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WHAT CHANGES IN SPAIN

Everything that changes in Spain in 2024

Measures to help with the cost of living crisis, an increase in taxes, new rules for Spain's self employed workers and free train travel extended, these are just some of the changes that you can expect in Spain in 2024.

Published: 29 December 2023 13:22 CET
Updated: 1 January 2024 08:19 CET

Everything that changes in Spain in 2024

What changes in Spain in 2024. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP, George Milton/Pexels and Gabriel Bouys/AFP

Measures maintained to help with the cost of living crisis

The Spanish government recently announced a new decree that would extend some of the anti-inflation measures into the new year, including maintaining the VAT reduction on basic food items and continuing to offer free public transport.

Other forms of aid include eliminating bank commissions at ATMs for those with disabilities and the elderly, as well as the prohibition of carrying out evictions of the most vulnerable. Find out all about these and the other measures that will be extended into 2024.

Changes for the self-employed

Spain’s 3.3 million ‘autónomos‘ will have to get their heads around several new changes next year including amendments to social security payments, VAT and income tax returns. In 2024, social security payments will be reduced further for those on low incomes, while they will increase for those who earn more.

Currently, those self-employed workers who earn an annual net income equal to or greater than €1,000 have to submit an Income Tax Return, but from 2024 everyone will have to do this, regardless of how much they earn. There will also be changes in reporting VAT, and new self-employed workers in the Canary Islands, Extremadura and Galicia will join those in some of Spain’s other regions (such as Madrid) and benefit from not having to pay social security when they first sign up.

Financial aid for the self-employed

Autónomos may have lots of new changes to come, but thankfully there are several financial aid programmes to help them out in the new year too.

Self-employed workers in Valencia will be able to benefit from non-refundable subsidies of up to 40 percent with a maximum of €100,000 per beneficiary, while those in Madrid can choose from three different types of aid including subsidies and entrepreneurship programmes.

There’s also financing available through the Official Credit Institute and benefits for those hiring unemployed workers.

Increase in taxes

Unfortunately, 2024 will bring with it an increase in several different taxes here in Spain, from personal income tax to taxes on large fortunes. Experts estimate that the government will collect €204 million more from personal income tax in 2024 than they did this year. This is mainly due to the increase in the tax savings brackets.

The temporary solidarity tax on those with net assets greater than €3 million will continue in 2024, designed to add €21 million to the State coffers to help combat inflation.

Transport discounts have been extended

After speculation and intense debate within the Spanish cabinet, public transport discounts are set to be extended again in Spain until the end of 2024. Earlier this month Sánchez announced that public free transport would likely only be continued for children, young people, and the unemployed, but rules mean it’s now extended to all passengers.

This means they will continue to offer a 30 percent discount on public transport as before, while each region will be responsible for adding a discount to extend this reduction. Passengers can obtain free travel by paying a €10 deposit on Cercanías or Rodalies commuter trains and a €20 deposit on Media Distancia (mid-distance) trains. This will be returned to them if they have made a total of 16 journeys during three months.

Transport tickets on Rodalies and Cercanías will remain free in 2024. Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England / Wikimedia Commons

Changes to travel in Spain

Relaxed airport security, new direct flights, extra taxes on plane tickets, new international train links, free or discounted public transport, good news for drivers and more – there are lots of changes to expect when it comes to travel in Spain in 2024.

Spanish airport authorities confirmed that from 2024 liquids greater than 100ml will be allowed in hand luggage when flying from Spain, and electronics will be able to be kept in your bag when going through security. There are also several new flight routes announced, connecting Spain with many other cities around the world, as well as new rail services connecting Spain with Europe.

There are also two changes due to come into effect that will affect travel in and out of the European Union for non-EU citizens in 2024 – the EES (Entry/Exit System) and the ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System.

Spanish property prices in 2024

If you’re thinking of buying a home in Spain in 2024, you’ll want to know what the real estate experts have predicted for the year to come. The price drops that many forecast for this year did not materialise and in fact, the cost of buying a home in Spain actually increased by seven percent in 2023.

The general consensus is that if you’re looking to buy in one of Spain’s main property markets such as the Mediterranean coasts, Barcelona, Madrid or the Balearic Islands you’re unlikely to find a great bargain in 2024 and prices may continue to rise. Elsewhere in the country, however, prices will begin to stabilise and some are even predicting slight drops.

The income requirement for Spain’s digital nomad visa may go up

Spain’s DNV became available for the first time earlier this year, but there’s still a lot of confusion about the financial requirements and many media outlets are reporting incorrect amounts. There’s also a big chance the threshold will increase in 2024.

The financial requirement is linked to Spain’s minimum wage, which is set for another rise in 2024. Experts predict that this will most likely happen in January. While the exact amount hasn’t been finalised yet and the government still has to approve the rise, the Ministry of Labour has proposed it should be raised by four percent.

If it goes up by this amount, those applying for the DNV in 2024 could have to prove earnings of €2620.80 per month.

Spain’s golden visa could be scrapped

The Spanish government’s junior coalition partner Sumar has voiced its intention of getting rid of the country’s golden visa scheme which grants residency to non-EU nationals who buy a Spanish property worth more than half a million euros.

Real estate experts and lawmakers also believe that the €500,000 threshold is insufficient, especially in Spain’s main cities

Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Malta all either scrapped the equivalent of their golden visas in 2023 or made the conditions much harder for millionaires who want to make a real estate investment.

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KEY POINTS: Everything that changes in Spain in April 2024

La renta – Spain’s yearly tax campaign opens

Spain’s annual income tax return is called ‘la declaración de la renta‘ or simply la renta for short. This year, you must file your taxes for the previous financial year – that is to say, 2023. This year, the campaign starts on Wednesday 3 April. From this date, you can present your taxes for 2023 online.

According to Spain’s tax agency the Agencia Tributaria, nine out of every 10 declarations are done online. The campaign runs until July 1st this year. This means that you have a little less than 3 months in order to take your papers in order and submit your returns. Many foreigners in Spain opt for the services of a gestor to help them through the bureaucratic maze.

The basic rule applied to determine residency when it comes to tax is the 183 days rule: “If you stay in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year,” you are usually considered a tax resident here state Spain’s Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria). You probably don’t need to hand in a tax return if you earn less than €22,000 a year and you pay tax on your salary and your bank interest throughout the year. As such, la renta is mostly for self-employed people and small business owners.

Festivals and events

April also sees a number of festivals and events happening across Spain.

Día de Sant Jordi or San Jorge

April 23rd marks St George’s Day and while it’s not celebrated all over the country, for certain regions it’s one of the most important days of the year. In Catalonia, Día de Sant Jordi is a celebration of the region’s patron saint and it is marked by the gifting of books and roses. Many towns and cities will be draped in the traditional red and yellow stripes of the Catalan flag, while dragons and roses decorate shop windows and squares.

April 23rd is also the Día de Aragón and a public holiday in the region. Like Catalonia, St George is also the patron saint of Aragón and the region celebrates with flower displays, cultural performances and family meals. St George’s Day is also recognised in the Balearic Islands and some places in Valencia and is marked with similar celebrations to Aragón and Catalonia.

Día del libro

April 23rd also coincides with UNESCO’s World Book Day (Día del libro), as it celebrates the anniversary of the deaths of William Shakespeare and famed Spanish author of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes.

Though it is an internationally celebrated event, you might not have known that it has its roots in Spain. The original idea of celebrating Book Day came from Catalonia, more specifically from the Valencian writer Vicente Clavel Andrés, who proposed the celebration to Barcelona’s Chamber of Books in 1923. It was later approved by King Alfonso XIII in 1926.

Seville’s Feria de Abril

Seville’s April Fair is one of the city’s most anticipated festivals in Andalusia, celebrating true Andalusian culture with lots of flamenco performances, passionate music and incredible colourful costumes.

This year, it takes place from Sunday April 14th to Saturday April 20th. There will be lots of decorations, fairground rides, horse and carriages and casetas or marquees where the locals meet to dance and party.

The Moros y Cristianos Festival (Alcoy)

Moors and Christians festivals are held typically throughout the spring and summer seasons, but one of the best takes place in April in the town of Alcoy in Alicante.

This year it takes place from April 20th-22nd. It commemorates the historical events that took place in 1276, related to the uprisings of the Muslims who inhabited the area, and takes you back in time to the Reconquista battles that saw the forces of the Catholic monarchs unite Spain. It too honours the patron saint of St George. During the event, teams dress up as Crusaders and Arabs to re-enact the battles.

Seville to restrict holiday lets

Seville is expected to become the first city in Andalusia to limit the number of holiday rental properties following a decree by the Junta de Andalucía. Spanish media reports suggest that the plans will be approved “at the end of April” and a limitation on the number of tourist lets per neighbourhood will be introduced.

An increase in the number of tourist rentals (usually referred to as pisos turísticos in Spanish) catering to remote workers and digital nomads, combined with a post-pandemic surge in travel and costs, has caused price inflation in the property market across Spain in recent years. Recent data shows that in the old town of Seville, a staggering 61.2 percent of residential homes are used for tourism.

Basque regional elections

Spain’s seemingly never-ending run of elections continues in April with a regional poll in the Basque Country. The election will be held on Sunday, 21st April, and come at a particularly tense time in Spanish politics as Socialist (PSOE) Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces a political storm following the passing of a controversial amnesty law for Catalan separatists involved in the failed 2017 independence referendum.

As such, the backlash over the amnesty will likely feature heavily on the campaign in the Basque Country (as it did in recent regional elections in Galicia) and Sánchez’s reliance on Basque separatist parties in Congress.

New bus prices in Barcelona

For those living in or visiting Barcelona, in April your bus journeys to and from the airport will begin to be a little more expensive. From April 1st, fares on the Aerobus service connecting Barcelona and El Prat Airport will increase by 7.4 percent, following a decision by Barcelona council.

Metro tickets in the city also went up by 6.75 percent in January, although the 50 percent discount on the T-Jove and T-Usual travel cards was maintained. The cards were originally due to expire on 15 January, but will now be valid until 30 April 2024.

New early morning Madrid-Barcelona AVE train launches

Renfe will launch a new early morning AVE high-speed train between Barcelona and Madrid on 8th April. It will run from Monday to Thursday, departing at 5.40am and arriving at 8.20am, half an hour earlier than the first AVE service currently on offer.

The early morning service will leave Barcelona-Sants station at 5.40am, stop at Zaragoza at 7.02am and arrive at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes at 8.20am.

Ban on certain smoking products

April will also see the banning of some tobacco products widely consumed in Spain.

In April, new legislation will come into force prohibiting the sale of all heated tobacco products that contain flavours and aromas, as well as making it mandatory for companies to include health warnings.

The ban will also be extended to marketing tobacco products that have aromas or flavourings in their components, such as in filters, smoking papers, packaging or capsules, or any other technique that allows the smell to be modified.

April weather forecast

April also sees spring really kick into gear in Spain. After an extremely warm winter (featuring the hottest January in Spain on record) spring has already started off with plenty of rain, even cancelling some Semana Santa processions across the country. Forecasts seem to predict that the high temperatures will continue, with warmer than normal temperatures expected in April and throughout spring in most parts of the country.

Temperatures will be especially high in the eastern half of the peninsula and in both the Balearic and Canary Islands, according to El Tiempo’s forecast.

Forecasts from Spain’s state meteorological service Aemet suggest there will be “normal” rainfall in April and throughout spring.

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