Gibraltar–Spain border treaty postponed to July, giving businesses and commuters three extra months to prepare
Ground-staff strike hits Spanish airports, Easter travellers told to arrive three hours early
‘Cita Previa’ backlog worsens: Madrid and Barcelona appointments now 8–14 weeks, HR told to reroute assignees
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Balearic Islands record 24 % rise in small-boat arrivals despite national downward trend
Regional statistics show 1,179 irregular migrants arrived in the Balearic Islands in Q1 2026—a 23.6 % jump even as national arrivals fell sharply. Limited reception capacity and tight seasonal housing mean employers and relocation teams on the islands should prepare for processing backlogs and accommodation crunches.
Madrid defends historic plan to regularise 500,000 undocumented migrants despite political backlash
Migration Minister Elma Saiz reiterated the coalition government’s plan to open an ‘extraordinary regularisation’ for roughly 500,000 undocumented migrants later this month. Applications will be accepted through Correos, Social Security branches and an upgraded online portal, with a processing target of three months. Business groups see a chance to fill labour shortages, while the opposition warns of a pull factor.
EU gives final nod to Gibraltar border-free deal, clearing path for Schengen-style controls from 15 July
EU ambassadors approved the long-awaited post-Brexit Gibraltar agreement, allowing provisional application from 15 July 2026. Spanish officers will manage Schengen controls, dovetailing with the EU Entry/Exit System that goes live on 10 April. The deal removes physical border checks for people and goods, easing pressure on 300,000 Andalusians and cross-border businesses. Firms should prepare staff for biometric pre-enrolment and new overstay alerts.
Spain sets 31 December deadline for Venezuelans seeking ‘express’ regularisation
The Foreign Ministry has published a 31 December 2026 filing deadline for Venezuelans hoping to use Spain’s one-off regularisation. Special workshops and electronic police checks aim to speed up applications, but only those who arrived before 31 December 2025 are eligible. Employers should formalise contracts promptly to avoid penalties once workers gain legal status.