The Local Spain

EXPLAINED: The changes to Spain's flexible retirement scheme Fri, 29 May 2026 12:58:44 +0200 Spain has introduced a major overhaul to its flexible retirement system which includes better conditions for current and former self-employed and salaried workers.

'Chorizo': The vocab you need to understand Spain's corruption scandals Fri, 29 May 2026 12:32:57 +0200 What does it mean if a politician is called a 'chorizo'? Who's a 'plumber' in Spanish politics? With corruption on everybody's lips in Spain, it's easy to get lost unless you understand the jargon used everywhere from the news to your local bar.

RANKED: The best universities in Spain in 2026 Fri, 29 May 2026 11:09:23 +0200 With over 80 universities, Spain increasingly attracts foreign students for the quality of life and education. New rankings have revealed the so-called 'best' in Spain - here they are.

Americans in Spain: How the Spanish cost of living compares to the US Fri, 29 May 2026 11:00:39 +0200 From renting to socialising, here's a detailed look at how to navigate the rising cost of living in Spain if you're an American who is new to the country or considering a move to 'España'.

Spain grants citizenship to 300,000 foreigners in one year Fri, 29 May 2026 09:43:51 +0200 Nearly 300,000 foreigners obtained Spanish nationality in 2025, the highest figure since official statistics began more than a decade ago, authorities said Thursday.

Today in Spain: A roundup of the latest news on Friday Fri, 29 May 2026 08:57:24 +0200 Several Spanish cities could reach 40C heat this weekend, Madrid to spend €50 million on beautifying building façades, pioneering surgery in Barcelona as foetus operated on inside mother's womb and more news on Friday May 29th.

'Tax system is confusing': The doubts Americans have about life in Spain Thu, 28 May 2026 15:25:42 +0200 We asked our American readers what their main doubts were about Spain. From small talk to taxes, here's what they told us.

Pressure mounts on Spain's PM as brother begins corruption trial Thu, 28 May 2026 14:46:19 +0200 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s brother went on trial Thursday, accused of receiving preferential treatment in obtaining a public-sector job, in the latest case to have tainted the Socialist leader’s government.

Spain to allow homeowners and tenants to attend building meetings online Thu, 28 May 2026 13:46:15 +0200 Spain's Congress has agreed to allow homeowners and tenants in communal buildings to attend neighbourhood ('comunidad') meetings via videoconference and receive important correspondence by email, a benefit for foreigners who aren’t always in Spain.

Foreign residents don't outspend locals in Spain's housing market, non-residents do Thu, 28 May 2026 11:41:15 +0200 New data shows that foreigners who live full-time in Spain spend roughly the same on housing as Spanish nationals, whereas non-resident homebuyers splurge far more on average on Spanish properties, particularly certain nationalities.

US ambassador backs Trump's criticism of Spain's government Thu, 28 May 2026 10:41:45 +0200 Drawing a distinction between the Spanish people and government, the US's new Ambassador to Spain has backed Trump's recent criticisms of the Sánchez administration just days after meeting the country's far-right leader.

Today in Spain: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday Thu, 28 May 2026 08:57:42 +0200 Sánchez makes Vatican visit, March mortgage approvals highest in 16 years, Vox councillor in Valencia faces three years in prison, and more news from Spain on Thursday 28th May.

Europe heatwave a 'brutal reminder' of climate change Wed, 27 May 2026 15:22:09 +0200 The UN climate chief said Wednesday that a record-breaking early heatwave scorching a swathe of western Europe was "a brutal reminder of the spiralling impacts of the climate crisis".

Madrid Metro to allow users to pay by card or mobile at the turnstiles Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:15:16 +0100 On June 1st 2026, the underground system in the Spanish capital will have a new tap-to-pay ticket system added to the turnstiles so that commuters don’t have to queue to pay for their journeys at the separate ticket machines.

Spain's PM keeps backing ex-leader targeted in corruption probe Wed, 27 May 2026 12:53:50 +0200 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Wednesday there was "no reason" to withdraw support for his predecessor José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is under investigation for corruption, following the publication of new details this week about the case.

Police enter Spain's ruling party HQ as corruption probe deepens Wed, 27 May 2026 11:26:51 +0200 Spanish police entered the Madrid headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party on Wednesday to demand documents as part of a corruption investigation into a former party member, judicial sources said.

EXCLUSIVE: Unregistered Brits are applying for Spain's migrant amnesty Wed, 27 May 2026 11:14:54 +0200 Immigration law firms in Spain have told The Local that there are UK nationals without residency papers among the 800,000+ undocumented migrants in the country who are looking to regularise their status through Spain's soon-to-end migration amnesty.

How Madrid became Europe's gateway to Latin music Wed, 27 May 2026 10:08:55 +0200 Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny kicks off a series of 10 concerts on Saturday in Madrid, a city with a booming Latino population now emerging as a new hub of the Latin music industry.

The Spanish residency breaches that can lead to €10,000 fines Fri, 02 May 2025 11:22:15 +0200 Spain's Interior Ministry outlines several offences and residency breaches that can result in €500 fines for minor infractions to €10,000 sanctions for serious offences, ranging from failure to notify a change of address to faking paperwork.

EXPLAINED: Why Europe is the world's fastest warming continent Tue, 26 May 2026 21:00:20 +0200 Europe, which is in the throes of a record-smashing heatwave this week, is the world's fastest-warming continent and stretches into an even more rapidly heating Arctic.