by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:05 AM ET, Mon January 27, 2025
Spain made history in 2024, welcoming 94 million international visitors to visit its beautiful beaches, medieval towns and bustling cities, yet with it came a strain on residents, with summer reaching a fever pitch in resident protests and government action.
So what changes are in store for travelers heading to Spain this year?
Chances are, those who visit Spain during the popular seasons will still see the large crowds of years’ past; Spain’s popularity isn’t expected to wane anytime soon.
Yet those considering making an investment in Spain by purchasing an apartment or home to rent out as a vacation rental will likely find themselves frustrated. Too many short-term vacation rentals in major cities and tourist hotspots from Barcelona and Seville to Alicante are driving up housing costs for residents, leaving them feeling abandoned by local governments in favor of tourism euros.
That’s been changing recently.
The marina in Alicante, Spain. (Photo Credit: Leonid Andronov / AdobeStock)
Popular short-term rental-heavy destinations like Alicante and, more recently, Malaga, have begun passing legislation to ban or significantly reduce the number of new short-term vacation rentals in their cities and towns. Barcelona pledged to eliminate all short-term vacation rentals by 2028, and announced plans to significantly increase tourist taxes for travelers who stay in the city for under 12 hours, including cruise passengers.
Meanwhile, Spain itself is considering passing nationwide legislation imposing a 100 percent tax on non-EU citizens purchasing property in Spain, largely in part to help curb the housing crisis. Spain is also ending its so-called “golden visa” program, which provides residency permits to wealthy outsiders who purchase real estate worth around half a million.
The Traveler Impact
Travelers heading to Spain in 2025 will find themselves in luck: as long as they’re not seeking to purchase property in Spain, they likely won’t be impacted by the new legislation, as it’s mostly seeking to end the growth of short-term rentals.
Travelers will likely still find it easy to find an Airbnb or Vrbo property, along with hotels. The Associated Press reports new security legislation means travelers must fill out more paperwork when renting a car or booking a hotel.
Travelers will also be required to participate in the European Union’s ETIAS entry system, a digital security measure that travelers from outside the EU are required to fill out ahead of their trip. They’ll be required to pay about $8 to fill it out, but it is valid for three years or when the applicant’s passport expires—whichever comes first.
ETIAS isn’t required just yet, but it’s expected to finally be implemented sometime this year following several years of delays.
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