Spain’s Online Immigration Platform Branded a "Digital Lottery" as Appointment Crisis Worsens
Spanish Police Dismantle Network Trafficking Minors from Canary Shelters to France
Black-Market Padrón: Madrid Rings Alarm Over Illegal Registration Scheme Charging Migrants €300
Latest News
Balearic Islands Record 18 Boat Landings and 330 Migrants in 48 Hours
Eighteen boats with 330 migrants have landed in the Balearic Islands in just two days, straining local reception capacity and prompting calls for extra state support. The incident highlights shifting smuggling patterns despite an overall yearly drop in Spanish sea arrivals.
Countdown Begins to the End of Spain’s Golden Visa as Lawmakers Fast-Track Repeal
A parliamentary amendment filed on 13 November would abolish Spain’s Golden-Visa programme by April 2026. New investor applications are effectively frozen, and businesses must seek alternative residence routes for high-net-worth employees.
LATAM pilots strike grounds 173 flights—Madrid and Barcelona long-hauls among services at risk
A strike by LATAM’s pilot union has forced the cancellation of 173 flights from 12-17 November, according to Reuters. Long-haul rotations touching Madrid and Barcelona—key gateways for Spain–South America traffic—could face last-minute timetable changes. Spanish companies should re-check bookings, explore reroutes on Iberia or Air Europa, and prepare for higher costs if the dispute drags on.
Valenciaport revokes Baleària’s passenger-terminal concession, reshaping ferry links to mainland Spain
Valenciaport’s board has cancelled Baleària’s 35-year concession to build and run a new ferry terminal, citing changed traffic dynamics and the need to re-plan berth layouts. The port will retender the project in 2026, leaving Baleària to operate from its older facility for now. The shake-up could tighten capacity on Spain–Balearics ferry routes next year, so businesses moving staff or freight should secure bookings early.
Spain signals higher visitor levies from 2026 in broad push to curb overtourism
Travel & Tour World says Spain will join other destinations in raising or introducing tourism taxes from 2026. Catalonia intends to more than double Barcelona’s nightly surcharge, and the Balearic Islands are weighing a €15 peak-season eco-tax. The higher levies aim to fund infrastructure and curb overtourism, meaning companies must budget for bigger per-diems and watch for tighter short-stay rules.
Visa launches Madrid-piloted scheme to let assignees receive salaries in USDC stablecoins
Visa has picked Madrid as a launch pad for a Visa Direct pilot that lets Spanish companies pay overseas or mobile workers in USDC stablecoins, with near-instant settlement. The scheme could slash bank-transfer fees for digital-nomad visa holders and short-term assignees, though compliance teams must assess MiCA and CNMV rules.