Police estimate 3 million immigrants regularized with families
Police estimate that Spain's extraordinary regularization process could grant legal status to up to 3 million immigrants, including family members. Each approved application may bring at least three additional relatives through family reunification. The National Police has been excluded from document verification, now handled by the Ministry of Migration, raising concerns about errors in criminal record checks.
Supreme Court: no automatic residency denial for criminal records
Spain's Supreme Court has struck down provisions allowing automatic denial of residency authorizations based solely on criminal records. Authorities must now conduct case-by-case assessments weighing factors like the crime's gravity, time elapsed, family situation, and interests of minor children. The ruling strengthens protections for foreign nationals with past offenses.
France vs Spain World Cup semifinal kicks off in Dallas
Spain faces France in the World Cup semifinal on July 14 in Dallas, a match both coaches call the 'final before the final.' The two European powerhouses are favorites to win the tournament. The winner will advance to the championship match, bringing Spain one step closer to a second World Cup title.
Spain's tax pressure 17% above EU average, CEOE warns
The CEOE employers' federation warns that Spain's tax burden exceeds the European Union average by 17%, citing the Tax Foundation index. Spain ranks 34th out of 38 OECD economies in tax competitiveness, scoring 57.9 out of 100. The report highlights Estonia, Latvia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Luxembourg as top performers.
Seasonal rentals drop 34% in Catalonia after price regulation
Seasonal rental contracts in Catalonia's tension zones fell 34% in the first quarter of 2026, from 3,310 to 2,184 contracts, after the regional government extended rent caps to these agreements. Barcelona saw a similar drop. The net balance of seasonal rentals was negative for the second consecutive quarter, raising questions about the law's impact on supply.
S&P: Spanish housing prices to rise 7% yearly until 2029
S&P Global projects that home prices in Spain will climb an average of 7% annually through 2029, driven by strong demand, tight supply, and immigration. This year's increase is estimated at 9.1%, slowing to 5.4% by 2029. Spain is expected to lead price growth among major European economies.
Only 21% get GP appointment within 48 hours, average wait 10 days
Only 21.8% of patients in Spain secure a family doctor appointment within 24 to 48 hours, with the average wait now at 10.27 days, according to the 2026 Barómetro Sanitario. Over 71% wait more than a day, and 21.3% wait over six months for a specialist. 38.3% believe waiting lists have worsened.
Colau pushes for housing discipline body to combat speculation
Ada Colau's party is advancing legislation to create a Directorate General of Housing Discipline that would penalize speculative purchases by large holders. The reform, expected to pass in October, would ban the purchase of residential property by entities owning more than five homes in Catalonia. PP and Junts have requested a legal review of the proposal.
Oil jumps 4.5%, Ibex falls 0.25% on US-Iran tension
Oil prices surged 4.5% to $79.7 per barrel and Spain's Ibex-35 dropped 0.25% to 19,300 points after renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran. Asian markets also fell sharply: Shanghai lost 2.06%, Shenzhen 3.48%, and the Kospi 8.95%. Higher fuel costs could soon hit Spanish households.
Glovo founder admits distorting Rider Law, seeks case dismissal
Glovo's founder Oscar Pierre acknowledged in court that he tried to circumvent Spain's Rider Law on false self-employment but asked for the criminal case to be dismissed. The union CGT is pushing for a trial for alleged crimes against workers' rights. The judge will decide whether to proceed.
Banks compete for wealthy clients as assets hit €1 trillion
Spanish banks are intensifying competition for high-net-worth individuals, with private banking assets reaching €1.025 trillion in 2025, up 17%. Margins for clients with over €30 million have shrunk from 0.80% to 0.30%. Santander, CaixaBank, and BBVA control 74.5% of the market.
Rajoy's racist comments strain Spain-France ties ahead of semifinal
Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sparked diplomatic tension with France after making comments widely condemned as racist toward the French football team. The PP, his party, dismissed the remarks as a joke from a sarcastic column. The incident comes just before the two nations meet in the World Cup semifinal.
Nine victims of Almería fire identified, mostly foreign nationals
Officials have identified nine of the 13 victims of the devastating fire in Almería, including eight foreign nationals from the UK, Belgium, France, and the US. The group included three UK citizens, a Belgian couple, a French man, a Belgian man, and a US woman married to the sole Spanish victim. The total death toll stands at 13.
