10 Major Legal Changes in Spain (Mid-2025) That Could Impact Your Job, Home, or Residency
Spain is in the middle of major legislative proposals. In 2025, several key laws have been proposed or even passed that might directly affect work, housing, residency, and family life. This guide covers the 8 most impactful legal changes so far, what they mean, who they affect, and when they might take effect.
Key Takeaways
- The legal work week is set to drop from 40 to 37.5 hours (the bill is still under debate but likely to pass in summer 2025).
- A proposed 100% housing tax would apply to non-EU, non-resident buyers of second-hand homes (not yet law).
- The Ley de Familias aims to extend paid parental leave to 20 weeks and recognize all family types (still in committee).
- The vacant home tax is already law, allowing councils to increase property tax (IBI) by up to 150% on long-term empty homes.
- Spain plans to raise the legal age for social media from 14 to 16 as part of a digital safety bill (proposal under review).
- A one-year regularisation permit may soon be granted to migrants who lived in Spain before 31 March 2025 (final vote expected by July 2025).
- The Startup Law is already in force, offering lower taxes and visa pathways for entrepreneurs and investors.
- New nationality pathways now support descendants of Spanish nationals abroad through administrative reforms and the Grandchildren Law.
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1. Shorter Work Week in Spain 📉: 37.5-Hour Limit (Pending)
Spain is preparing to reduce the legal maximum work week from 40 hours to 37.5 hours. The proposed bill requires all companies to digital time-track in an aim to improve work–life balance across sectors. While still under parliamentary review, the law is expected to pass before the summer 2025 recess. Companies will have until December 2025 to update their employment agreements and processes.
2. Family Law Reform 👨👩👧👦: Extended Leave and Inclusive Recognition (Proposed)
The draft Ley de Familias would recognize diverse family types, including single-parent and LGTBI families, and extend state support. Highlights include:
- 20 weeks of paid maternity/paternity leave (extending from the current 16-week)
- €100/month child allowance
- 5 days of paid care leave per year
The law is still in committee but is considered a priority by the government.
3. 100% Housing Tax for Non-EU Buyers 🏘️ (Proposed)
To remedy speculative real estate purchases in high-demand areas, this bill proposes a 100% tax surcharge on the purchase of second-hand homes by non-EU, non-resident buyers. That means doubling the standard property transfer tax (ITP). New builds are excluded. The law was introduced in May 2025 and may be debated in the autumn session.
4. Vacant Home Tax in Spain 🏚️ (Already in Force)
Under the 2023 Housing Law, local councils can charge up to 150% more on IBI (property tax) for homes left vacant for more than 2 years. This tax is already being enforced in several cities and aims to push owners to rent or sell empty properties.
| City | Applying Vacant Home Tax? |
|---|---|
| Barcelona | Yes |
| Valencia | Yes |
| Madrid | Under review |
| Sevilla | Not yet |
| Bilbao | Local discussion ongoing |
5. Immigration Regularisation for Long-Term Residents 🛂 (In Progress)
A major immigration regularisation bill would allow migrants who can prove residence in Spain before 31 March 2025 to apply for a one-year residence and work permit. Eligible applicants must meet work, family unity, or vulnerability conditions. The law is based on a citizen-led initiative and is expected to be voted on by July 2025.
6. Digital Safety for Minors 🔒: Social Media Age Raised from 14 to 16 years (Proposed)
This law aims to protect minors online by:
- Raising the minimum age for social media accounts from 14 to 16
- Mandating parental control tools on all devices
- Banning AI-generated deepfakes involving minors
It is backed by all major parties and may pass later in 2025.
7. Customer Service Law 📞: Real Agents Within 3 Minutes (Final Approval Stage)
This law would ensure better service standards for customers by requiring:
- 24-hour toll-free helplines for essential services
- Connection to a real agent within 3 minutes
- Complaint resolution within 30 days
It has cleared most legislative hurdles and is expected to be officially enacted by summer 2025.
8. New National Public Health Agency 🏥 (Expected Soon)
Leveraging on the learnings of the COVID-19 impacts, Spain is setting up a new independent public health agency to handle pandemic response, vaccines, and health alerts. This law is already in the final legislative stages and is expected to be approved before the summer recess.
9. Startup Law in Spain 🚀: Lower Taxes and Visa Benefits for Entrepreneurs
The Startup Law (Ley de Startups) aims to position Spain as a leading hub for innovation and digital entrepreneurship. It is already in force and aim to:
- reduce corporate tax rate of 15% for up to four years
- Provide faster and simplified visa and residency processes for foreign entrepreneurs and digital nomads
- Offers improved conditions for stock options and investor incentives
- Defines recognition of emerging tech businesses as a special legal category
This law is especially relevant to tech founders, remote-first teams, and early-stage investors seeking a business-friendly setup in Spain.
10. Spanish Citizenship Abroad 🌍: New Pathways for Those with Spanish Roots
Spain has introduced facilities for people with Spanish ancestry to apply for citizenship. The update includes:
- Faster and clearer procedures for children and grandchildren of Spanish nationals born abroad
- Eased rules for descendants of emigrants who lost or never held Spanish citizenship
- Greater flexibility for those with historic or cultural ties to Spain
This is a significant improvement for applicants in Latin America, the Philippines, and other countries with large Spanish-descendant populations.
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Gerard B.
An expat who's done it, so you don't have to!
After spending years in Spain and thousands of euros on lawyers, tax advisors, and residency applications, only to realize that doing it yourself is often easier, cheaper, and just as effective. Gerard is an expat on a mission to help others avoid the same costly mistakes. By creating LiveLoveSpain, Gerard aims to share first-hand experiences, practical tips, and plenty of "Why didn't anyone tell me this?!" moments. Whether it's filing taxes, understanding visas, or just mastering the art of the sobremesa, he's here to help fellow expats integrate seamlessly without breaking the bank.