https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed There are two months left to file Spain’s annual tax return, so where do new arrivals stand regarding this? Are they already tax residents? What if they didn’t work in Spain last year and only arrived in 2026? https://www.thelocal.es/20240612/do-i-have-to-do-spains-annual-tax-declaration-if-i-arrived-recently Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:17:08 +0200 do-i-have-to-do-spains-annual-tax-declaration-if-i-arrived-recently Does a change of address within Spain mean that you’re legally obligated to get a duplicate of your TIE residency card for non-EU citizens? Here’s what the law says. https://www.thelocal.es/20251229/do-i-need-to-get-a-new-tie-residency-card-if-i-change-address-in-spain Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:05:57 +0100 do-i-need-to-get-a-new-tie-residency-card-if-i-change-address-in-spain Most non-EU drivers who move to Spain need to resit their driving test in order to be able to get behind the wheel here. But is there an option to do the practical exam with an automatic vehicle in a country where most cars are manual? https://www.thelocal.es/20240916/can-you-do-your-driving-test-in-spain-with-an-automatic-car Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:50:11 +0200 can-you-do-your-driving-test-in-spain-with-an-automatic-car If you're leaving Spain for good or for a long period of time, then you will need to make sure that you deregister before you leave, essentially giving up or renouncing your Spanish residency. Here's how to do it. https://www.thelocal.es/20220408/reader-question-how-do-i-deregister-my-spanish-residency Fri, 08 Apr 2022 08:26:18 +0200 reader-question-how-do-i-deregister-my-spanish-residency What happens if your neighbours are causing a serious stench in your apartment building? Perhaps they make very smelly food, have stinky pets or some other foul smell is emanating from their flat. Find out what Spanish law says about it. https://www.thelocal.es/20260217/what-can-i-legally-do-about-bad-odours-in-my-building-in-spain Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:23:21 +0100 what-can-i-legally-do-about-bad-odours-in-my-building-in-spain There have been several rumours circulating online and reports in the Spanish media recently stating that Spain's tax authorities can demand payments from adult children who live rent-free in their parents’ property. https://www.thelocal.es/20260128/fact-check-is-living-rent-free-in-parents-property-in-spain-taxed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:53:49 +0100 fact-check-is-living-rent-free-in-parents-property-in-spain-taxed As the name suggests, Spain's non-lucrative visa or NLV doesn't allow you to work, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're not liable to pay taxes here. https://www.thelocal.es/20240314/do-i-have-to-pay-tax-in-spain-on-the-non-lucrative-visa Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:39:18 +0100 do-i-have-to-pay-tax-in-spain-on-the-non-lucrative-visa Is there really a legal way of avoiding inheritance tax by passing your property onto your children while you're still alive? Some lawyers in Spain claim so. https://www.thelocal.es/20260114/can-you-sign-over-your-spanish-property-to-your-children-without-paying-tax Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:19:39 +0100 can-you-sign-over-your-spanish-property-to-your-children-without-paying-tax Who has to pay the real estate agent commission (usually equivalent to one month's rent) in Spain: the landlord or the new tenant? And are there exceptions to the rules or underhand tricks agents use to get tenants to cough up more money? https://www.thelocal.es/20241105/do-i-have-to-pay-the-estate-agent-a-commission-if-i-rent-in-spain Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:05:54 +0100 do-i-have-to-pay-the-estate-agent-a-commission-if-i-rent-in-spain Planning on driving to Spain for a vacation or own a holiday home here and want to bring your car with you from abroad? Find out how the low emission zones work here for foreign-registered vehicles and if you need an environmental label. https://www.thelocal.es/20251209/can-i-get-a-low-emissions-sticker-for-my-car-when-im-visiting-spain Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:22:59 +0100 can-i-get-a-low-emissions-sticker-for-my-car-when-im-visiting-spain Many foreigners have tax obligations in Spain but might not have a Spanish bank account to pay them from. Changes by Spain's tax authorities might just make it easier, depending on your circumstances. https://www.thelocal.es/20240503/can-you-pay-taxes-in-spain-with-a-foreign-bank-account Fri, 03 May 2024 11:01:49 +0200 can-you-pay-taxes-in-spain-with-a-foreign-bank-account We've all been there, out walking the streets of Spain when we feel the urge to go, but there are no public toilets to be found, so is acceptable to use the bathroom in an establishment without buying anything? https://www.thelocal.es/20251128/can-you-use-a-bar-or-restaurants-toilet-in-spain-if-youre-not-a-customer Fri, 28 Nov 2025 12:19:12 +0100 can-you-use-a-bar-or-restaurants-toilet-in-spain-if-youre-not-a-customer Applying for or renewing residency in Spain can be hampered by having a criminal record, but it's not impossible. https://www.thelocal.es/20240903/can-i-move-to-spain-if-i-have-a-criminal-record Tue, 03 Sep 2024 16:18:13 +0200 can-i-move-to-spain-if-i-have-a-criminal-record Whether or not you can smoke in your flat or even on the balcony depends on several different factors and can in some cases come down to the goodwill of your landlord and neighbours. https://www.thelocal.es/20240904/can-my-landlord-stop-me-from-smoking-in-my-rental-in-spain Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:43:46 +0200 can-my-landlord-stop-me-from-smoking-in-my-rental-in-spain If you’re looking to buy a home in Spain then you’ll want to be aware of exactly how much extra you’ll have to pay in fees. There are many fees that are mandatory when you purchase a property, but is paying the realtor one of these? https://www.thelocal.es/20240927/do-i-need-to-pay-the-estate-agency-if-i-buy-a-property-in-spain Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:22:25 +0200 do-i-need-to-pay-the-estate-agency-if-i-buy-a-property-in-spain If neighbours in the shared residential building you own in Spain want to install an elevator, do you still have to pay for the costs if your flat is on the ground floor? Here's what Spanish law says. https://www.thelocal.es/20251027/do-you-have-to-pay-for-the-lift-if-you-live-on-the-ground-floor-in-spain Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:17:56 +0100 do-you-have-to-pay-for-the-lift-if-you-live-on-the-ground-floor-in-spain The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls will be launched on October 12th, albeit in a phased in approach, but how will it impact non-EU residents legally living in EU/Schengen countries? https://www.thelocal.es/20240427/reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:59:09 +0200 reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Spanish law has limits on cash transactions depending on the type and who they're between. This is what you need to know if you want to buy a Spanish property with cash rather than via electronic bank transfer or cheque. https://www.thelocal.es/20250919/how-much-money-in-cash-can-you-pay-towards-a-property-in-spain Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:41:12 +0200 how-much-money-in-cash-can-you-pay-towards-a-property-in-spain Many drivers in Spain wonder if having a camera in your vehicle is legal. These are some rules you need to follow if you want to do it legally and avoid fines, as well as the grey areas. https://www.thelocal.es/20231123/whats-the-law-on-dash-cams-in-spain Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:41:43 +0100 whats-the-law-on-dash-cams-in-spain House swapping can be a great way to save money when you go on holiday. It allows you to have all the comforts of home and swap with others who have a similar-sized property to you, but can you still do this if you rent? https://www.thelocal.es/20230327/can-i-house-swap-for-the-holidays-if-i-rent-in-spain Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:57:03 +0200 can-i-house-swap-for-the-holidays-if-i-rent-in-spain