Draft Spain-UK-EU Treaty Moves Gibraltar Border Into Schengen, Gives Spain Veto Power
Spain Finalises Extraordinary Regularisation for Half-Million Undocumented Migrants
Mallorca Travel Industry Warns of Summer Chaos as EU Entry/Exit System Roll-out Falters
Latest News
Passport-Control Bottleneck Strands 89 Ryanair Passengers in Lanzarote
Severe queues at Lanzarote’s non-Schengen passport control caused a Ryanair flight to leave without 89 ticketed passengers. The incident highlights chronic staffing shortages and raises fresh concerns about Spain’s readiness for the EU’s imminent biometric Entry/Exit System. Companies sending staff via Canary Island airports should allow extra buffer time and review duty-of-care procedures.
UK, Spain Confirm April Signing Date for Gibraltar Free-Movement Deal
Officials in London and Madrid confirmed that the long-negotiated Gibraltar mobility treaty will be signed next month and applied from 10 April 2026. The deal eliminates passport checks at the land border, integrates Gibraltar into Schengen and sets a tight compliance clock for firms employing cross-border staff.
Spanish Right Blocks Proposal to Limit Property Purchases by Non-Resident Foreigners in Balearics
Balearic lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have temporarily banned non-resident foreigners from buying homes in overheated housing markets. Expat and corporate buyers retain access to property, but the debate highlights mounting political pressure to curb foreign demand in Spain’s tourism hubs.
Extraordinary migrant regularisation heads to Spanish cabinet in late March
Legal expert Vicente Marín says Spain’s mass regularisation decree could reach the cabinet on 24 or 31 March, with the application portal opening shortly after. Up to 500,000 undocumented migrants stand to gain legal status, but officials warn that under-resourced immigration offices may struggle to cope.
Spain to open Brit-only EES queues at four holiday airports
Aena will install special passport queues for UK and other non-EU travellers at Málaga, Palma, Ibiza and Menorca to prevent EES-related bottlenecks. While the lanes promise faster processing, airlines object to the higher airport fees funding the upgrade, signalling possible capacity cuts.
Catalonia braces for 150,000 applicants under Spain’s migrant amnesty
Regional authorities say as many as 150,000 undocumented migrants in Catalonia could apply for legal status once Spain’s regularisation opens. Extra staff and digital booking tools are being deployed to avoid administrative collapse, while employers anticipate a larger formal labour pool.