pandemic, governments around the world have issued mobility restriction rules that have impacted the sector, with the cancellation of the vast majority...

The regulations for crisis management for COVID-19

  The regulations for crisis management for the COVID-19 pandemic are broad and changing, as is the epidemiological situation, which is causing governments around the world to have to readapt their legislation.   Taking into account the time of writing this...

Domestic partnerships in Andalusia – part 2

Fiscal situation The Spanish Tax Administration recognizes two forms of family units: Married couples (with or without children) and Non-married couples or legally separated fathers or mothers who live with the children Domestic partners cannot file a joint...

Adoption in Spain

Adoption in Spain is a legal process that follows very strict rules in order to protect the welfare of the child. Law 26/2015, of 28 de July introduced several requirements for parents requesting adoption and the adopted child, both nationally and internationally. Any...

Brexit 2020 and its consequences for UK citizens in Spain

On the 31st of January 2020 the UK will leave the European Union. Until the end of 2020 the UK wants to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with the EU – a very short time frame. However, the petition for another prolongation of the transition period, which must be...

Consumer rights in restaurants

The State (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism) and the Autonomous Communities (Registry of Tourism) are responsible for the general regulations for restaurants, cafés and bars In Spain. The respective town halls monitor the compliance with urban regulations,...

Spanish Trademark Law / LOPD – The organic Law on Data Protection

Data Protection Throughout 2019 two laws which were reformed at the end of 2018 – the Organic Law on Data Protection (LOPD) and the Trademark Law – will generate great changes in the technological world. Here we have a look at the changes of the Data Protection...

LOPD – the Organic Law on Data Protection

Throughout 2019 two laws which were reformed at the end of 2018 – the Organic Law on Data Protection (LOPD) and the Trademark Law – will generate great changes in the technological world. Here we have a look at the changes of the Data Protection Law: Video...

Making a Will in Spain is essential

If you, as a foreigner, own a property or any assets in Spain, it is not only advisable to make a testament also in Spain – it is essential! 1. You decide who to leave your assets and property and their amounts, not the Spanish law. 2. It can run concurrent with...

Guarantee of products purchased

  The Rights of Consumers in Spain are included in the Constitution, specifically in Article 51, which guarantees the rights of consumers to protect their safety, health and economic interests. It also establishes the obligation of public authorities to provide...

Maintenance claims in Spain

In Spanish law, maintenance comprises everything that is necessary by way of sustenance, clothing, living accommodation, health and education, which means the basic essentials of a person receiving maintenance. Those obliged to pay maintenance are:          Parents...

Ban on geo-blocking within the EU

Regulation (EU) 2018/302 addresses unjustified online sales discrimination based on customers’ nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market. The Regulation entered into force on 22 March 2018 in all EU Member States and...

Consumer Rights in the Travel and Tourism Industry in Spain

The travel and tourism industry is very diverse and offers many different types of services that would be too long to list, however, four main categories can be identified which could give rise to disputes:   Those relating to transport e.g. overbooking, loss of...

Acquiring Spanish Nationality

There are different ways to acquire Spanish Nationality and these include: Spain is your country of origin if: One of your parents is Spanish If you were born in Spain and although your parents are foreigners at least one of them was born in Spain (except for...

Municipal plusvalia claims

On the 16th February 2017, The Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) declared unconstitutional, null and void, several articles of the statutory rule in the Province of Guipúzcoa, regarding the Tax on the Increase of the Value of Urban Land (known as ‘municipal...

Getting married in Spain

Foreigners can be married in Spain, in a civil or religious ceremony, provided that one of them is either a resident or registered in the municipality (empadronado) where they wish to be married. It is sometimes permitted for a couple to be married even though neither...

New Law on Citizen Security

This is one of the most controversial laws of the last 10 years. It came into force on the 1st July 2015 under the general condemnation of the opposition parties.

Ownership of Firearms in Spain

The Legislation on the use and ownership of firearms in Spain is probably one of the most restrictive in Europe. This is included in the Spanish constitution under article 149.26 where it is said that the Spanish government has exclusive competence control over production, sale, possession and use of firearms and explosives.